Deborah Grace Winer News

Playwright A. R. ("Pete") Gurney, who has had 14 of his plays staged at Westport Country Playhouse, will be celebrated at the Playhouse's annual fundraiser, "A Perfect Party: A Gala Evening Honoring A. R. Gurney," on the evening of Monday, September 22. Westport's Arthur Levitt, a valued trustee and longtime supporter of the Playhouse, will also be honored with the Playhouse Leadership Award.

Westport Country Playhouse has received a $20,000 grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation for general operating support of the non-profit organization's 2014 season. The nationally recognized professional theater serves an estimated annual audience of 60,000.

Westport Country Playhouse announces that due to ticket demand for its current production of the world premiere musical revue, "Sing for Your Shakespeare," extra performances have been added on Thursday through Saturday, June 26 - 28, at 8 p.m.

Who knew Shakespeare could be so VIRAL?

Westport Country Playhouse's world premiere musical revue, 'Sing for Your Shakespeare,' playing now through June 22, features a six-member cast of Broadway talents: Karen Akers, Britney Coleman, Darius de Haas, Stephen DeRosa, Constantine Germanacos, and Laurie Wells. With selections from Cole Porter's 'Kiss Me, Kate,' Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's 'West Side Story,' and Rodgers and Hart's 'The Boys from Syracuse,' as well as numbers by Duke Ellington, Frank Loesser, and others, the production explores how the American Songbook has been inspired for decades by Shakespeare's works. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Musical and lots of Shakespeare

Westport Country Playhouse announces a world premiere musical revue, 'Sing for Your Shakespeare,' as the second production in its 2014 season, running tonight, June 3 - 22. Directed by Mark Lamos, and co-conceived by Lamos, Wayne Barker, and Deborah Grace Winer, the show is based on an original idea and production for 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists, New York, NY. Celebrating its 84th season, Westport Country Playhouse was recently named Theater Company of the Year by The Wall Street Journal.

Even the legendary Broadway gods and goddesses have come face to face with failure. On May 31, June 1, and 2, Lyrics & Lyricists pays tribute to musical theater's most thoroughly panned musical bullion as artistic director and Tony Award-winning lyricist and director David Zippel closes the season with Panning for Gold: Great Songs from Flop Shows.

92Y announces the line-up for Lyrics & Lyricists 2015, the 45th season of the country's preeminent American Songbook series. Returning artistic directors include David Loud on the legendary Stephen Sondheim/Harold Prince collaboration, Deborah Grace Winer on New York City in song, and the team of Sheldon Harnick (host) and Rob Fisher on Fiddler on the Roof's 50th anniversary. Playwright/actor Charles Busch makes his debut as an L&L artistic director with a show spotlighting the legendary women of Hollywood musicals; a fifth concert will be announced at a later date.

Something Old, Something New: Sing For Your Shakespeare Launches in Westport

Westport Country Playhouse's world premiere musical revue, "Sing for Your Shakespeare," playing June 3 - 22, will feature a six-member cast of Broadway talents: Karen Akers, Britney Coleman, Darius de Haas, Stephen DeRosa, Constantine Germanacos, and Laurie Wells. With selections from Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate," Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story," and Rodgers and Hart's "The Boys from Syracuse," as well as numbers by Duke Ellington, Frank Loesser, and others, the production explores how the American Songbook has been inspired for decades by Shakespeare's works.

Funny girl, singular talent, American icon. Fanny Brice hit stardom in the 1920s and, almost a century later, still inspires the public imagination. Continuing tonight, May 5, Lyrics & Lyricists pays tribute to Fanny with Ziegfeld Girl: The Many Faces of Fanny Brice, a night of songs she put on the Broadway map, led by artistic director Ted Sperling, music director of the smash 2008 Broadway revival of South Pacific. Vocalists Capathia Jenkins, Leslie Kritzer, Faith Prince and Clarke Thorell sing classics like 'Second Hand Rose' and 'My Man'-as well as songs she inspired in Funny Girl. Check out photos from the special event below!

Westport Country Playhouse will host a '2014 Season Kick-off Block Party,' today, April 12, 4 to 7 p.m., offering a fun, party-like atmosphere with food trucks, games and activities for adults and kids, prizes, special ticket offers, and a look at the Playhouse's 'backstage experience.' Admission is free and open to the public.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were established hit makers when they teamed up to make a musical about cowboys and farmers. What follows was a miracle-Oklahoma!, then Carousel and South Pacific; the list of extraordinary hits goes on. On April 5, 6 and 7 get to know these legends even better at Getting to Know You: Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lyrics & Lyricists first look at the two songwriters as a team. Guest artistic director, writer and host Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, shares an insider's perspective on the pair, gleaned from his years with the Rodgers and Hammerstein families; joined by vocalists Brandon Victor Dixon, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Groff, Rebecca Luker, and Phillipa Soo. BroadwayWorld was there for the first performance- check below for photos from the night!

Westport Country Playhouse will host a '2014 Season Kick-off Block Party,' on Saturday, April 12, 4 to 7 p.m., offering a fun, party-like atmosphere with food trucks, games and activities for adults and kids, prizes, special ticket offers, and a look at the Playhouse's 'backstage experience.' Admission is free and open to the public.

Westport Country Playhouse announces a world premiere musical revue, 'Sing for Your Shakespeare,' as the second production in its 2014 season, running June 3 - 22. Directed by Mark Lamos, and co-conceived by Lamos, Wayne Barker, and Deborah Grace Winer, the show is based on an original idea and production for 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists, New York, NY. Celebrating its 84th season, Westport Country Playhouse was recently named Theater Company of the Year by The Wall Street Journal.

On Monday, March 3, singer/pianist Billy Stritch debuted the first of two Birdland concerts called "I've Got Your Number - The Jazz of Cy Coleman." The next show will take place at the historic music room this coming Monday, March 10 at 7pm. Scroll down for photos!

Nearly six decades into her career, Academy Award-winning singer and actress Shirley Jones makes her Cafe Carlyle debut with a two-week run of An Evening with Shirley Jones, continuing through March 15. Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winner John McDaniel (Annie Get Your Gun, Patti Lupone: Live!, The Rosie O'Donnell Show) will serve as Music director and will accompany her on piano March 4-8; actor-composer Ron Abel (Happily Divorced, I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special) will take his place for the performances March 11-15. She'll perform the songs of Rogers, Hammerstein and Hart. Check out photos from her first performance below!

Following her acclaimed concert 'Catch the Light,' 54 Below just featured a new show featuring the stunning Michele Lee making a rare appearance in New York. Ms. Lee's new concert boasted an eclectic songbook, with classics she popularized as well songs from those magical composers, lyricists, and artists with whom she has worked and shared stages in every medium. Check out photos from her concert below!

Follow Lyrics & Lyricists over the rainbow to the West Coast and the glory days of MGM. Over the weekend, Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall made her L&L debut as guest artistic director for GOING HOLLYWOOD, a singing, dancing, Technicolor celebration of the silver screen's greatest musicals, featuring Cameron Adams, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Joshua Henry, Jeremy Jordan, Rob McClureand Rachel York. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special event below!