Joan Didion News

Westport Country Playhouse and Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. are partnering to enrich the theater-going experience with a new literary salon series called "Books Worth Talking About!" Launching this month, the program will feature a pre-show discussion with prominent authors followed by a performance of a Playhouse production. The themes of the literary salons and theatrical productions will complement each other.

Westport Country Playhouse stages the National Book Award-winning memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, now through June 30, featuring noted actress Maureen Anderman as Didion. Directed by Nicholas Martin, the play is based on the author's actual experience rebuilding her life during the year after her spouse's death and her capacity to emerge strengthened from even the most shattering of life's trials.

After touring in Richard III with Kevin Spacey in The Bridge Project, an ambitious transatlantic endeavor between The Old Vic, Brooklyn Academy of Music and Neal Street Productions, Maureen Anderman returns to the Westport Country Playhouse in the upcoming production of The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion's play based on her National Book Award winning memoir of the same name.

After touring in Richard III with Kevin Spacey in The Bridge Project, an ambitious transatlantic endeavor between The Old Vic, Brooklyn Academy of Music and Neal Street Productions, Maureen Anderman returns to the Westport Country Playhouse in the upcoming production of The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion's play based on her National Book Award winning memoir of the same name.

Justin Vivian Bond Will Perform Material from the Album in Six-Week Residency at New Studio 54 Cabaret Venue, 54 Below.

Joan Didion will be a guest at a Westport Country Playhouse Sunday Symposium on June 17, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance of Ms. Didion's play, "The Year of Magical Thinking," based on her 2005 National Book Award-winning memoir. She will converse on the Playhouse stage with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director. Following the symposium, Ms. Didion will sign copies of her books which will be available for purchase.

Westport Country Playhouse and Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. are partnering to enrich the theater-going experience with a new literary salon series called "Books Worth Talking About!" Launching in June, the program will feature a pre-show discussion with prominent authors followed by a performance of a Playhouse production. The themes of the literary salons and theatrical productions will complement each other.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the National Book Award-winning memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, June 12 - 30, featuring noted actress Maureen Anderman as Didion. Directed by Nicholas Martin, the play is based on the author's actual experience rebuilding her life during the year after her spouse's death and her capacity to emerge strengthened from even the most shattering of life's trials.

Westport Country Playhouse will launch "InteraCT: Playhouse Young Professionals," where patrons under 40 can network, socialize and attend a performance, beginning on Thursday, May 17, and continuing on selected evenings throughout the 2012 season.

Westport Country Playhouse will present "LGBT Night OUT," for members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities and allies, beginning tonight, May 3, and continuing on selected Thursdays throughout the 2012 season.

Westport Country Playhouse will present "LGBT Night OUT," for members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities and allies, beginning on Thursday, May 3, and continuing on selected Thursdays throughout the 2012 season.

On June 5, Bond will release an album joined by pianist and producer Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), and covering songs by Ronee Blakley, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen, Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, Mark Eitzel and Brecht & Weill, among others. Bond will perform material from the album in a six-week residency (June 4-July 9) at the new Studio 54 cabaret venue, 54 Below.

Westport Country Playhouse will host its third annual open house, "Playhouse Community Day," on Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering a wide variety of family activities, backstage tours, displays and historic artifacts, insight on the upcoming 2012 season and ticket discounts throughout the day. Admission is free and open to the public. There will be complimentary snacks and beverages, including food available for purchase.

With less than two months before the curtain goes up on Westport Country Playhouse's 2012 season, single tickets are now on sale, beginning Tuesday, March 6, at noon. Single tickets may be purchased by phone at 203-227-4177, in person at 25 Powers Court,Westport, or 24/7 online at westportplayhouse.org.

Estée Lauder's Thia Breen, author and historian Barbara Goldsmith and philanthropist and animal activist Cornelia Guest are Women's Project's 2012 Women of Achievement who will be inducted at its 27th Annual Gala Celebration hosted by the columnist Cindy Adams at the Copacabana, 268 West 47th Street, on Monday, March 5, at 6:30pm.

Known for her many memorable roles on stages and screens large and small, many from the canon of William Shakespeare (OTHELLO, MACBETH) and Edward Albee (THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, SEASCAPE, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? & LISTENING), Maureen Anderman is making her grand return to the realm of Shakespeare onstage in New York with the new BAM production of RICHARD III directed by Sam Mendes, starring Kevin Spacey. In addition to illustrating many aspects of the rapturously received revival of the historical tragedy as she has traveled with it around the world, Anderman and I also discuss her affiliation with Shakespeare and what she derives from performing his greatest works, with RICHARD III being the central focus. Also, Anderman details her experiences working with Edward Albee on the original Broadway productions of THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE and SEASCAPE, as well as offering some candid observations on some of her favorite feature film and television appearances over the years - THE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF MOLLY DODD and LAW & ORDER included. As well as all of that, Anderman also shines a light on her recent standby duties for Vanessa Redgrave in THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING and DRIVING MISS DAISY, as well as the forthcoming Westport Country Playhouse production of MAGICAL THINKING in which she will be starring later this year.

Vanessa Redgrave, stage, screen and television actress, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 1995, member of Liberty, of Amnesty International, and a longstanding member/supporter of Memorial and Za Prava Cheloveka, the two chief Russian Human Rights NGOs, will bring her passion to Brighton Festival as Guest Director of the 46th three-week celebration which takes place from 5 - 27 May 2012.

Estée Lauder's Thia Breen, author and historian Barbara Goldsmith and philanthropist and animal activist Cornelia Guest are Women's Project's 2012 Women of Achievement who will be inducted at its 27th Annual Gala Celebration hosted by the columnist Cindy Adams at the Copacabana, 268 West 47th Street, on Monday, March 5, at 6:30pm.

Blackfriars Theatre, a not-for-profit, professional theatre on Rochester's East Main Street "Theatre Row," is proud to announce the opening of "The Year Of Magical Thinking," a drama by Joan Didion. In this dramatic adaptation of her award-winning and best-selling memoir, Joan Didion transforms the story of the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband and their only daughter into a stunning and powerful theatrical experience.

Adapted from Joan Didion's best-selling memoir and starring Florida Rep regular, Sara Morsey, The Year of Magical Thinking, plays in Florida Rep's intimate 90-seat Studio Theatre Jan. 11 to Feb. 4.