Mark Lamos News

Westport Country Playhouse's 80th anniversary gala on Monday evening, September 13, honoring Stephen Schwartz has been re-imagined with the influence of Lead Corporate Sponsor, Virgin Atlantic Airways, based in Norwalk.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the newly revised adaptation of the timeless classic, 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' helmed by award-winning director Gerald Freedman, September 28 through October 30, as part of its 80th Anniversary Season.

Joe Dowling of the Guthrie Theater and Margot Harley of The Acting Company have announced an expanded touring season beginning and ending in New York. This will be the third joint tour for the two TONY-winning theaters and will feature co-productions of Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET directed by Penny Metropulos in repertory with THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, directed by Ian Belknap. Ms. Metropulos has directed at Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 19 years; Mr. Belknap, Associate Artistic Director of The Acting Company, has apprenticed under several master directors including Mark Lamos and Doug Hughes.

Westport Country Playhouse announces that due to ticket demand for 'I Do! I Do!,' the charming and touching musical about marriage, three extra performances have been added, Thursday through Saturday, September 2 - 4, evenings at 8 p.m. The tuneful journey through the ups and downs of a 50-year marriage stars Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and Drama Desk Award nominee Lewis Cleale. The musical is written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, composers of 'The Fantasticks,' and directed by Susan H. Schulman.

Some of Broadway's best and brightest talents will perform in a one-night-only salute to theater and film composer Stephen Schwartz at Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Annual Gala on Monday, September 13.

Vincent J. Cardinal, the current Associate Dean of Performing Arts at Adelphi University, and formerly the Artistic Director of Miami's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre and Associate Artist with Circle Repertory Company, will begin as both Artistic Director of Connecticut Repertory Theatre and head of the Department of Dramatic Arts beginning August 23, 2010.

Westport Country Playhouse announces that due to ticket demand for 'I Do! I Do!,' the charming and touching musical about marriage, three extra performances have been added, Thursday through Saturday, September 2 - 4, evenings at 8 p.m.

Westport Country Playhouse present a Sunday Symposium with Tom Jones, book writer and lyricist of 'I Do! I Do!,' following the Sunday, August 15, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the joyful and touching musical spanning 50 years of marriage. Jones, along with music composer Harvey Schmidt, received an Obie Award and a Special Tony Award for 'The Fantasticks.' In 1999, their stars were added to the Off-Broadway Walk of Fame outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

Nicholas Martin, artistic director of Williamstown Theatre Festival, will direct W. Somerset Maugham's scintillating comedy of manners, 'The Circle,' June 7 - June 25, 2011, at Westport Country, announced Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director.

Westport Country Playhouse's Young Professionals Network and Norwalk's Triangle Community Center will present the first-ever 'LGBT Night Out at the Playhouse,' for members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities and allies, on Thursday, August 12.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), has announced today the complete cast of the World Premiere musical event, In Transit.

In conjunction with Westport Country Playhouse's upcoming production of 'I Do! I Do!,' the joyful and touching musical about marriage, the theater is hosting 'The Perfect Proposal Contest.' Participants are requested to write, in 300 words or less, how they were asked, or asked someone else, to say, 'I Do!' Photos are welcomed, but not required. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, August 10, noon.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), in association with Ted Snowdon, launches its 26th season the New York premiere of Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced the roles to be played by the leading cast members of the upcoming musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with a book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher. This world premiere production will begin previews on Saturday, October 2 at 8pm and open on Thursday, November 4 at 6:45pm on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre (111 W. 44 Street).

Critically acclaimed novelist Francine Prose, writer of the recently published Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, will present an author talk and book signing, on Sunday, September 19, 3 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse. Prose will speak about her book, followed by an interview with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, and a Q&A with the audience.

Westport Country Playhouse present a Sunday Symposium with Tom Jones, book writer and lyricist of 'I Do! I Do!,' following the Sunday, August 15, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the joyful and touching musical spanning 50 years of marriage. Jones, along with music composer Harvey Schmidt, received an Obie Award and a Special Tony Award for 'The Fantasticks.' In 1999, their stars were added to the Off-Broadway Walk of Fame outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

Celebrating 80 Years with a Variety of Outstanding Plays and Playwrights: Westport Country Playhouse Announces 2011 Season

Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Gala will honor musical theater composer extraordinaire Stephen Schwartz on Monday evening, September 13, at 6 p.m. A star-studded production, 'The Magical Music of Stephen Schwartz,' will recognize Schwartz's innumerable songwriting contributions to American theater and film. Gala artists will be announced soon.

Westport Country Playhouse's Young Professionals Network and Norwalk's Triangle Community Center will present the first-ever 'LGBT Night Out at the Playhouse,' for members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities and allies, on Thursday, August 12.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), in association with Ted Snowdon, launches its 26th season with the New York premiere of Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins directed by Matt Shakman.