Mark Lamos News

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 with the New York premiere of Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins directed by Matt Shakman.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that de'Adre Aziza, Danny Burstein, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Patti LuPone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Mary Beth Peil and Sherie Rene Scott will be featured in its upcoming production of the new 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).

Jack Wetherall will join the previously announced Dana Ivey in 'Happy Days' by Samuel Beckett, July 6 - 24, as part of the 80th Anniversary Season at Westport Country Playhouse. Directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, the production is the third in the Playhouse's premier season under Lamos' artistic direction. Lamos will speak about Beckett's inspiring play at a Sunday Symposium on Sunday, July 11, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the joyful and touching musical, 'I Do! I Do!,' starring Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and Drama Desk Award nominee Lewis Cleale, August 10 - 28, as part of its 80th Anniversary Season.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium on playwright Samuel Beckett with Deirdre Bair, recipient of the National Book Award for 'Samuel Beckett: A Biography,' and Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, following the Sunday, July 11, 3 p.m. matinee performance of Beckett's 'Happy Days,' directed by Lamos.

Previews began Monday, June 14, for the LCT3 world premiere production of ON THE LEVEE, a play with music, conceived and directed by Lear deBessonet, with play by Marcus Gardley, and music and lyrics by Todd Almond, at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street® project (229 West 42 Street). ON THE LEVEE closes July 11. LCT3 is Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences. All tickets are $20.

David B. Byrd joined Westport Country Playhouse as director of marketing, beginning July 6, responsible for all organizational marketing initiatives for the historic theater's five-play season and surrounding year-round programming.

The Board of Trustees of Two River Theater Company announces the appointment of John Dias-a producer and dramaturg who is a leading advocate for bold new American plays and has worked extensively on notable productions of the classics-as the theater's new Artistic Director.