Michael Barker News

Connecticut Humanities has awarded a grant of $20,000 to Westport Country Playhouse to support a series of free-of-charge community engagement events surrounding "Thousand Pines," a world-premiere drama that brings the national dialogue about gun violence to the Playhouse stage, from October 30 through November 17.  Written by Matthew Greene, and directed by Austin Pendleton, the play was developed in early 2017 by the Playhouse's New Works Circle Initiative. 

Westport Country Playhouse will present a series of special events, free-of-charge and open to the community, surrounding its world-premiere drama, "Thousand Pines," playing October 30 through November 17.  Written by Matthew Greene, and directed by Austin Pendleton, the production brings the national dialogue about gun violence to the Playhouse stage. Support for the community events is provided by a grant from CT Humanities.

Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization promoting equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen, announced today that it will honor the producers and cast of FX Networks “POSE” at the 2018 Legacy Awards on Sunday, October 28th. Outfest will also honor writer/director Justin Simien (Dear White People), as well as 39-time Academy Award® winner, Sony Pictures Classics.

Westport Country Playhouse will present an open-caption performance in Spanish of the Tony Award-winning musical "Man of La Mancha," on Saturday, October 13, at 3 p.m.  This is the first time in the Playhouse's history that an open-caption performance in a language other than English will be offered.  An open-caption screen with the Spanish translation in real time will be located at the side of the stage and visible by all members of the audience.

Tony Award-winning Broadway and television star Sutton Foster headlined Westport Country Playhouse's 2018 Gala on Saturday evening, September 8, performing Broadway standards and contemporary tunes with a trio of musicians.

The international movement and entertainment company, Pilobolus (Executive Producer, Itamar Kubovy; Renee Jaworski and Matt Kent, artistic directors), kicks-off its first ever Pilobolus Five Senses Festival this weekend. A celebration of arts and ideas convening the company's vast network of creative, world-renowned collaborators in its own backyard of Washington, Connecticut, the festival begins Friday, July 27 and runs through August 11, rain or shine. For more information and to purchase tickets to The Pilobolus Five Senses Festival, please visit www.FiveSensesFestival.com.

Connecticut Humanities has awarded a grant of $20,000 to Westport Country Playhouse to support a series of free-of-charge community engagement events surrounding "Thousand Pines," a world-premiere drama that brings the national dialogue about gun violence to the Playhouse stage, from October 30 through November 17.  Written by Matthew Greene, and directed by Austin Pendleton, the play was developed in early 2017 by the Playhouse's New Works Circle Initiative. 

Civic Rep will produce a season of work written by Tennessee Williams while in residence at Open Space on Vashon. Civic Rep has two prior productions of plays by Tennessee Williams under their belt: THE TWO-CHARACTER PLAY and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, both of which enjoyed successful runs at New City Theatre in Seattle.

Westport Country Playhouse will host 'Female Power Unleashed:  Politics and Positive Change,' a Community Conversation with Alisyn Camerota, anchor of CNN's 'New Day,' and Patricia Russo, executive director of the Women's Campaign School at Yale, on Monday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. The hour-long conversation, including a 10-minute Q&A, will acknowledge Women's History Month.  Michael Barker, Westport Country Playhouse managing director, will moderate.  Admission is free by reservation.

Westport Country Playhouse's leadership issued the following statements today on the March 9th death of Howard J. Aibel, who served actively on the Playhouse Board of Trustees since 2005, most recently as Vice Chair. In February 2018, the historic theater named its entire campus "The Howard J. Aibel Theater Center at Westport Country Playhouse" in recognition of his $3 million gift. Aibel, age 88 of Weston, Connecticut, was a lawyer, conservationist, philanthropist, and arts advocate.

Ivan L. Lustig and Michael Barker, Co-Chairmen of the Board of Trustees of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced that Cheryl Henson has been elected to serve as a Museum Trustee.

Westport Country Playhouse announces that in recognition of a $3 million gift from Howard J. Aibel of Weston, Connecticut, the historic institution will name its entire campus "The Howard J. Aibel Theater Center at Westport Country Playhouse."

It has been announced that Samantha Pauly will star as Eva Peron in Broadway Method Academy's production of Evita at Westport Country Playhouse Feb 7-10

Sony Pictures Classics has picked up the film adaptation of Anton Chekhov's THE SEAGULL, as reported by Deadline. The film is directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer and adapted for the screen by Tony winner Stephen Karam.

"Hamilton" Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winner Jonathan Groff headlined Westport Country Playhouse's 2017 Gala on Saturday evening, September 9.

Makes magic happen after bursting bubbles.

Westport Country Playhouse has received a $10,000 grant from Fairfield County's Community Foundation for general operating support of the non-profit organization's 2017 season. The nationally recognized professional theater serves an estimated annual audience of 60,000. 

Westport Country Playhouse (WCP) announces that Broadway Method Academy (BMA) of Fairfield will be Resident Conservatory of WCP, presenting a series of programs on the Playhouse campus. 

Ivan L. Lustig and Michael Barker, Co-Chairmen of the Board of Trustees of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced that writer Walter Mosley has been elected to serve as a Museum Trustee.

Comprised of 10 short plays in 2 acts about the follies and foibles of love and lovers, LOVE ALLWAYS addresses the subjects of love and romance which have long provided great source material for comedy, created from the pens of two proven masters of American comedy. With busy careers in film, television and Broadway, Taylor and Bologna have defied the Hollywood odds with a marriage that's lasted 51 years (so far). And no doubt, many of the relationship stories shared must be of a very personal nature to them, or perhaps some of their closest friends!