Michael Gotch News

Learn about each of the new trustees, who bring the total up to 30, led by Ania Czekaj-Farber of Westport, chair.

Ninety years ago on June 29, 1931, Westport Country Playhouse opened its doors to its very first stage production. This year, on the exact same day, the Playhouse will mark its 90th anniversary with the opening of the virtual production, “Tiny House,” written by Michael Gotch, and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director. The regional premiere of the timely comedy about escaping urban life in an isolated mountain paradise will stream on demand from Tuesday, June 29 through Sunday, July 18.

Westport Country Playhouse announces its 2021 Joanne Woodward Internship class of three theater career aspirants who will enhance their professional skills and gain on-the-job experience working directly with Playhouse senior staff from June through mid-August.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand play reading of the comedy, “The Savannah Disputation,” filmed on the Playhouse stage and broadcast virtually, premiering Monday, June 14, at 7 p.m., and streaming on-demand from Tuesday, June 15 through Sunday, June 20.

Westport Country Playhouse’s New Works Initiative begins its 2021 season with a virtual workshop of ““The Immaculate Perfection of F---ing and Bleeding in the Gender Neutral Bathroom of an Upper-Middle Class High School,” written by Daniel Halpern and directed by Margot Bordelon, on Wednesday and Thursday, May 26 and 27.

Westport Country Playhouse has been approved for a $10,000 Grant for Arts Projects Award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support the musical, “Ain't Misbehavin,” set to take the Playhouse stage during the 2022 Season, co-produced with Barrington Stage.

Westport Country Playhouse will open its all-virtual 2021 production season with the regional premiere of “Tiny House,” a timely new comedy about downsizing, going green, escaping urban life, and fresh starts, written by Michael Gotch, and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director.

Single tickets for Westport Country Playhouse’s all-virtual 2021 Season will go on sale, beginning Tuesday, May 4, at noon EDT.  The Playhouse’s 2021 Season, from June 15 through December 19, has been reconceived as a diverse entertainment offering that can excel in a virtual environment.

The Resident Ensemble Players will wrap up the 2020-2021 season with Agatha Christie's The Cornish Mystery, the REP's final story in The Poirot Mysteries. This audio production, adapted and directed by REP company member Michael Gotch, will captivate and intrigue you as the famous Detective Hercule Poirot expertly sorts through a web of lies.

Get ready to be on the edge of your seat as The Resident Ensemble Players presents Agatha Christie's The King of Clubs, the REP's first story in The Poirot Mysteries. This audio production will have you rapt with suspense as famous Detective Hercule Poirot expertly sorts through lies to reveal the truth.

Westport Country Playhouse has announced an all-virtual 2021 Season, featuring two productions- a new comedy and a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama; two archival productions recorded in HD video; and four Script in Hand play readings.  

After months of living with the constant strain and stress of the pandemic and everything that has come with it, we all have a powerful need for the escape and joyous distraction of a rollicking comedy - the kind of comedy that replaces anxiety with belly laughs and tension with tickled funny bones.

While racial tensions in America are at a peak, the Resident Ensemble Players (REP) continues its imaginative audio season with a daring look at all things racial with their world premiere of Talk About Race, conceived, written, and directed by REP company member Hassan El-Amin.

Join the Resident Ensemble Players (REP) on air and online this holiday season for the brand new audio presentation of Charles Dicken's heart-warming classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted by Sara Valentine and Michael Boudewyns.

​​​​​​​ In March of 1953, Langston Hughes, African American poet, novelist, and political activist, faced off with Red-baiters Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn when he was accused of perceived communist influences in his writing.

This is the 3rd of Aisle Say's interviews with local arts professionals. Each organization has similar overarching concerns of cancellations, lost revenues, refunds, donations, personnel anxiety and the preposterous nightmare of rescheduling in uncertainty. On the other hand, each have specific issues relevant to their own procedures and organizational structures.

Westport Country Playhouse announces changes in its upcoming 2020 Season, with the official opening now scheduled for July instead of the previously announced April kick-off, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Single tickets for Westport Country Playhouse's 2020 Season, the historic theater's 90th, will go on sale, beginning Tuesday, March 10, at noon EDT.  Single tickets may be purchased by phone at 203-227-4177; in person at 25 Powers Court, Westport, between 12 and 6 p.m.; or online at westportplayhouse.org.

For 11 years The Resident Ensemble Players of UD has produced plays of global renown. The majority of the actors have been there since the inception. Aisle Say has been privileged to attend most of them. Generally, the classics are performed; Shakespeare, Shaw, August Wilson, Alan Ayckbourn, Moliere, Tennessee Williams and the like.

A deer head named Walter, a bounty of venison chili, and a family on the edge are at the center of the world premiere of Michael Gotch's award-winning new play, 'Starter Pistol,' presented by Delaware's Resident Ensemble Players (REP) Thursday, January 16 through Sunday, February 2, in the Roselle Center for the Arts, Newark, Del.