The Westport Country Playhouse News

Betsy Morgan, who recently performed the role of Ariel in Broadway's The Little Mermaid, will join the cast of the Off Broadway revival of The Fantasticks as Luisa on Monday, December 22, 2008. She replaces Margaret Anne Florence, who will play her final performance on Wednesday, December 17.

Upright Cabaret producers/hosts Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel proudly present Broadway star and Los Angeles native Eden Espinosa in her first solo effort entitled EDEN ESPINOSA - ME to be directed by Broadway & recording star Billy Porter with Ben Toth taking over Music Direction. During the last month of Wicked's run at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, where she is currently starring as Elphaba, Espinosa will take off the green to perform four solo concerts which will feature a different special guest each night. Special guests T.B.A.

Eden Espinosa, star of WICKED (currently at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles) makes her solo debut directed by Billy Porter at L.A.'s renowned Upright Cabaret at Mark's Restaurant, 861 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069. She will perform Monday evenings, Mon, Dec 15, 22, 29, 2008 and Jan 5, 2009 at 9pm

Shuler Hensley ('Young Frankenstein: The New Mel Brooks Musical'), Keir Dullea ('The Good Shepherd') and other actors will read the Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'They Knew What They Wanted,' written by Sidney Howard and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, November 10, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse

Westport Country Playhouse announced that due to the exceptional ticket demand for 'Our Town,' a joyful gathering at the Playhouse for the community to celebrate the life of Paul Newman, two extra dates have been added on Thursday, November 20, and Friday, November 21.

Free-of-charge tickets can start being reserved via phone or in person as of 10 a.m. today (November 3) for 'Our Town,' a joyful gathering at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director.

Shuler Hensley ('Young Frankenstein: The New Mel Brooks Musical'), Keir Dullea ('The Good Shepherd') and other actors will read the Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'They Knew What They Wanted,' written by Sidney Howard and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, November 10, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse

The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present an interview with Tony Award winner James Naughton, on their weekly theatrical interview show, 'Downstage Center,' on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28).

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) invites the community to 'Our Town,' a joyful gathering for the community to celebrate the life of Paul Newman followed by the film of Westport Country Playhouse's 2002 production of Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town' with Mr. Newman as the Stage Manager, on Saturday, November 22, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., at the Playhouse.

The Irish Repertory Theatre will open its 2008-2009 season with the world premiere of Tony Award winning playwright Frank McGuinness's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's THE MASTER BUILDER. McGuinness' adaptation was commissioned by the Irish Rep and will be directed by Ciaran O'Reilly.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Paul Newman, the universally admired stage and screen actor, director, and philanthropist. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory on Friday, October 3rd, 2008 at exactly 8:00pm for one minute.

New York's eternally boundary-pushing theater company Naked Angels (Geoffrey Nauffts, Artistic Director and Brittany O'Neill, Managing Director) has announced that it will present the Off Broadway premiere of Fault Lines, a new play by Stephen Belber, directed by David Schwimmer.

Westport Country Playhouse's (Westport, CT) artistic director Anne Keefe issued the following statement in regards to the death of Paul Newman, who had been associated with the Playhouse since 2000, 'The Westport Country Playhouse board of trustees and staff are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Newman, a compassionate humanitarian. Our hearts go out to Joanne Woodward and her family, who have shown extraordinary strength and spirit during this difficult time'.

New York's eternally boundary-pushing theater company Naked Angels (Geoffrey Nauffts, Artistic Director and Brittany O'Neill, Managing Director) has announced that it will present the Off Broadway premiere of Fault Lines, a new play by Stephen Belber, directed by David Schwimmer.

Award-winning actors Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Lithgow and other celebrities will offer one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences in a silent auction to benefit Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), at the historic Westport, Connecticut theatre's annual fundraising gala on Monday, September 15. In addition to celebrity auction items, there will be sports, vacation, fashion and jewelry auction packages. Full details of all silent auction items are available at www.westportplayhouse.org

New York's eternally boundary-pushing theater company Naked Angels (Geoffrey Nauffts, Artistic Director and Brittany O'Neill, Managing Director) has announced that it will present the Off Broadway premiere of Fault Lines, a new play by Stephen Belber, directed by David Schwimmer.

David Rasche has joined the cast of MTC's TO BE OR NOT TO BE in the role of 'Josef.'

Broadway talents Tituss Burgess ('The Little Mermaid'), Kerry Butler ('Xanadu'), Gavin Lee ('Mary Poppins'), Nedra McClyde, Julia Murney, Q. Smith and Aurelia Williams will join previously announced Laura Benanti ('Gypsy'), Raúl Esparza ('Company') and Steven Pasquale ('The Light in the Piazza') on Monday, September 15, at the annual gala for the venerable 78-year-old Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), Westport, Connecticut.

Broadway and film actor Ned Eisenberg, Tony Award winner Dick Latessa, Emmy nominee Richard Masur and others will join previously announced Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei to read the classic play 'Golden Boy,' written by Clifford Odets and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, August 25, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).

The fourth year of the acclaimed series, 'Monday Nights, New Voices,' will continue on August 18th with special guest host Donna Lynn Champlin, who recently stared in John Doyle's Broadway revival of Sweeny Todd.