Westport Country Playhouse Presents 'Scramble!' 7/9

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) announces playwright-in-residence David Wiltse's "tour de farce" office comedy, "Scramble!, will be staged July 9 through 26.

It is a normal day in the offices of a local golf magazine until a rumor that their publication is being sold panics the staff.  With their jobs on the line, mass hysteria breaks out.  Office politics are engulfed in outlandish relationships and mistaken identities.  Love triangles quickly become love quadrangles.

David Wiltse of Weston was appointed Westport Country Playhouse playwright-in-residence in January 2006. He has written 12 plays, published 12 novels and produced more than 50 projects for film and television. He is the winner of a Drama Desk Award for "Most Promising Playwright" for his first- produced play, "Suggs," which premiered at Lincoln Center. His second play was the comedy, "Doubles," which ran for the 1985-86 season on Broadway. "Doubles" was also produced subsequently at Westport Country Playhouse, the first of his seven productions in this theatre. The comedy "Triangles for Two" and the dramas "The Good German" and "Sedition" had their world premieres at Westport Country Playhouse. His comedy "A Marriage Minuet" and the thriller "Temporary Help" were also produced at the Playhouse. "Scramble!" was first produced at Florida Stage under the title "Hatchetman." In a much earlier version, "Hatchetman" was developed at the Theatre Artists Workshop of Westport.

Tracy Brigden, who directed Wiltse's comedy "A Marriage Minuet" at the Playhouse in 2006, will be at the helm.  Ms. Brigden is in her seventh season as City Theatre's (Pittsburgh) artistic director.  She is the former associate artistic director of Hartford Stage, where she received a 1999 Connecticut Critics Circle Award for best production and best director.  

"Scramble!" cast members are Tom Beckett,Candy Buckley, Rebecca Harris, Colin McPhillamy,Jennifer Mudge and Matthew Rauch.  Previously announced actor Rachel Dratch recently withdrew from the production.  Beckett was in Westport Country Playhouse productions of "David Copperfield," "On the Verge" and "The Turn of the Screw."  Ms. Buckley appeared on Broadway in "After the Fall," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Cabaret" and "Ring Round the Moon."  Ms. Harris appeared in off-Broadway and regional theatre productions and in the film "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."  McPhillamy was in "Sedition" at Westport Country Playhouse and "Waiting in the Wings" on Broadway. Ms. Mudge performed at many regional theatres and received a 2007 Drama Desk Award nomination for "Dutchman" at Cherry Lane Theatre.  Rauch was in the Broadway production of "Prelude to a Kiss."

The production design team includes Jeff Cowie, sets; Ilona Somogyi, costumes; Ben Stanton, lighting; Eric Shim, sound; Mark Olsen, movement coach; Telsey + Company, casting; and Cole Bonenberger, stage manager.

Next at the Playhouse will be a thriller, "Tryst" by Karoline Leach, August 5 through August 23. Joe Brancato, who directed the Off-Broadway production, will direct.  The cast features the return to the Playhouse of Mark Shanahan, who appeared in previous Playhouse productions of "Sedition," "David Copperfield" and "Journey's End," and is currently on Broadway in "The Thirty-nine Steps."  Shanahan will portray George Love, who has a habit of marrying simple, well off women who become inexplicably poor and husbandless the day after their honeymoon.  In London to con his next bride, he happens upon Adelaide, a milliner's assistant who is sitting on a small nest egg.  He convinces her to get married, but once they get to the honeymoon, this simple girl will try anything to get what she wants.  Andrea Maulella will play Adelaide.

The performance schedule will be Tuesday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.  Special series will feature Previews, Opening Nights, TalkBack Thursdays, Prologue, Symposium Sundays, Backstage Pass and Open Captioning.

Celebrating its 78th season, the venerable Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, Artistic Directors; Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, Managing Director) is creating innovative new works and dynamic revivals. The Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 36 of which later transferred to Broadway including "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth; "The Trip to Bountiful" with Lillian Gish; "Butterflies Are Free" with Keir Dullea and Blythe Danner; "Absurd Person Singular" with Sandy Dennis, Geraldine Page and Tony Roberts; and "Our Town" with Paul Newman.  The list of actors, directors, and other theatre artists who have worked and continue to perform on the Playhouse's legendary stage reads like a "Who's Who" of the American theatre.  Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, the Playhouse now produces year-round, welcoming 85,000 audience members annually. In addition to a full season of theatrical productions, the Playhouse presents educational programming and workshops; a children's theatre series; symposiums; music; films; and readings of short fiction, classical works and new plays.  Westport Country Playhouse serves as a treasured home for the theatrical arts, its audiences and its artists.  For the State of Connecticut, it is a true cultural landmark. Your experience begins at www.westportplayhouse.org.

"Scramble" is sponsored by Westport Resources, with board of trustees sponsor Darlene Krenz. The Playhouse is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

Ticket buyers for summer shows may choose from several options including Pick-a-Plan, which saves $5 off single tickets prices for more than one production.  There are also Family Flex, FlexTix and UltraFlex plans that offer savings and other benefits. Single tickets range from $30 to $55; opening night tickets, including post-performance reception, are $65. Students and educators are eligible for 50% discounts.  Groups of 10 or more save up to 30% off the regular ticket price.  For group sales information call (203) 227-5137, x120.

For reservations or more information, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Information about the Playhouse is also available at www.westportplayhouse.org.

Photo by Kathleen O'Rourke.

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