Curtin, Gleason and Others Present 'Classical' Readings

Westport Country Playhouse (JoAnne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) will launch "The Classical Series," bringing together professional actors to read works by master playwrights.  The series premiere will feature Emmy Award winner Jane Curtin, Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason, Obie Award winner Kristine Nielsen and stage, film and television actor Chris Sarandon. They will read one of Noel Coward's most popular and delightful comedies, "Fallen Angels," on Monday, June 16, 7 p.m.  The reading will be directed by John Tillinger, who helmed recent Playhouse productions of "Time of My Life," "Relatively Speaking" and "The Drawer Boy."

"With the success of our 'Funny Mondays' play reading series, many of which are new plays, we decided to broaden the scope by revisiting vintage plays," said JoAnne Woodward, curator of "The Classical Series" and Playhouse artistic director. "Treasures from Shakespeare to Molière, from Sophocles to Shaw will be read by professional actors to connect with audiences who will recall these works fondly and engage those who weren't familiar with them before."  

"Fallen Angels" is Noel Coward at his best - witty, debonair and utterly sophisticated. Julia and Fred and Willy and Jane are two happily married couples and the best of friends, until a postcard arrives with news of the imminent arrival of a certain handsome Frenchman with an illicit connection to their past.

Jane Curtin made her TV debut in 1975 as one of the original members of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players on "Saturday Night Live." During her five-year run on that show, she received two Emmy nominations for her creation of many memorable characters. She starred with Susan Saint James for five years on the popular television series "Kate and Allie," twice earning the Emmy Award as Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of affable divorcee Allie Lowell.  She went on to a successful six-year run as Dr. Mary Albright on the NBC hit "3rd Rock from the Sun."  She appeared in The Westport Country Playhouse production of "Our Town," which also played on Broadway to a sold-out run in late 2002 with Ms. Curtin reprising her role.

Joanna Gleason is the winner of numerous awards, including the 1988 Tony as Best Actress for her role as the Baker's Wife in Sondheim's "Into the Woods," and a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for the same performance. She received another Tony nomination and a Drama Desk nomination for her work in "Joe Egg." She won a Theater World Award for "The Real Thing," and another Drama Desk Award for "Social Security." Since 1994 Ms. Gleason has been married to actor Chris Sarandon. Most recently, she starred in the Broadway hit, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."  She is the daughter of Monty Hall, host of "Let's Make a Deal."  

Kristine Nielsen appeared on Broadway in "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Jackie," "The Green Bird" and "The Iceman Cometh" (1986).  Off-Broadway, she won Obie Awards for "Betty's Summer Vacation" and "Dog Opera."  She has numerous regional theatre credits including Long Wharf Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre and Williamstown Theatre Festival.  Her films include "The Savages," "Adelaide" and "Small Time Crooks."  Television appearances include "Law & Order," "L&O Criminal Intent," "Conviction," "Third Watch, "Tales from the Crypt," "Words on Fire" (with Chris Durang) and "As the World Turns."

Chris Sarandon began his career as a teen drummer/singer in a popular West Virginia rock band.  Then after an MFA in theatre, he appeared in regional repertory: Long Wharf Theatre and Hartford Stage; on Broadway: "The Rothschilds," "Two Gentlemen from Verona," "Nick and Nora"; off-Broadway: "The Woods," "The Devil's Disciple"; in movies: "Dog Day Afternoon" (Oscar nomination), "The Princess Bride," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Loggerheads"; on TV series:  "Felicity," "Chicago Hope," "Law & Order" and "SVU," "The Court"; on Hallmark TV specials:  "A Tale of Two Cities," "David's Mother," "The Day Christ Died."  He appeared last season at Westport Country Playhouse in "Sedition" by David Wiltse. His is married to award-winning actress/director Joanna Gleason.
Director John Tillinger has helmed many Broadway plays including "Night Must Fall" with Matthew Broderick, "The Sunshine Boys" with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, "Inherit the Wind" with Charles Durning and George C. Scott (Tony nomination, Outer Critics Circle Award), "The Price" with Eli Wallach (Tony nomination), "Sweet Sue" with Mary Tyler Moore and Lynn Redgrave, and "Loot!" with Joseph Maher (OCC Award, Tony nomination). He has numerous off-Broadway credits and directed many seasons at Long Wharf Theatre, including "Arsenic and Old Lace" with JoAnne Woodward.
 
Other "Fallen Angels" cast members will be announced soon.
 
"The Classical Series" is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.  Upcoming presentations are scheduled on Monday, August 25, and Monday, November 3.
 
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.
 
Tickets to "The Classical Series" are $15.  For 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 Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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