Angel Street Reading Held at Westport Country Playhouse 3/14; Dillon, Ephraim Star

Westport Country Playhouse will present a reading of the thrilling game of cat and mouse, "Angel Street," upon which the classic film "Gaslight" is based, as part of Westport Country Playhouse's popular Script in Hand Series, on Monday, March 14, 7 p.m. The cast includes Mia Dillon, Molly Ephraim, Andrea Maulella, Mark Shanahan, and more to be announced. Tickets to the one-night-only event are $15.

The Victorian suspense thriller tells of BElla Manningham, whose mother died insane so she worries that she is going crazy as well. She loses things, she forgets things and her husband is becoming concerned and impatient. When kindly Inspector Rough appears and starts to ask questions about a murder that took place 15 years ago in her house, Mrs. Manningham wonders if her concerned husband may not only be trying to drive her mad, but if he may also be a vicious murderer. The play is written by PatRick Hamilton, English playwright and novelist (1904 - 1962).
Mia Dillon, who plays Elizabeth, appeared at Westport Country Playhouse in several productions including "Angel Street" in 1996 and "Our Town" which transferred to Broadway. Other Broadway shows include "Crimes of the Heart" (Tony Award nomination, Clarence Derwent Award) and "Once a Catholic" (Drama Desk Award nomination).
Molly Ephraim, as Nancy, appeared in the title role of "The Diary of Anne Frank" at Westport Country Playhouse last fall. On Broadway, she performed in "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Into the Woods" as Little Red Riding Hood, for which she received a Drama League Award nomination.
Andrea Maulella, in the role of Mrs. Manningham, was at Westport Country Playhouse in "Tryst" for which she received a Connecticut Critics Circle Award as Outstanding Actress, and several readings. She appeared at Ivoryton Playhouse in "The Miracle Worker" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

Mark Shanahan, who portrays Mr. Manningham, appeared on The Westport Country Playhouse stage in "Around the World in 80 Days," "Tryst," "Sedition," "Journey's End" and "David Copperfield." He also directed and performed in various readings. On the New York stage, he was in "The 39 Steps."

The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor and the Script in Hand Series curator. She served as artistic director of Westport Country Playhouse, with JoAnne Woodward, in 2008 and as associate artistic director from 2000-2006, also with Ms. Woodward. She co-directed with Ms. Woodward The Westport Country Playhouse production of "David Copperfield," and directed many readings.

The Script in Hand Series is sponsored by Michele and Marc Flaster; with additional support from Ann Sheffer and Bill Scheffler. The Series is also funded in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation.

Upcoming Script in Hand readings, titles to be announced, are scheduled for Mondays, November 14 and December 12. Tickets are now on sale for all Script in Hand readings.

 

About The Playhouse

Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as a treasured home for the performing arts and is a cultural landmark for Connecticut. Under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos and management direction of Michael Ross, The Playhouse creates quality productions of new and classic plays that enlighten, enrich and engage a diverse community of theater lovers, artists and students. The Playhouse's rich history dates back to 1931, when New York theater producer Lawrence Langner created a Broadway-quality stage within an 1830s tannery. The Playhouse quickly became an established stop on the New England "straw hat circuit" of summer stock theaters. Now celebrating its 80th year, Westport Country Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 36 of which later transferred to Broadway, most recently the world premiere of "Thurgood" and a revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with Paul Newman, and in earlier years "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth, "The Trip to Bountiful" with Lillian Gish, and "Butterflies Are Free" with Keir Dullea and Blythe Danner. For its artistic excellence, The Playhouse received a 2005 Governor's Arts Award and a 2000 "Connecticut Treasure" recognition. It was also designated as an Official Project of Save America's Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is entered on the Connecticut State Register of Historic Places. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, The Playhouse transformed into a year-round, state-of-the-art producing theater, which has preserved its original charm and character. In addition to a full season of theatrical productions, The Playhouse serves as a community resource, presenting educational programming and workshops; a children's theater series; symposiums; music; films; and readings.

Westport Country Playhouse's 2011 season will include five productions: "Beyond Therapy," a wicked, and wickedly funny, look at the days and nights of the young and single, written by comic master Christopher Durang and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, April 26 - May 14; "The Circle," the scintillating comedy of manners, written by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Nicholas Martin, June 7 - June 25; "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," a perceptive comedy about people struggling against their limitations, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, July 12 - July 30; "Suddenly Last Summer," the poetic, sensual and evocative drama, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, August 23 - September 10; and "Twelfth Night, or What You Will," the beguiling comedy/romance, written by William Shakespeare and directed by Mark Lamos, October 11 - October 29.

For more information or ticket purchases, 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. Tickets may be purchased online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse) and/or follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse).

 

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