Photo Flash: First Look at LETTICE AND LOVAGE at Westport Country Playhouse

The Tony Award-nominated comedy, "Lettice and Lovage," opens Westport Country Playhouse's 87th Season, written by Peter Shaffer, author of "Amadeus," and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director. The play runs now through June 17. The cast includes Kandis Chappell, Mia Dillon, Sarah Manton, and Paxton Whitehead. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

In "Lettice and Lovage," Miss Lettice Douffet is a tour guide at of one of England's historic homes. Faced with the fact that nothing of importance actually occurred in the home, Lettice uses her flamboyant style to embellish the stately mansion's dull history with pure fantasy - much to the disapproval of her strict employer Lotte Schoen. When Lettice serves Lotte a cup of lovage, an herbal-based alcoholic drink, the two opposites develop a devilish friendship. Soon they engage in a series of capers to fight against society's mediocrity, and live up to Lettice's motto, "Enlarge! Enliven! Enlighten!"

Playing the role of Lettice Douffet is Kandis Chappell, an associate artist of The Old Globe Theater in San Diego, where she has appeared in more than 30 productions. She has worked extensively at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, and at theaters across the country, including Intiman Theatre in Seattle, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, Huntington Theatre Company, Hartford Stage (Connecticut Critics Circle Award nomination), Lincoln Center, and Broadway.

Mia Dillon will portray Lotte Schoen (WCP's "A Song at Twilight," "Our Town," "Angel Street," "Speed-the-Plow," "Return Engagements," "Once a Catholic," and several Script in Hand playreadings; 1982 Tony Award Nominee for Best Featured Actress in a Play for "Crimes of the Heart," also Broadway's "Our Town," "Da," "Hay Fever," "The Miser," "The Corn Is Green," "Equus," and "Agnes of God").

Sarah Manton is cast as Ms. Framer/Tourist (WCP's "What the Butler Saw," "Bedroom Farce," and "Things We Do for Love"; Broadway/London's "One Man, Two Guvnors"; London's "The Coast of Utopia," "South Pacific," and Baby in "Dirty Dancing").

Paxton Whitehead will reprise his Broadway portrayal of Mr. Bardolph (WCP's "What the Butler Saw," "Bedroom Farce," "The Circle," "How the Other Half Loves," "Time of My Life," "Relatively Speaking," "A Bench in the Sun," and "The Crucifer of Blood," and a Script in Hand playreading of "Dial 'M' for Murder"; Broadway's "The Importance of Being Earnest," "My Fair Lady" (Helen Hayes Award), "Noises Off" (Drama Desk Award), "Camelot" (Tony Award nomination), and "Lettice and Lovage" with Maggie Smith).

Local actors appearing as tourists in the opening scene are Kara Hankard of Glastonbury, Travis James of Weston, Richard Mancini of Stratford, Michele S. Mueller of Rocky Hill, Robert Peterpaul of Darien, Hermon Telyan of Wilton, and Danielle Anna White of Ridgefield.

The design team includes John Arnone, scenic design; Jane Greenwood, costume design; Philip Rosenberg, lighting design; and John Gromada, sound design.

Single tickets start at $30; buy early for best prices. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.westportplayhouse.org or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport.