WCP Young Professionals, Triangle Community Center Present Inaugural LGBT Night Out

Westport Country Playhouse's Young Professionals Network and Norwalk's Triangle Community Center will present the first-ever "LGBT Night Out at The Playhouse," for members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities and allies, on Thursday, August 12. The evening will feature a pre-show cocktail party at 6:30 p.m., followed by a performance of the joyful and touching musical, "I Do! I Do!," starring Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and Drama Desk Award nominee Lewis Cleale, at 8 p.m. The endearing musical about marriage is written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt and directed by Susan H. Schulman. Tickets are $25 per person for party and show.

"The Playhouse's Young Professional Network is creating new events that will attract a diverse range of audience members," said Jenn Bond, Playhouse community relations liaison. "Through a partnership with Triangle Community Center on this event, we are thrilled to provide an opportunity for some in-person social networking and a charming show at an affordable price."

Food for the "LGBT Night Out" will be provided by Burger Bar & Bistro. Located in South Norwalk since 2006, the restaurant has earned rave reviews and "best burger" accolades from area media outlets and online food bloggers. Owner/chef Nick Bilello and his wife Dana continue the burger legacy with the addition of 1200 square-feet to the popular bistro. The menu consists of fresh, organic, all natural ingredients. www.burgerbarsono.com

Tito's Vodka will provide PomTitoTinis and other select beverages. Chris Coogan, multi-talented jazz pianist and singer, will entertain during the cocktail party.

Co-sponsoring the event are The Playhouse's newly formed Young Professionals Network and the Triangle Community Center. YPN creates fun and interactive programs geared to young professionals, ages 21 to 40, featuring cocktail parties and live music, in conjunction with Playhouse performances. TCC has been providing services for 19 years that help strengthen the LGBT community's sense of identity, pride and visibility. In addition, TCC works with the greater Fairfield County community to foster understanding and awareness of LGBT issues. www.ctgay.org

For tickets to the "LGBT Night Out at The Playhouse," contact 203.227.5137 x 116 or email marketing@westportplayhouse.org

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 season, 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 with its original charm and character preserved. 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 five-play 2010 season: "She Loves Me," a romantic musical comedy, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, directed by Mark Lamos, April 20 - May 15; "Dinner with Friends," a comic drama by Donald Margulies, directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, June 1 through 19; "Happy Days" by Samuel Beckett, a play of luminous beauty and rare power, featuring Dana Ivey, directed by Mark Lamos, July 6 through July 24; "I Do! I Do," an endearing musical, with book and lyrics are by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, directed by Susan H. Schulman, August 10 through August 28; and "The Diary of Anne Frank," a timeless and powerful classic, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman, directed by Gerald Freedman, September 28 through October 16.

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 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse) and/or follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse).

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