Westport Country Playhouse Awarded Fairfield County Community Foundation Grant

Westport Country Playhouse has received $20,000 from the Fairfield County Community Foundation in support of the nonprofit theater's 2011 season and for the development of a strategic plan. The Playhouse serves an estimated annual audience of 60,000, including 4,000 students.

With the appointment of Mark Lamos as artistic director in 2009, The Playhouse is affirming its commitment to a high level of artistic quality and broadening its community engagement initiatives.

"We are deeply honored to be partnering with the Fairfield County Community Foundation as The Playhouse strives to deliver the highest quality artistic productions and community and education programs for this entire region, impacting the lives of adults and student audiences," said Managing Director Michael Ross. Ross added, "Additionally, the funding for the initiation of a strategic plan is vitally important as we grow as an institution and respond as a cultural resource and gathering place for our community and region."
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 Tony Award winner John Rando, 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.

In addition, The Playhouse offers family presentations, play readings, holiday performances, arts education and the Woodward Internship Program. In keeping with the theater's commitment to deepening the theater experience, the season is infused with symposiums, talk backs and community partnerships with organizations and other non-profits.

The Playhouse is committed to serving the community not only as a place to see exceptional live theater, but as a resource that is accessible to all, regardless of economic status---serving as a hub for education, civic and social service organizations as well as the business community.

The vital funding provided by FCCF will allow The Playhouse to continue to serve the community while building the necessary capacity to ensure its long-term success.

About Fairfield County Community Foundation

The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of community and regional philanthropy to improve the quality of life throughout Fairfield County. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds and contribute to existing funds. The Foundation provides philanthropic advisory services, and develops and leads initiatives to tackle critical community issues. It is in compliance with the Council on Foundations' national standards for community foundation. The Foundation has awarded over $120 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit www.fccfoundation.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 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.

For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available 2/47 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse) and/or follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse).

 

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