Westport Country Playhouse Hosts A Weekend Of Holiday Films 12/11-13

The movies return to Westport---when Westport Country Playhouse presents a weekend of three classic holiday films, Friday through Sunday, December 11 - 13, featuring "A Christmas Story," Sing-a-long "White Christmas," and "Miracle on 34th Street."

"A Christmas Story," a delightful film about growing up in the 1940s and wanting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, will be screened on Friday, December 11, 8 p.m. The movie stars Peter Billingsley and Melinda Dillon. A Playhouse Young Professionals Event, the evening will begin with a pre-show cocktail party in the lobby at 6:30 p.m., with appetizers from Rizzuto's of Westport, Tito's Handmade Vodka holiday punch, and door prizes, including the chance to win a campy Leg Lamp, as featured in the film. Tickets are $15.

Sing-a-long "White Christmas," starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney---and for this special sing-a-long event, the audience!---will be screened on Saturday, December 12, 8 p.m. The movie's marvelous Irving Berlin score includes "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," "Mandy," "Blue Skies," "Sisters," "Snow," "Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army" and, of course, "White Christmas." Song lyrics will be displayed above the screen for audience participation. A special surprise awaits the audience at the film's finale. Tickets are $10.

"Miracle on 34th Street," a comedy-fantasy film starring Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn, is set for Sunday, December 13, 3 p.m. When Kris Kringle encounters an unbelieving child while working in Macy's, he goes on trial to prove he's truly Santa Claus. The film won Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle), Best Writing - Original Story and Best Writing - Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture. Prior to the film, there will be a holiday open house for families in the Sheffer Studio starting at 1:30 p.m. Children who bring a toy donation (or $10 monetary donation) for Norwalk's Children's Connection (Children's Bank Program) will have the opportunity to decorate a holiday cookie. All cookies and decorating supplies are nut-free. The Children's Connection serves over 3,000 abused and neglected children annually. Tickets to the film are $10.

Other holiday events at Westport Country Playhouse are The Klezmatics with music steeped in Jewish tradition and spirituality on Thursday, December 17, 8 p.m.; Rondi Charleston, jazz vocalist and Westport resident, in a holiday concert on Saturday, December 19, 8 p.m.; and The Broadway Boys, a collection of the best male voices currently working on the New York stage, with a concert of Broadway and holiday favorites, on Sunday, December 20, 3 p.m.

Holiday events' board of trustees partner is Darlene Krenz; production partners are Bank of America and Sun Products Corporation.

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.

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 theatre 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 theatres. Now entering 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, 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.

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