Westport Country Playhouse's New Works Circle Initiative Continues in Third Year

Westport Country Playhouse's New Works Circle Initiative (NWCI) continues in its third consecutive year of developing new plays and musicals, culminating in readings before an invited audience. The 2018 NWCI schedule includes four new plays to be developed with playwrights, directors, and other artists during the next six months.

"Our goal is to nurture and nourish new writing and to seek exciting projects for our five-play seasons," said Mark Lamos, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director.

NWCI recently kicked off on January 18 with a reading of "Click," written by Jacqueline Goldfinger, and directed by Katherine M. Carter. The new play explores the impact of technology on altering identities as it follows a group of college students involved in a campus rape that goes viral. Cast members were Barron B. Bass, Chris Ghaffari, Christina Pumariega, Kim Taff, and Kita Updike.

The 2018 NWCI schedule includes upcoming readings of "Native Authors," written by Erik Brogger and directed by Mary B. Robinson, about the intertwined lives of the residents of a small Nebraska town; and "Torera," written by Monet Hurst-Mendoza, about two young Mexicans, separated by class and gender, who share the dream of becoming world famous matadors.

Matthew Greene's "Thousand Pines," part of last year's NWCI, will be given further NWCI development in the spring prior to its world premiere in November as part of the Playhouse's 2018 Season. The tale of a small town tragedy that weaves together unsuspecting families is directed by Austin Pendleton.

NWCI is funded by the Playhouse's New Works Circle. Founding members are Howard J. Aibel, Stephen Corman, Ania Czekaj-Farber, Sandra and Neil DeFeo, Kate and Bob Devlin, Michele and Marc Flaster, Susan Jacobson and David Moskovitz, Judy and Scott Phares, Barbara and John Samuelson, Barbara and John Streicker, and Johnna G. Torsone and John McKeon.

"We are grateful for the passionate generosity of our New Works Circle members, a group of avid theater supporters who share with me a vested interest in new work and its presence at the Playhouse," said Lamos. "With their help, we are able to continue at an even higher level the Playhouse's long history of taking plays from the page to the stage."

Throughout its 87 years, Westport Country Playhouse has been home to 59 world premiere productions of new plays and musicals, including the recent comedy, "Love and Money," by A. R. Gurney, co-produced with New York's Signature Theatre.

For more information, call 203-227-4177. Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. www.westportplayhouse.org. Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).

About Westport Country Playhouse

The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater worth talking about and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering: Live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; youth performance training and performance opportunities through Broadway Method Academy, WCP's resident conservatory; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.

Photo: Westport Country Playhouse's New Works Circle Initiative kicked off its third year with a reading of "Click," written by Jacqueline Goldfinger and directed by Katherine M. Carter, before an invited audience. Actors, L-R, standing: Kita Updike, Chris Ghaffari, Kim Taff, Barron B. Bass, Christina Pumariega. Credit: Stephen Emerick

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