Westport Country Playhouse Hosts Book Collection for Read to Grow 1/29

In conjunction with its Family Festivities Series, Westport Country Playhouse is hosting a book collection for Read to Grow, Inc. Beginning with the 2012 season's first Family Festivities show, "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales," a new twist on classic fairy tales, on Sunday, January 29, 1 and 4 p.m., The Playhouse will collect gently used and new children's books which will be given to families and programs in the greater Fairfield County area through the Read to Grow organization. Bins will be located in The Playhouse lobby for book donations.

Book collections for Read to Grow will continue with upcoming Family Festivities programs: "Pinkalicious: The Musical," on Sunday, February 12, 1 and 4 p.m. (both performances sold-out); "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Tortoise and the Hare," two classic fairy tales, on Sunday, March 18, 1 and 4 p.m.; and "Nearly Lear," Shakespeare's play presented through the eyes of a clown using storytelling, music and film, on Sunday, April 1, 1 and 4 p.m. The close of the book drive will be on The Playhouse's "Community Day" on Saturday, April 14, an open house offering a wide variety of family activities, backstage tours, displays and historic artifacts, insight on the upcoming 2012 season and ticket discounts.

"We are thrilled to be collecting books again this year on behalf of Read to Grow," said Jen McCool, Playhouse community engagement coordinator. "The Playhouse had tremendous success with our book drive last year, collecting over 550 books, and we hope to increase the number of books donated in 2012."

Read to Grow is a statewide nonprofit organization that helps build literacy from birth by preparing parents to take an active role in their children's literacy development from day one, and by providing free children's books to families with limited access and to community resources that serve them. www.readtogrow.org

For more information on the book collection, contact Jen McCool, Playhouse community engagement coordinator, at 203-227-5137, x 120.

Tickets to Family Festivities, part of Winter at The Playhouse, are $18. Everyone in the audience requires a ticket. Birthday party rental facilities may be scheduled in advance. Pre-show children's activities begin one hour before each performance.

Family Festivities Corporate Sponsors are First Niagara/Pierson & Smith. Family Festivities Sponsors are Meredith and David Bukzin.

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 online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse) or get an insider's peek on The Playhouse Blog (www.theplayhouseblog.org).

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