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The Westport Country Playhouse is a theatre in Westport, Connecticut, founded in 1930 by Lawrence Langner and his wife Armina Marshall. It is now a non-profit theatre run by Tazewell Thompson, Anne Keefe, and Joanne Woodward. It recently underwent a $30.6 million renovation, and now has a 575-seat theatre space. The Playhouse is one of the most well-known theatres in Connecticut.

History

The building that is now the Westport Country Playhouse is nearly 200 years old. In 1835, a tannery was constructed by R&H Haight, owned by Henry Haight. After Haight's death in 1860], the plant was purchased by Charles H. Kemper.

In 1930, the former tannery, which had been unused since the 1920s, was purchased for $14,000 by Lawrence Langner. Cleon Throckmorten, a Broadway designer, was commissioned to renovate the interior of the building.

In 1931, the curtain went up on the first production at the Westport Country Playhouse. In order to more easily transfer Playhouse productions to Broadway, the stage was built to match the specifications of Broadway’s Times Square Theatre on 42nd Street. The idea proved immediately useful when the playhouse's first production, The Streets of New York (starring Dorothy Gish), transferred to Broadway. Dozens of new works followed suit over the years.

Langner would turn to well-known actor acquaintences when he cast some roles and to friends such as Eugene O'Neill and George Bernard Shaw when he needed new plays. The Playhouse's strong launch then enhanced its reputation among future actors. Nearby wealthy, theatrically connected supporters in Fairfield County further helped it survive and thrive.

In the 1940s, the playhouse began its apprentice program for young theater professionals. Over the years, Playhouse apprentices have included composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, screenwriter Frank Perry, television host Sally Jesse Raphael, composer Mary Rodgers, actor Carey Elwes, and actress Tammy Grimes. The program remains to this day.

In 1940s and 1950s, the playhouse's successes included world premieres of William Inge’s Come Back, Little Sheba and Horton Foote’s Trip to Bountiful, both of which went on to Broadway.

Since the Langners stepped down in 1959, the administration has included James B. McKenzie from 1959 to 2000 and actress Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman's wife, who took over in 2000. Newman is now part-owner of a restaurant next to the theatre.

By 2000, more than 700 plays had been produced and almost four million people had attended the theatre.

Woodward led a $30.6 million renovation, transforming the old barn into a modern, year-round theatre facility. She stepped down from her job as Artistic Director of the Playhouse in January 2006, and was followed by actor, opera and theatre director, and playwright Tazewell Thompson. However, Woodward and Newman have both continued to contribute generously to the Playhouse's Campaign for a New Era.

The Apprenticeship Program

The Westport Country Playhouse has a summer apprenticeship program, which is currently run by Chad Rabinovitz. The program lasts approximately eight weeks, usually starting in June and ending in August. The apprenticeship is 7 to 12 hours per day, 7 days per week, and with rare exceptions, there is no time off allowed.

Each year, approximately 10 apprentices are selected out of those who apply. These apprentices are generally from age 15 to 18. Many live in Westport and the surrounding towns, but some come from as far away as New Jersey.

The program is designed to give the apprentices experience in every aspect of professional theater. This includes:

  • Working on all forms of stagecraft during Work Rotations
  • Front of house work during performances
  • Running crew for the summer shows
  • Theatre acting, analysis, and writing classes
  • Talks with professionals in the theatre industry during Artist Hours
  • The Apprentice Showcase, a show written and performed by the apprentices each year

Current Administration

Board of Directors

  • Chairman: Elisabeth Morton
  • President: John A. Vaccaro
  • Vice Presidents: Harold Baily, Jr. and Sharon Sullivan
  • Treasurer: Steven Wolff
  • Secretary: Ann Sheffer

Staff

  • Artistic Director: Tazewell Thompson
  • Executive Director: Formerly Alison Harris, position currently not filled
  • Associate Artistic Director: Anne Keefe
  • Artistic Director Emeritus: Joanne Woodward

Production

  • Production Coordinator: Liz Liles
  • Technical Director: Victor W. Smith
  • Company Manager: Bruce Miller

2006 Season

March 9 – March 25: On the Verge written by Eric Overmyer, directed by Tazewell Thompson

April 30 - May 21: Thurgood written by George Stevens, Jr., directed by Leonard Foglia.

June 1 - June 18: Jam & Spice arranged by Dianne Adams McDowell, directed by Tazewell Thompson.

June 22 - July 9: The Drawer Boy written by Michael Healey, directed by John Tillinger.

July 13 - July 30: Constant Star written and directed by Tazewell Thompson.

August 3 - August 20: A Marriage Minuet written by David Wiltse, directed by Tracy Brigden.

August 24 - September 10: The Archbishop's Cieling written by Arthur Miller, directed by Gregory Mosher.

October 19 - November 5: Old Wicked Songs written by Jon Marans, directed by Loy Arcenas.

November 29 - December 23: A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens, directed by Tazewell Thompson.

Trivia

  • The Westport Country Playhouse was once mentioned in an episode of The Simpsons.

  • Langner, the founder, was not only accomplished in theater, but a patent lawyer involved in the formation of the National Inventors Council, run by inventor Charles F. Kettering, whose name forms part of the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. Langner was also a key supporter of the Connecticut Stratford Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut.

Famous Artists

References

For more information

AN AMERICAN THEATRE: The Story of Westport Country Playhouse, by Richard Somerset-Ward, Yale University Press. 304 pp. $39.95 (2005)

Theatres in the United States | Theatres in Connecticut

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Westport Country Playhouse".

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