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Printed From Acorn-Online.com Arts & Leisure
Actress/director Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe of Weston have rejoined the staff at Westport Country Playhouse for day-to-day involvement as co-artistic directors, titles they shared from 2000 to 2005 when Tazewell Thompson became artistic director for two years. On Jan. 2, the playhouse board of directors announced that Mr. Thompson had “departed due to artistic and professional differences regarding how best to fulfill the mission of the playhouse while serving the community.” As evidenced at the opening of the 78th season, with Vigil on March 1, everything is “on course” again, with enthusiastic audiences warmly greeting Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe and applauding the change in management. The change in leadership occurred after a brief announcement by Westport Country Playhouse board president Elisabeth Morton informing members that Mr. Thompson had stepped down. “We admire Tazewell Thompson’s work as a playwright and director, and during the past two years, he has given us many enjoyable moments in the theater,” she said. “We are fortunate to have access to such exceptionally talented leaders as Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, and grateful for their willingness to return to the playhouse for the coming season.” Ms. Woodward and Ms. Keefe said they are planning to guide the playhouse until a new artistic director, “with enormous vision,” can be found in time for the 2009 season. During their first collaboration as artistic directors, a new era of prosperity was created for the theater. The playhouse underwent a significant renovation and revitalization following a successful $30.6-million capital campaign. In 2002, Our Town with Paul Newman in the role of the Stage Manager moved from the Westport stage to the Booth Theatre on Broadway for a record-breaking run. He and Ms. Woodward recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and while he won’t be on stage this season, he will direct Of Mice and Men in the fall at Westport. Assisting the artistic directors on their return is playhouse managing director Jodi Schoenbrun Carter who is looking forward to “creating a wonderful audience experience with the nation’s best artists both on and behind the stage...and continuing to explore and expand programming in ways specifically designed to enhance theater-going experiences.” Mr. Thompson’s departure also resulted in changing some of the 2008 season programming, which has expanded from five to eight shows a year plus a non-subscription Christmas show. Eliminated from the schedule and replaced were two plays Tazwell Thompson was set to direct, Sweet Bird of Youth and A Strange and Separate People. Working with Ms. Woodward, Anne Keefe, who has had a long career in stage managing, said, “As we strive to find our place in both the region and the theater industry, we have had bumps along the road. However, we have completed the first step in our journey by rebuilding the theater and we are mapping the growth and programming of the playhouse as we move toward our final step of becoming a nationally recognized year-round theater of which our entire community can be proud. “We want the playhouse to feel like home to our audiences,” added Ms. Keefe. “The remainder of 2008 playhouse season is going to be pretty much the same,” according to Ms. Woodward...”and we are confident this season will carry on the tradition of the playhouse as we work to foster the legends of tomorrow.” The 2008 season includes Alan Ayckbourn’s Time of My Life, April 1 to 19 and April 24 to 26; The Pavilion, a love story by Craig Wright, May 13 to 31; Hot ‘n Cole, A Cole Porter Celebration!, June 10 to 28; Scramble!, an office comedy by David Wiltse of Weston; Tryst, a thriller by Karoline Leach, Aug. 5 to 23; and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, directed by Paul Newman, Oct. 7 to 25 and Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. A Christmas show is to be announced. Subscriptions for the 2008 season are still available starting at $185 for a 5-play and 6-play series. Single tickets range from $30 to $55. Students and educators are eligible for 50% discounts. The playhouse performance schedule is Tuesday at 8; Wednesday at 2 and 8; Saturday at 4 and 8; and Sunday at 3. Reservations, 203-227-4177 or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529 or visit westportplayhouse.org. © Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers |
