Theatergoers, prepare for laughter and tears as the Westport Country Playhouse announces a slate of 2018 offerings sure to pack an emotional wallop.
The roster – featuring two comedies, one drama, one musical and a world premiere – will run from May 29 through Nov. 18.
“In this American moment of turmoil and mistrust, unsteadiness and accusation, comes a season of productions at our historic playhouse that digs deep into the heart and gives the soul an uplift,” s Mark Lamos, the Playhouse’s artistic director, said in a statement. “A wide human canvas of emotions, from joy and surprise to tears of hope – this is what characterizes the coming 2018 season of drama, comedy and thrilling musical theater.”
“Flyin’ West” – written by Pearl Cleage and directed by Seret Scott – kicks off the season with a historical drama recounting the post-Civil War experience of African-Americans in the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas. (May 29-June 16)
“A Flea in Her Ear,” George Feydeau’s venerable sex farce, gets a makeover by David Ives with direction by Lamos. (July 10-28)
“The Understudy” – written by Theresa Rebeck and directed by David Kennedy – plumbs America’s obsession with celebrity. (Aug. 14-Sept. 1)
“Man of La Mancha,” – The iconic Dale Wasserman-Mitch Leigh-Joe Darion musical, based on Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote,” comes to the Playhouse Sept. 25-Oct. 13.
“Thousand Pines” – Matthew Greene’s study of tragedy in a small suburban town has its world premiere in a production directed by actor Austin Pendleton. (Oct. 30-Nov. 17)
But good theater doesn’t end there. Back by popular demand, “The Pianist of Willesden Lane” will return following the scheduled season. The musical memoir follows a 14-year-old piano prodigy in 1938 Vienna as her dream of becoming a concert pianist is threatened by the looming war in Europe. Starring Grammy-nominated pianist and storyteller Mona Golabek and directed by Hershey Felder, the work will run in December with dates is to be determined.
All titles, artists and dates are subject to change. For more, visit westportplayhouse.org.
– Danielle Renda
