Playhouse Celebrates 80th Birthday

Though the Westport Country Playhouse has undergone physical transformations since its founding 80 years ago, the pedigree of productions, actors and behind-the-scenes administrators and worker-bees hasn't wavered.

On Tuesday morning Artistic Director Mark Lamos and Managing Director Michael Ross saluted the 80th birthday of the venerable Playhouse that drew legendary talents of stage and screen — Ethel Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Paul Robeson and Bert Lahr, to name a few — to Westport.

As Playhouse fans raised a glass of champagne in honor of the Playhouse's 80th birthday, Lamos offered a toast “to at least another 80 years!”

Ross warmly greeted the crowd gathering in the Playhouse garden. “Thank you all for helping us to mark this historic moment,” he stated.

Dr. Warren Pistey, 82, of Fairfield, shared memories about working backstage as a production assistant and apprentice in 1949 at the Westport Country Playhouse. He especially remembers when the stunning Claudette Colbert performed in 1951 on the Westport stage in “Island Fling.”

“Everyone who came here was so talented,” Pistey said. “In those days, it was a pre-Broadway theater.”

Along with Colbert, some of Pistey's favorite stars stepping in front of the Westport footlights were Hume Cronyn and Van Johnson.

A graduate of Julliard College, with a degree in music, Pistey eventually attended medical school and made a career as a pathologist. However, he fondly recalls his days working backstage in the Playhouse's apprentice program. “It's a wonderful place,” Pistey stated. “It's nice to come back.”

On June 29, 1931, New York producers Lawrence Langner and his wife, Armina Marshall, opened the doors to a newly refurbished red barn that they purchased in an apple orchard in what was then a rustic town called Westport. The Playhouse's debut performance was “The Streets of New York,” starring Dorothy Gish.

Since then, the Playhouse has helped to launch the careers of award-winning actors, such as Henry Fonda, Julia Harris and Patricia Neal. It's also played a part in the creation of two major American musicals, “Oklahoma!” and “My Fair Lady.”

“There was the summer stock circuit and then there was the Westport Country Playhouse,” said State Representative Jonathan Steinberg.

Steinberg, of Westport, reminisced about attending Playhouse productions during his childhood and listening to his “elders” talk with pride about the Westport theater. In reading a proclamation signed off by Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy, naming Tuesday “Westport Country Playhouse Day,” Steinberg recognized Langner and Marshall, Executive Producer James B. McKenzie, who came on board in 1959 and stayed at its helm for 41 years, and Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, who oversaw the Playhouse's last renovation and revitalization.

Steinberg also paid homage to Lamos and Ross for their stellar contributions in recent years to maintaining the Playhouse's presence as “a vital cultural resource.”

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff also praised the theater for putting Westport on the world stage. “It's what makes Westport so special. Who would want to live anywhere else?” Joseloff stated.

Playhouse Board Member Darlene Krenz said that she and her husband, the late Donald Krenz, were thrilled to learn that Westport had its own legitimate theater when they moved here 37 years ago. The couple became Playhouse subscribers and also took their children to the children's shows.

After the Playhouse's renovation, Krenz explained that she went on a “hard hat tour” because she wanted to see what was going on at the revamped venue. It was then that she spoke with Elisabeth Saxe, head of the $30.6 million renovation campaign, and now-Director of Institutional Advancement for the Playhouse, about making a donation to the theater that she and her husband shared so many happy memories.

In memory of her husband, Krenz donated the structure that allows the Playhouse to be accessible to the handicapped. A plaque dedicating this area to Donald was placed on the building's exterior so that her grandchildren would always be able to read it when they visit, Krenz noted. “This means that actors in wheelchairs will also be able to use it,” she pointed out.

Like many guests at yesterday's birthday party, Krenz complimented the Playhouse's top administrators. “Bringing in Mark and Michael was a wonderful thing,” she stated. “They've brought vitality and expertise and we love them dearly.”

Patti Russo, another Playhouse donor, agreed. She said that she likes to support the Playhouse because she has “a passion for theater.”

“I love that we have such high quality theater right here in my backyard,” Russo added.

Saxe said Lamos has continuously strives to “create theater that's worth talking about.”

She also pointed out that though people could go to New York and enjoy seeing a show on Broadway, local audiences especially like coming to the Playhouse because it's close to home. “We're so fortunate to have live theater in Fairfield County. It's a personal experience too because it's our theater,” Saxe explained. “It's homegrown.”

Tricia Tierney, Community Relations Manager at Barnes and Noble in Westport, and Joan Hume, Community Relations Director for the Westport Public Library, were also on hand to toast the Playhouse. They pointed out that both the book store and library frequently partner with the Playhouse on community programs. Tierney said that this fall there will be opportunities at Barnes and Noble to support the Playhouse.

“We're one big happy family,” Tierney stated. “People are very engaged in this community and they're interested in everything that's going on.”

A beautifully decorated birthday cake designed by CakeSuite was shared. As a special gift to the public, balloons with gift vouchers for the upcoming production of Terrence McNally's “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” were distributed throughout Fairfield County.