Play With Your Food (PWFY) – Fairfield County’s innovative lunchtime theater series -- has announced the selections for its upcoming productions in Westport (Feb. 4-6) and Fairfield (Feb. 11).
Now in its 12th year, PWYF provides patrons with a theater experience that includes a gourmet buffet lunch, a selection of one-act play readings and post-event discussions with professional actors and playwrights – all packed into a 90-minute program.
Shows are presented at Toquet Hall in Westport and at Fairfield Theatre Company. February’s lunches will be provided by Matsu Sushi in Westport and Osianna Mediterranean Taverna in Fairfield.
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Refinements at FTC have enhanced the Fairfield offerings, notes PWYF Managing Director Inge Maki. "Audiences at FTC are now enjoying lunch either in the newly renovated art gallery or on the stage of the theater,” said Maki. "Eating in these warm, cozy spaces has heightened the overall PWYF experience for our audiences."
For February, PWYF Artistic Director Carole Schweid has selected three plays by well-received authors: Pulitzer Prize-winner David Auburn (Proof) is represented by Amateurs, a cynical look at legal agreements and their consequences. The Interview by A.R. Gurney (The Dining Room) questions a father’s trust of his son; and Package Deal by Frederick Stroppel, takes the audience into the world of shrewd, calculating Hollywood, turning what looks like a normal situation and into something hilarious.
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Cast members will include Nadine Willig (Stratford), Susan Vanech (Fairfield) and Scott Bryce (Weston-Weston).
“We try and cast just the right actors in each part," says Schweid. “Nadine and Susan are perfect for their roles in Package Deal. They are both known to our audiences for their humor, their timing and their willingness to do just about anything for a laugh. We have a ball working together. And, we are looking forward to working with Scott Bryce, who is known for his movie work as well as his roles in daytime and prime time television.”
Ucoming performances at Toquet Hall in Westport are set for March 4- 6 and April 1-3. At Fairfield Theatre Company, productions will be held March 11 and April 8. In addition, Play With Your Food at the Greenwich Arts Council is offered Feb 7, March 26- 27, and April 16-17.
New this season is an evening production of PWYF in Greenwich on Friday, Feb. 7. The program will include a cocktail hour, with wine and hors d’oeuvres at 6:30 p.m.; plays and discussion from 7 to 8 pm.
Plays include Move On or Sondheim at Studio 54 by Michael McKeever; Busy, Busy from Off Broadway’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Joe DiPietro); and J-E-T-S, by a PWYF favorite playwright Fred Stroppel. Catering will be by Louie’s in Cos Cob.
Tickets for all Play With Your Food shows, including lunch, are $43. To purchase tickets, and see a complete schedule and locations, visit www. jibproductions.org or call the box office at (203) 293-8831 Monday-Friday between 10 a.m and 4 p.m.
The PWYF concept, and caliber of performances, has been praised by the New York Times as well as local media, critics and audiences.
