Category: Arts & Leisure - Page 147

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Rehearsing for Script in Hand Reading Tonight

Actors paused today during a rehearsal for tonight’s Westport Country Playhouse Script In Hand reading of “Lunch Hour,” a romantic comedy by Jean Kerr. The play is set in a Long Island beach house in 1980 when two female friends discover their spouses are having an affair. They counter by having an affair of their own. The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the play reading series. Pictured: (seated, l-r) Mark Shanahan, Kate MacCluggage, James Waterston, Rebekah Brockman and John Skelley; (standing) Anne Keefe, Peter Chenot, stage directions, and Ann Sheffer, sponsor. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Playhouse Seeks Extras for Season Opener

The Westport Country Playhouse said today it is seeking non-Equity extras, male and female, all ethnicities and types, ages 25-70, to play tourists in the season opening production of Peter Shaffer’s comedy “Lettice & Lovage.”

It said the play, directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, needs extras who must be available for rehearsals and performances beginning Friday, May 26 and ending Sunday, June 18.

Extras will appear in the first 10 minutes of the production and “play a range of feelings that go from bored-to-death to interested and finally elated as Lettice Douffet, played by Patricia Conolly, evolves from their inexperienced tour guide to a theatrical tour de force,” an announcement said.

Also in the cast are Playhouse alumni Mia Dillon and Sarah Manton, who play Charlotte Schoen and Ms. Framer, respectively, and Paxton Whitehead, who will reprise his role of Mr. Bardolph from the original Broadway production.

Sunday, April 23rd, 2017

CNN’s Alisyn Camerota at Hadassah Luncheon

The Westport Chapter of Hadassah will host its annual spring fundraiser at the Inn at Longshore on Thursday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with CNN anchor and Westport resident Alisyn Camerota as guest speaker, organizers announced.

Alisyn Camerota: Westport mom. Contributed photo

The luncheon will honor Susie Blumenfeld, an entrepreneur and founder of her own event planning business Pink House Productions, LLC. A chapter member for more than 24 years, she has held leadership positions both locally and regionally, an announcement said.

Funds raised will support the Hadassah Medical Center’s groundbreaking work, including stem cell and nephrology research, it said.

At this event, organizers will also collect business attire for the Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County in Bridgeport.

Comings & Goings: Layla’s Falafel to Post Road East

Layla’s Falafel, featuring Middle Eastern cuisine and owned by Trumbull residents Dino and Layla Sakakini, will open at 1537 Post Road East in late May. J.P. Sakakini, the owners’ son, said his parents started the business 17 years ago in Fairfield. He said Westport will be the family’s fifth location, with two in Stamford, and one in Trumbull in addition to the original Fairfield location. “The Westport location is small, only a few tables but our main business is takeout and catering,” he said. “We offer fast, casual food and service and we are definitely not at all like a chain food business—we are truly family owned and operated.” He added, “We’re excited to become part of the Westport community.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Friday, April 21st, 2017

Gallery: Celebrating Week of the Young Child

Scenes from today’s seventh annual Westport preschool self-portrait reception in the Higgins Room in the Westport Library’s Children’s Department. The event marking the Week of the Young Child is part of the early literacy outreach program with Westport preschoolers. The preschool artists were very proud of their self-portraits and happily showed their artistic endeavors to their families and friends. The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers and families. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

High School Art Winner

Sophia Livecchi, 17, a Staples High School senior, tonight was named winner of the annual Tracy Sugarman Award, named in honor the late Westport artist and illustrator. Jurors Ann Chernow and Leonard Everett Fisher selected her entry, “Woven Terrains,” as best in the third annual High School Student Art Exhibition at the Westport Arts Center. Sophia, who will attend Swarthmore College majoring in art, credited Staples art teacher Camille Eskell for inspiring her work and urging her to enter. The award, sponsored by retired Senior U.S. District Judge Alan H. Nevas and Janet Nevas, was presented at the opening reception for the Center’s “Main Street to Madison Avenue” exhibit. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Congrats to Tracy Sugarman Award Winner

Retired Senior U.S. District Judge Alan H. Nevas (l) congratulates High School Art Exhibit winner Sophia Livecchi, 17, a Staples High School senior, tonight upon her being named winner of the annual Tracy Sugarman Award, which honors the late Westport artist and illustrator. Nevas and wife Janet established the award to honor their longtime friend. Jurors Ann Chernow (seated) and Leonard Everett Fisher (2nd r) selected her entry, “Woven Terrains,” as best in the third annual High School Student Art Exhibition at the Westport Arts Center. The ceremony took place at the opening reception for the Center’s “Main Street to Madison Avenue” exhibit. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Closeup Look

Westport Arts Center guests get a closeup look tonight of some of the entries in its “Main Street to Madison Avenue” exhibit. It examines the history of interplay between art and advertising and the lasting impact in pop culture and fine arts by Westport’s own illustrators of the day. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Comings & Goings: Julian’s Pizza Opens Another Location

Julian’s Pizza Bar & Kitchen, 1460 Post Road East, will open in May, according to owner Mike Sayed who also owns Julian’s Pizza, 539 Riverside Ave. He said the eat-in and takeout eatery offers wood-fired oven pizza, burgers made with beef supplied by Fleisher Craft Butchery, vegeburgers, free range chicken appetizers, pasta and a full service bar. Pizza slices are available during daytime hours. “We were the first Westport pizza shop to offer wood-fired oven pizza and we’re expanding that offering in our new location,” he said. The space was previously occupied by Bravo, an Italian cuisine restaurant, also owned by Sayed and, before that, until April 2012, by Munson’s Chocolates for 20 years. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

Playhouse Sneak Peek of 2017 Season

Mark Lamos (r), artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse, tonight hosted a sneak peek program of the Playhouse’s 2017 season. Seated next to him is actor Paxton Whitehead, a familar Playhouse stage presence who will appear in “Lettice and Lovage,” a 1990 Tony Award nominee for Best Play, written by Peter Shaffer, author of “Amadeus.” It is the season opener, playing May 30 through June 17, with Lamos directing. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com