The Levitt Pavilion tonight hosted Matuto, a band whose sound has been described as the syncopations of Brazilian music and the folk traditions of the American South, sort of Bluegrass meets Brazil. Guests joined a conga line in front of the stage. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Country Playhouse today announced its 2017 season with some new twists –- a later starting and ending time and with two of the five plays in the fall instead of one as in past years.

Playhouse Artistic Director Mark Lamos will helm 87th season. Bruce Plotkin photo

Under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos, 2017 will mark the Connecticut professional theater’s 87th season. 

Based on patron feedback, the 2017 season will run from May 30 through Nov. 19, an announcement said. In addition to a five-play season package, a “Pick 4” package will be introduced.

Patrons may select any four plays during the entire season, a change when previously, a four-play season ticket only provided a choice between the first four or last four productions.

By Susan Granger

Why remake “Ben Hur” (1959), the epic sword-and-sandals adventure that set an Oscar record, sweeping 11 out of the 12 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler) and Best Actor (Charlton Heston)?

This new “Ben Hur,” produced by Mark Burnett (TV’s “Survivor,” “The Voice”) and Roma Downey (TV’s “Touched By an Angel”), the husband-and-wife team behind the 10-hour TV miniseries “The Bible,” returns Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel “Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ” to its devoutly religious roots.

Set in Jerusalem, it’s the story of two brothers:  a wealthy Jewish nobleman, Judah Ben-Hur (John Huston), and his adoptive Roman sibling, Messala Severus (Toby Kebbell). When ambitious Messala betrays their family, Judah vows revenge and, through his encounters with Jesus of Nazareth (Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro), witnessing the Crucifixion, learns compassion and forgiveness.

Working from a script by Keith R. Clarke and John Ridley, Russian-Kazajh director Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”) achieves period authenticity, depicting communal life and the graphic brutality of Judah’s five years as a galley slave, battling Greeks on the Ionian Sea.

Vinnie Mark of thr Treehouse Comedy Club performed at the Levitt Pavilion tonight. It was the Comedy Club’s third appearance at the Levitt this season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

There were storm clouds and intermittent rain tonight at the Westport Levitt Paviion for the Performing Arts as Westporter Rondi Charleston performed With Family and Friends. It was the second consecutive night of rain at the Levitt with Saturday’s performance cut short by a severe thunderstorm. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westporter Rondi Charleston, an award-winning jazz singer/lyricist/composer whose work has appeared in film, TV and on stage throughout the United States and Europe, performed at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts tonight. She said she was delighted to be appearing in her hometown before friends and neighbors. The show went on despite occasional rain showers, prompting Charleston to tell the audience, “Come on, folks. It’s like Gene Kelly and ‘Singing in the Rain.’” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Levitt Pavilion concertgoers take shelter under the pavilion portico tonight after a severe thunder and lighting storm cut short a performance by the Doug Wahlberg Band. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Miggs Burroughs for WestportNow.com