Anne Keefe (l), director of tonight’s Westport Country Playhouse script in hand playreading performance of “Trying” gets together afterwards to celebrate with actors (l-r) Star and Edward Herrmann and Helen Cespedes. The play by Joanna McClelland Glass is based on her real life experience serving as secretary to Francis Biddle (1886-1968), U.S. Attorney General under Franklin D. Roosevelt and, after the war, chief justice at the Nuremburg trials. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Library tonight presented Ian Brzezinski, foreign policy expert. He spoke on Russian’s invasion of Ukraine and its implications for transatlantic security. The former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy in 2001–2005, who earlier served as a volunteer adviser to the Ukraine, said Russia’s Vladimir Putin wants to slowly take back the former states of the Soviet Union by using troops and quick attacks.“Putin is going to go for more territory….assertive Russian policy is becoming increasing aggressive,” he said. Brzezinski is son of foreign policy expert Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served as a counselor to President Lyndon B. Johnson and was National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter. His brother Mark is also a foreign policy expert who just retired as U.S. ambassador to Sweden. His sister is television news journalist Mika Brzezinski, who worked in Hartford before moving to CBS News, then MSNBC.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

The cast in rehearsal today for tonight’s Westport Country Playhouse script-in-hand play reading of “Trying.” The play, by Joanna McClelland Glass and directed by Anne Keefe, is based on the author’s experience during 1967-68 when she worked for Francis Biddle at his home office in Washington D.C. The play tells the story of a young Canadian girl and an old Philadelphia aristocrat “trying” to understand each other in what Biddle knows is the final year of his life. Pictured are Helen Cespedes reading the role of Sarah Schorr, Edward Herrmann as Judge Francis Biddle, and Star Herrmann, Edward’s wife, providing stage directions. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Dover String Quartet peformed to an enthusiastic audience today at the Westport Arts Center. Comprising (l-r) violinists Joel Link and Bryan Lee, cellist Camden Shaw, and violist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, the group was formed in October 2008 while its members were students at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. It and gave its first official performance in February 2009 and has quickly established a burgeoning presence in the music world. Having won a variety of competitions, including the first and grand prizes at the 2010 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Dover swept the first and all subsidiary prizes at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Audience members at the Westport Arts Center today applaud a performance by the Dover String Quartet. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

The Westport Country Playhouse today hosted a Family Festivities Kick-off Party to celebrate the Playhouse’s 2014-15 Family Festivities Series, which begins on Sunday, Nov. 16. The popular series will feature productions based on children’s classic stories, including “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse,” “The Lightning Thief,” “Dog Loves Books,” and “Curious George.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes from today’s Family Festivities Day at the Westport Country Playhouse. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s seventh annual Stand Up for Homes With Hope gala fundraiser event at the Westport Country Playhouse. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com