The Westport Country Playhouse announced today that its 2016 Fundraising Gala on Monday, Sept. 19 will celebrate the Broadway musical composing team of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe.
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Honorees: Jill and Alexl Dimitrief, David Paul Morris/Bloomberg photo
Titled “The Night They Invented Champagne: Celebrating Lerner & Loewe,” it will serve as a springboard for the Playhouse’s October production of Lerner & Lowe’s “Camelot.”
The production, described by the Playhouse as “a freshly inventive take on the classic musical,” will be directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director.
In addition to “Camelot,” Lerner and Loewe composed the acclaimed Broadway musicals “My Fair Lady,” “Brigadoon,” “Paint Your Wagon,” and “Gigi,” from which the gala’s title song, “The Night They Invented Champagne,” originated.
The Gala will include a one-night-only performance of Lerner and Loewe show tunes by Broadway’s best talents, to be announced at a later date, the Playhouse said. Lerner died in 1986 and Loewe in 1988.
Lerner and Loewe have a special, historic connection with the Playhouse, an announcement said. “It was the place that sparked their writing of ‘My Fair Lady,’” it said.
Ever since “Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw was first presented on stage in 1913, there was talk of the play’s potential as a musical among American producers, including Playhouse founder and producer Lawrence Langner.
In 1952, Langner staged a production of “Pygmalion” at the Playhouse, to which he invited Lerner and Loewe. They loved the play, inspiring them to transform it into the musical “My Fair Lady.”
The 2016 Playhouse Leadership Award will be presented to Alex and Jill Dimitrief of Westport.
A cocktail party will begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. presentation of the Playhouse Leadership Award and 7:15 p.m. performance by Broadway friends in celebration of Lerner and Loewe, the Playhouse said.
Dinner with the evening’s artists and special guests will be at 8:30 p.m. A silent auction with mobile bidding will be on going throughout the evening. Attire is festive; black tie optional, gold accents welcome.
Gala tickets range from $2,500 to $250. For more information or ticket purchases, contact Elizabeth Marks Juviler, director of community engagement and special events, at (203) 571-1293 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
