Melissa Joan Hart — known to young fans across America for her roles in “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” and “Melissa & Joey” — is a Westport resident.
So she won’t have far to go on Monday (July 29, 7 p.m.) for a play reading event.
“Any Wednesday” is at — and a benefit for — the Westport Country Playhouse.
Melissa Joan Hart
For over 80 years, the Playhouse has hosted some of the biggest names in theater: Paul Robeson, Helen Hayes, Alan Alda, Cicely Tyson — you get the idea.
But Monday’s reading has a decidedly local feel.
There’s fellow Westporter Brian J. Carter. Joanna Gleason and Chris Sarandon will also read — they’re in Fairfield, and no strangers to Playhouse productions.
There are other intriguing tie-ins too.
Sandy Dennis — a longtime North Sylvan Road resident — originated the “Any Wednesday” role on Broadway. She also starred in many Playhouse shows.
Jason Robards — who was in the “Any Wednesday” film — lived in Southport. The Playhouse’s theater is named in his honor, and his son Jake has appeared on the Playhouse stage.
Jane Fonda — who played Melissa’s role in the film — appeared on the Playhouse stage in 1960. Her father — Henry Fonda — preceded her here in 1937.
It’s starting to sound less like “Any Wednesday.” And more like “Six Degrees of Separation.”
(Tickets are $100, $50 and $25, and include a “Meet the Cast” party following the July 29 reading. For information and reservations, call 203-227-4177, or click here.)
And of course, Ms. Woodward and Mr. Newman — who performed together, I believe, in a play (“Our Town”?) at the Playhouse not very long (a couple of years) before he left us — but they lived in Westport beginning in the 1950s or 1960s. He had a VW with a Porsche engine. And there was a photo in the paper once of him giving a push to a stranded motorist — presumably with a standard shift, to “push start” it.
Thanks, Mandy — but what’s the Newman/Woodward connection with “Any Wednesday”? Today’s story was about Playhouse connections with that particular show — not the Playhouse in general!
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