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In 1946 — just 15 years after its founding — the Westport Country Playhouse established an internship program. Among its graduates: a kid named Stephen Sondheim.
Now nationally recognized as a formative experience for aspiring arts professionals, it’s named for another Westport icon: Joanne Woodward.
This summer — after a 2-year COVID hiatus — the Joanne Woodward Internship Program returns live. Internships in stage management, props/scenic painting, wardrobe, marketing, company management, education, and development will run from May 28 to August 21.
In addition to working directly with senior staff, interns participate in weekly seminars. They hear a variety of guest speakers, including Playhouse staff members, visiting designers and artists, commercial producers and more. The pay is $560 a week.
The application deadline is March 11. Click here for the form.
Stephen Sondheim (crouching, top of photo), during his 1950 internship. The photo was taken at the Jolly Fisherman restaurant. Also in the photo: future film director Frank Perry (front row, left) and Richard Rodgers’ daughter Mary (2nd row, 4th from left).
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Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice says:
“Given the rapid drop in COVID cases among our middle and high school students, and the small number of students in quarantine, we will return to regular classroom instruction, and discontinue the use of live-streaming cameras.
“The last day of livestreaming cameras in our secondary classrooms will be tomorrow (Friday, January 28). Pending additional cases or quarantine, there will be zero Staples High and Coleytown Middle students in isolation or quarantine after today, and only 5 students in isolation and 2 in quarantine at Bedford Middle School.
“We will continue to peel back mitigating measures prudently, based on our local experience and input from public health advisors.”
No Coleytown Middle School students in isolation or quarantine!
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ADL’s Connecticut chapter is a national leader in the fight against antisemitism and bigotry.
And — like its previous director — its new leader is a Westporter.
Stacey Sobel succeeds Steve Ginsburg. Most recently, she spent nearly a decade as executive director of Child Advocates of Connecticut, serving abused and neglected children.
As a volunteer, Sobel was president of Temple Israel, and president of Westport’s Hadassah chapter.
Sobel also was in private law practice, and served in the general counsel’s office of Continental Can Company. The Long Island native l is a graduate of Lafayette College, and Boston University School of Law.
Stacey Sobel
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TAP — the personal wellness team in downtown Westport — and Fleet Feet are partnering on the weekend of February 4-6. TAP members get 10% off merchandise at the running store.
In other words: Work out. “Run” across the street to Sconset Square. Then pick up something special for your valentine a week later.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows a barren — but beautiful — Sherwood Island scene.
I’m betting that 48 hours from now, it will look quite different.
(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
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And finally … on this date in 1880 Thomas Edison received a patent for his incandescent lamp.
In the Westpoert Playhouse apprentice photo… in the upper right hand corner is long time Westport resident and member of the Theatre Artists Workshop- Chilton Ryan
Hello Mark Graham,I’ve not heard Chilton Ryan’s name in many,many years.Much later, in the early 1970’s,Chilton Ryan (& his two brothers,Peter & Jeffrey) used to frequent a tiny restaurant in Southport,off exit 19,’The Villanova’,where John Mehegan’s jazz trio played Friday & Saturday nights. One night,Chilton then brought in
Ellen Handley, a former Broadway star, (New Faces,1952,she lived on Vani Court) and she then sang a beautiful ‘Blame it on My Youth’ with John’s trio.
(All this,another wonderful lifetime ago-:-)
Congratulations to Stacey Sobel. ADL is very lucky to have such a bright and compassionate new leader.