On Monday, “06880” ran a story on the future of the Westport Country Playhouse.
The board of directors says:
For the past several months, the board at the Westport Country Playhouse has been preparing for a leadership transition, and adapting to the new financial reality facing professional regional theaters.
We are in a difficult situation, yet singularly focused on our responsibility to ensure that the Playhouse not only survives but thrives.
To do so, we are re-envisioning a Playhouse that celebrates its proud heritage of producing first-rate theater, and presents a wide array of programming to engage audiences new and old.
Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
As part of a cohesive plan, in the coming months and years our Playhouse will welcome musical artists, concerts, speaker series, holiday and youth programs, writers’ festivals, film screenings, stand-up comedy acts, and touring musical productions.
We are currently evaluating proposed visions for our new artistic direction, and plan to announce new leadership soon. We are also exploring strategic partnerships with local organizations and national theater companies to expand programming at the Playhouse.
We are deeply grateful for the dedication and support we receive from people and communities from New York to New Haven, and we know we can’t do this alone. Your participation as audience members, volunteer leaders, donors, and advocates is fundamental to our success.
With your continued commitment, the Westport Country Playhouse will emerge stronger than ever as a proud symbol of our town, and a place where we all belong.
The next production at the Playhouse is “Dial M for Murder” (July 11-29). Click here for more information, and tickets.
I smell another fund raiser on the horizon in the land of deep pockets and shallow leadership. “A PLEDGE PIN!!!! ON YOUR UNIFORM!!!! DROP AND GIVE ME 20!!!!”
Thank you Dan happy to hear the promising news
Wow. I guess they read all the comments from your previous article. The response seems very vague though. I was hoping that they would be a bit more specific. I guess they did listen to some of the suggestions about different programming.
What about making it into something like The Wall Street Theatre in Norwalk?
https://wallstreettheater.com/events-calendar/
Too many fixed seats on the floor, the beauty of places like the Wall Street Theatre and FTC is the multi-functional wide open floor.
The playhouse is more like The Klein – https://www.theklein.org/buy-tickets/upcoming-events/
Which reminds me… what ever happened to Westport Cinema Initiative? They should form some kind of partnership with the Westport Country Playhouse.
Yes!
Glad to hear this. I especially like hearing about the speaker series as that seems like a low-budget item that can be a good revenue source—with hopefully online ticket purchases as part of the equation similar to what the 92nd St Y has been doing.
And possibilities like that would enable former WCP subscribers such as my wife and me—who no longer go in person due to Covid-related health issues—to be part of the audience. And maybe online availability could be done too with the Script in Hand performances.
Thanks for sharing this.
Social media is key, as well as getting local influencers who also happen to have a larger reach to post about what’s coming and what’s going on. Partnerships with local film and theater groups.
More current productions, to be crowd-pleasers. High school internships, which I think are no longer happening there? Perhaps considering letting non-Equity productions in to broaden reach, if that’s allowed in an Equity playhouse. But mainly: social media influencing, youth (teen and young adult) engagement and some productions that are more of this century.
So, in other words, someone besides Mr Wilk has been thinking about this? How shocking.
I guess there are other potential leadership candidates that haven’t publicly campaigned or had leaks on their behalf to sway the Board. Imagine that.
Agreed. These ideas that Andrew have presented are commonplace. All theatre/performance arts centers in America are heading in this direction. I am sure the Playhouse has a plan. Like I mentioned yesterday, there is much more to this story, and self-aggrandizing promotion does not help the situation. Number 1 – who is going to pay for all of this? As brought up yesterday, Andrew relied solely on the Playhouse Board and staff to fund his productions for his own benefit. To the many people who jumped on the bandwagon with this self promotion, I would suggest taking the time and effort to get the facts. And yes, the Playhouse does annual benefits, as do all non-profit theatres, so Mr. Buchroeder I suggest you stay home.
You’re far from the first to suggest that.
Your post stating: Andrew relied solely on the Playhouse Board and staff to fund his productions for his own benefit” is incorrect.
My wife and I contributed no less then 26% of the total capitalization for the PBS series.
There is a serious discussion concerning the future of the Playhouse and it would be helpful if we limit misinformation at all possible.
Bud Siegel
Hello Bud: I understand. I should have been clearer and said Donors, Board and Staff of the Playhouse. My point was that it was an effort for the Playhouse to raise these funds. Your family has been an invaluable donor to the Playhouse for many years. That was exactly my point – the long standing supporters. My family also donated to these PBS series. And THANK YOU!
The Boards response reads exactly like what it appears to be – having been forced out into the bright sunlight by 06880’s superb scoop, they are grudgingly admitting the obvious (that they are struggling) but still, stubbornly, trying to control the narrative. I would suggest that their “control” effort as manifested in this statement is exactly how they ended up in this position in the first place. Way too little, way too late. New Leadership Now!
Let’s hope the expansion of offerings adds to the success of the Playhouse. We loved some of the films that were shown in the mid 70s, such as “The Hatder They Come,” snd Russ Meyer’s “Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls.” And we took a fascinating course on “Shamanism“ presented by Michael Harner.
Of course one must not forget that they are in direct competition with the new, improved and unbelievably affluent and well-capitalized WESTPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY. Remember their tagline: It’s not about the books, it’s about the Benjamin’s.
Be careful Mr. Buchroeder , remember Ilhan Omar…
I would never forget her.
Clark Douglas on June 7 at 3:37 pm posted: “Andrew relied solely on the Playhouse Board and staff to fund his productions for his own benefit.”
This is factually incorrect.
My wife and I personally contributed 26% of the capitalization for the entire PBS production. Furthermore, there were other participants who also made sizable contributions to these shows.
If you are going to make statements, please have your facts straight.
Bud Siegel
The Board says they plan “…musical artists, concert and speakers….the point is, they so often choose the WRONG musical artists, concerts and speakers….more folksy, less wokesy might do the trick, and get the high horse the hell out of the ivory tower.