“Reimagine” the Westport Country Playhouse.
And save it.
Those are the 2 key takeaways from today’s announcement by the 92-year-old landmark.
Rocked over the past 2 weeks by revelations about its precarious finances — and following a leadership change — the board of trustees has “approved and begun implementing a comprehensive plan to ensure that the historic theater is able to continue to operate.”
The 92-year-old Westport Country Playhouse.
The transformation plan — called “Reimagined: Save Your Playhouse” — includes “new and exciting programming for a broad audience, a major fundraising campaign, and a more sustainable and efficient cost structure.”
New board chair Athena T. Adamson — a trustee since 2017 –says, “This summer we are working to bring to life a new vision – one that features both first-rate theater productions and a wide array of innovative programming to engage new and existing audiences.”
Beginning in September, and “ramping up to full speed by early 2024,” the WCP will offer”live performances including curated one-night-only shows featuring celebrities and top talent from the worlds of theater, comedy, music, and dance; a continuation of the popular Script in Hand play reading series … and a speaker series, ‘In Conversation with…,’ providing direct access to creators, business leaders, artists, athletes, philanthropists, and influencers in an intimate setting.”
“High-end theater and new works,” along with “next-generation children’s programming,” will begin in the fall of 2024.
The “Reimagined” plan includes a fundraising campaign. The goal is “an immediate and necessary $2 million by July 30.”
The historic interior.
Adamson notes, “Westport Country Playhouse has stood the test of time by staying true to its mission and continually evolving. More than 20 years ago, Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman inspired the Playhouse’s last, great, transformative campaign, chaired by Bob Wright, former head of NBC, and now there is another opportunity for our wonderful community to be part of shaping the Playhouse for future generations.”
Earlier this year – citing the pandemic’s continuing effect on ticket sales — the WCP cut its previously announced 2023 season from 5 productions to 3.
They’ve now canceled a third show: “School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play.” The next production — “Dial M for Murder” (July 11-29) — will be the second, and final, show of 2023.
Last week, the Playhouse made substantial staff cuts. Artistic director Mark Lamos plans to leave as well. The website currently lists 25 employees, though that number may not be accurate.
Athena Adamson
“Cancelling another production and losing more of our dedicated staff — these are the painfully hard decisions we had to make in the interest of fiscal responsibility and in order to survive,” Adamson says.
“We have a structured plan that will allow the Playhouse to meet the desires of the next generation of theatergoers, but we need your immediate help. Contributions to the ‘Save Your Playhouse’ campaign are fundamental to saving and evolving the legacy of Westport Country Playhouse.”
The Playhouse website does not yet include information about the special fundraising campaign. A “Donate” link in the press release brings users to the Annual Fund.
Adamson urges Westporters to contribute, attend the upcoming show — and contact the Playhouse.
“If you have suggestions about how we can deliver the best live performances right here in Westport, we want to hear from you,” she says. Ideas can be emailed to interim managing director Gretchen Wright: gwright@westportplayhouse.org.
I am a friend of one of the 18 Playhouse staff laid off, with no advance warning. There is not much transparency here. I know the staff had been pleading with the Board to take action the last two years, but were ignored. There is no new leadership on the Board – their announcements are deceiving. A few weeks ago the Board Chair stepped down, and as a result the Vice Chair, who has been there for several years, assumed the role of Chair. If they have an actual plan, it should be disclosed ASAP, though I doubt there is a viable plan as this Board does not have a successful track record, nor understand the responsibility or simply possess forethought for leading a community cultural institution. They are simply out of touch.
This “reach out to the community” is reminiscent of the famous (and hilarious) National Lampoon cover of 40 years ago: “Send $2 Million by July 30 or we’ll kill this dog.”
“a comprehensive plan”
“Reimagined: Save Your Playhouse” — includes “new and exciting programming for a broad audience, a major fundraising campaign, and a more sustainable and efficient cost structure.”
“live performances including curated one-night-only shows featuring celebrities and top talent from the worlds of theater, comedy, music, and dance; a continuation of the popular Script in Hand play reading series … and a speaker series, ‘In Conversation with…,’ providing direct access to creators, business leaders, artists, athletes, philanthropists, and influencers in an intimate setting.”
“High-end theater and new works,” along with “next-generation children’s programming,”
“If you have suggestions about how we can deliver the best live performances right here in Westport, we want to hear from you,”
“Dial M for Murder”.
Sure its not “DOA”?
You’re asking people who already support the Playhouse for more money, without fulfilling the current season promise, plus you haven’t told us why you need such a great sum in so short an amount of time. How on earth are we expected to believe you can “Reimagine” the WCP with all the ideas you listed if you’re so overextended you need $2m in a month? This is very worrisome and fails to boost confidence you can actually turn it around.
I worked at the playhouse when it was presenting new plays every two week. And it was a happy place. “Corporate “ took over How sad😢
How can they expect money without a disclosed plan?
Ridgefield Playhouse seems to be doing well with a great variety of programs – plays, movies, HD Met Opera, concerts.
They went “woke” (in a big way) and then they went broke. No surprise.
What exactly do you mean by this?
Google “Westport Country Playhouse goes woke” and read the articles that pop up…
Dave, To be fair, it’s the theater industry that went “woke,” if by this you mean focusing on content that’s heavy on social justice and identity politics issues.
If you look at other theatrical venues, you’ll see pretty much the same thing. (Look at Yale Rep’s website, for example.)
Caveat: theater has a long history of political messaging. Bigger issue: do the plays engage and entertain audiences along with (or perhaps in spite of) their message?
Left wing playwrights like Arthur Miller, Clifford Odets and Lillian Hellman did create compelling theater. I suspect most of today’s politically-driven playwrights do not.
You are truly a simpleton who has no idea what “woke” means.
that was meant for “officer” Eason.
On the other hand, Eason now knows what an Ad Hominen argument sounds like.
I admit to being somewhat naive/ignorant, but I would love to know the specific capital structure of the Playhouse. Who actually owns it? What is its debt load? Is it leveraged? Somehow, I smell the developers. Is this a scheme to bid up the price? Pump. Then dump. It’s been done before sadly and it’s what has brought Westport to its knees.
You can find the financials for non profits by looking on websites, like GuideStar, which post Form 990’s for non profits. For the playhouse you can view their tax filing for 2020 and earlier years.
Oklahoma, Guys & Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof and we’re having a different conversation…Just Sayin!
For that you can go to Goodspeed. That is not regional theater.
“Oklahoma!” (1943)
“Guys and Dolls” (1950)
“Fiddler on the Roof” (1964)
Gosh, if only they did plays between 60 and 80 years old, things would be so much better! That is community theater fare, and not the plays of a respected professional theater led by an Artistic Director of the status of Mark Lamos. Regional theaters across the country are struggling, and no, it isn’t because they’ve “gone woke,” it is because the nonprofit business model that puts in charge rich board members with little or no theater experience but lots of corporate knowledge, and they have no vision beyond turning a buck. The plan they offer reflects that orientation, relying on outsourcing instead of creativity. It may or may not save the Westport, but it will definitely reimagine it–the Westport will become just another roadhouse instead of a local arts organization creating art for 2023. There may indeed be problems that should have been addressed long ago, but I guarantee that this so-called “plan” will lead to Westport’s demise. I hope whoever ends up taking over the reins thereafter will figure out a way to make the theater sustainable without relying on the largesse of people who know very, very little about art.
It’s no surprise that the Playhouse will change its mission from presenting a full season of plays to become another of those venues presenting a mix of popular programming mostly produced by others, like The Klein or FTC…hopefully including some plays.
(It’s revealing that classical music, dance, and opera are NOT mentioned in the text.)
If FTC is any indicator, the calendar will be heavy on live music, because that generates big alcohol sales. (A while back, an FTC board member confided in me that the bar was their big moneymaker.)
I don’t blame the Playhouse management for the diminishing appeal of live non-musical theater, which is an industry wide problem. I hope that some smaller, leaner organizations devoted to theater arts will fill the void.
One big problem with legacy arts organizations is their high overheads. Westport Playhouse’s 2021 Form 990 indicated employee compensation of almost $2.8 million, and this during a year when the theater was mostly shut down and had program revenue of just $402,000. Even ultra-wealthy donors will quickly tire of a scenario like this.
You’re asking for money but there’s no evident plan. Have you spoken with Andrew Wilk? I heard he’s offering to help for free. Why wouldn’t you do that? Seems you can’t get out of your own way here.
PLEASE. Andrew Wilk and his tired ideas are NOT a solution to this mess. Give me a break.
Westport History Museum is next. Turned the bedroom into an office, destroyed the pillars out front by solidifying the river rock in pure concrete, a garden that is not original installed with benches and writing more about U.S. History rather than focusing on Westport history…woke is broke and this is all a joke.
Sad, all so sad. I miss when Miggs was on, he and Kathy Ross did this mural with tile for the town with my daughter and it was so warm and inviting.
You meant: Westport (is) History Museum.
There!!!! Fixed it!!!!