Carole Schweid — an actor, playwright, author, and a Westport icon as co-founder and artistic director of “Play With Your Food,” the local lunchtime play-reading program — died earlier today at her Westport home.
Carole was also a member of the original cast of “A Chorus Line.”
After graduating from the Juilliard School, she began her Broadway career as an original cast member of “Minnie’s Boys,” the Marx Brothers musical starring Shelley Winters.
On television she was a member of “Fitz & Bones,” the Smothers Brothers’ series.
Carole Schweid
In addition to working regularly as a dancer, singer and actor, Carole wrote 2 plays: the off-Broadway “On The Bench,” and “Agnes.” The latter — a one-woman show about choreographer Agnes de Mille — was performed at the Smithsonian Institution theater.
The success of Carole’s Play With Your Food led her to write “Staged Reading Magic: A Play Producer’s Quick Guide for Turning a Free Staged Reading into a Hot Theater Ticket.”
Carole is survived by sons Max Lance and Daniel Lance; grandchildren Bailey and Leo Lance; her brother Robert Schweid, and her former husband, Steven Lance.
A memorial service will be scheduled for Westport in January.
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This past July, “06880” honored the final “Play With Your Food” shows with this tribute:
Play With Your Food” — the staged reading, script-in-hand series (plus delicious lunch) that has entertained and delighted audiences at local venues for 20 years — has reached the final curtain.
“All good things must come to an end,” says Carole, Schweid, artistic director for the series’ organizer, JIB Productions. She has had health issues, and executive producer Diana Muller is retiring.
Carole Schweid
After 350 performances, with 200 professional actors and 135 playwrights, the final performances are October 15 (MoCA CT), October 16 (Pequot Library, Southport) and October 17 (Greenwich Arts Council). All performances are noon to 2 p.m.
“Theater, lunch and hijinks await,” Schweid promises. “Plus cake!”
“Twenty years is a long time,” she notes. She looks back fondly on those 2 decades — and the beginning, when she and fellow PTA Cultural Arts Committee member Nancy Diamond were talking about their 2 passions: theater and food.
Realizing there was no theatrical entertainment around lunchtime, they had a “let’s put on a show!” moment.
Carole Schweid and Nancy Diamond, “Play With Your Food” founders.
Schweid has a BFA from Juilliard, and Broadway stage experience in “Pippin” and the original cast of “A Chorus Line.”
She and Diamond knew there were plenty of actors in the area — and plenty in New York who would be interested in a lunch-hour gig.
They also knew everyone’s time was tight. So they focused on one-acts. There would be a staged reading, followed by a compelling talkback with the director, actors and/or playwright — and lunch, catered by a local restaurant.
“Play With Your Food” would nourish the heart and soul — and stomach. And it would all take place relatively quickly, during lunch hour (okay, hour-and-a-half).
Let’s eat!
The first “Play With Your Food” was at Toquet Hall. Schweid and Diamond marketed it through postcards to friends.
It was an instant hit. The audience wanted more.
Over the next 20 years, they got it.
Schweid and Muller searched all over, for the best one-acts. They traveled to one-act festivals around the country. They prowled book fairs and libraries.
From Arthur Miller, Langston Hughes, Tom Stoppard and Ray Bradbury to Mark Twain; from up-and-coming playwrights to obscure, semi-forgotten ones — if Schweid and her colleagues liked a show, they figured, audiences would too.
There were 3 productions a year. Schweid likens them to a sandwich: a couple of “funny or wacky” shows at the top and bottom of the schedule; another with “heft” in the middle.
The plays range from comedies and romances to mysteries and musicals, from classics to unpublished works. Despite the wide variety, all share one element: The audience must leave in an uplifted mood.
A lively scene from a staged reading.
“Play With Your Food” expanded to Southport, Stamford and Greenwich. The Fairfield Theatre Company provided “the perfect black box” experience. In Westport, they outgrew Toquet Hall. MoCA, on Newtown Turnpike, offered more space, and an artsy vibe.
Big names graced the “Play With Your Food” stage. James Naughton, Mia Dillon, Stacy Morgain Lewis, Scott Bryce, Mark Shanahan and many others embraced the chance to do a different, unique and fun kind of theater.
“Who gets to hear people like this, in a setting like that?” Schweid asks.
Plus, she notes, “You didn’t have to travel. This was all home-grown.”
When COVID struck, Schweid and her crew pivoted. “If Joe Papp can do Shakespeare in the Park, why couldn’t we do Chekhov in the parking lot?” she wondered.
Former Staples High School Players actors like Matt Van Gessel and Max Samuels helped audiences weather that storm.
Lunch was an essential part of the experience. Popular places like The Porch, Blue Lemon, Da Pietro, Matsu Sushi and Spic & Span made meals almost as memorable as the plays.
“We celebrated good acting, good writing, good food, a good community coming together, and intellectual or emotional stimulation,” Schweid says.
“That’s how people will remember ‘Play With Your Food.’
“And that’s what I’ll miss.”
Thank you so much Carole of blessed memory. You were a light on the stage. And a light everytime we met you.
Carole was an incredible talent with lots of great stories to tell. She’d perform an act of a play at the dinner table leaving you riveted. She will be missed.
What sad news… our deepest condolences to Carole’s sons and their families and all who were dear to Carole.
So sad to hear this! My wife,Linda and I enjoyed so many of Carole and Diana’s shows at Toquet Hall and in Fairfield – as well as the accompanying luncheons.
Carole light up the room when she was telling the audience about the shows and later moderating the Q&A.
Condolences to her family – May her memory be a blessing!
Thank you for posting this, Dan, and thanks for everyone’s kind wishes.
How fortunate I was to have met Carole while serving on the Cultural Arts Committee. Actually, how lucky Westport has been to reap the rewards of all the entertainment Carole brought us. I will miss her warm, welcoming smile.
Am so so sorry to see this. She was a terrific person in every way possible.
So very sad to hear this news. We first met Carole when she was helping my husband Josh and I with bookkeeping at our company. Yes, she loved the “calm” of balancing books! We came to love her over the years and went to several Play With Your Food events. She had such a fun, warm and sweet energy. Sending deep condolences to her family. She will be deeply missed.
This is sad news. My thoughts go out to Max and Dan and their dad, Steve. Carole was a very special lady; her talent and her caring manner were remarkable. To say nothing of her bravery in dealing with illness for these past years. We have lost an amazing gal.
Heartbreaking news. Such a bright light and major talent. Condolences to her sons, grandchildren and Steve. May her memory be a blessing.
To all her family and friends;
Never forget her smile!
Carole always lit up a room when she entered. Onstage or off. Her laugh was contagious. Her talent, passion and vision will be missed. So sad!
I feel honored to have been a friend of Carole’s for many years from when our boys were in school together and through the years when I needed someone with the talents that Carole possessed. I knew that if Carole was in charge, it would be a success! My life has been enriched for having known her and she will be remembered fondly for her vitality, wisdom, kindness, talents and confidence.
Deep Qi Bow, my friend!
I am heartsick. May her memory be a blessing.
We called her “Cookie” in 7th grade. A memorable woman. So very sad.
Very sad and heartfelt news- Carole was a treasure and her dedication to her craft and profession of acting, coaching actors, and finding playwrights was passionate and inspiring. Plus she had a remarkable wit, smile, and I will never forget her last “hiya” of late. A true and deep loss for the community and for so many of us whom she touched personally.
I am so sad to read about Carole’s passing 🙏
She was my neighbor for many years, lived right across the street. She was kind, creative and always had a smile the last time I saw her, she gave me a giant hug. my love goes out to her boys and her family🙏💔. RIP Carole
I loved attending Play with your food! What a gift she was to all of us!
sherry McConnell
Carole Schweid 12-13-24 AM
I will miss Carole, the kind person who introduced me to the magic of a Broadway show, I was so in awe of
her. You know,she was a real person and she loved me just as I was warts and all! I think she was just that kind of person.
We lost touch for a few years but as we aged we got in touch and I think we were able to comfort each other and laugh( lordy we could laugh ). I will always remember her with much love.
She was a credit to her family and her
professional. sweet travels my friend
Carole lived and died with grace and in between she nourished all of us with her talent, wit, and ebullient spirit. Many thanks to a remarkable woman and sympathy to her family.
I loved Carole so! I was honored to call her my friend! I was even more honored when she let me direct her in our staged reading of Uphill Walkers in the city. Carole loved the theatre so and regaled me with stories of what Broadway used to be for the ‘hoofers’. You will be so very missed sweet Carole! A great light has gone out!!!!
So sad to hear. I loved Carole and was always thrilled to work with her and Nancy for PWYF. She will be missed ❤️ Thanks for writing this up, I’ll stay tuned for her memorial in Jan.
What a vibrant light that honored her love of theater, especially with her baby, “Play With Your Food.” Carole devoted her time and talents to a cause she loved and we are all richer for her efforts. May her memory ever be for a blessing, on stage and off. Bonnie Goldberg
A life well lived…
I so appreciated the love and attention that Carole put into “Play With Your Food”. It was always so clever and we are all so blessed to have been able to attend, volunteer to help at her events and to enjoy her creations. I am so saddened to hear this news. She was a bright light!!