In its 95 years, the Westport Country Playhouse has made plenty of theater history.
In 1940, Richard Rodgers attended a production of “Green Grow the Lilacs” there. Inspired, he and his lyricist partner Oscar Hammerstein wrote a show incorporating its folk songs and square dance elements. Three years later, “Oklahoma!” premiered on Broadway.
In 1952 Alan Jay Lerner saw “Pygmalion” on the Playhouse stage. Four years later, his and Frederick Loewe’s adaptation — “My Fair Lady” — mesmerized the Great White Way.
It’s been the site of world premieres too, including William Inge’s “Come Back, Little Sheba” in 1949; “Butterflies Are Free” (1969), and “Thurgood” (2006, starring James Earl Jones).
Nearing the century mark, the Playhouse has not lost its mojo.
The current show — “Ken Ludwig’s Pride & Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley” — is another world premiere.
And — judging from the laughter, audience buzz and interest from directors across the country — this show might follow in its predecessors’ stage-lit footsteps.
Reg Rogers as Napoleon Bonaparte, Mathias Goldstein as Lieutenant Melville, Carson Elrod as Major Hudson Low. (Photo/Carol Rosegg)
Mounting a production in a regional theater like the Playhouse is no easy task. This one demanded even more — work, money, problem-solving — than most.
The road to Westport began when Ludwig’s agent sent WCP artistic director Mark Shanahan the script. They’ve known each other since Shanahan acted in the world premiere (of course) of Ludwig’s “Treasure Island” in 2007. In the years since, Shanahan directed several of his plays.
Shanahan was captivated by the new comedy — and the chance to stage it.
“Ken is so prolific and successful,” the director says of the Tony, Olivier and Drama Desk Award winner, whose works have been performed in over 30 countries, in 20 languages.
“And he sent it to us for a world premiere!”
Delphi Borich as Elizabeth Darcy and Tony Roach as Fitzwilliam Darcy. (Photo/Carol Rosegg)
Ludwig had never been to the iconic red theater. But he knew it’s not far from New York, so he’d have access to the excellent actors the show needed.
Shanahan, meanwhile, knew he’d have to invest more resources than usual to do it justice. With the help of Playhouse board chair Athena Adamson and her husband Daniel, funds were raised for a week-long workshop in the Theater District.
It was an important step. Ludwig had never heard the words he’d written performed out loud.
“He saw where the jokes landed, and the silent moments,” Shanahan recalls. “Fortunately, most of the laughs came in the right places.”
Ken Ludwig, at the opening night reception. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
Ludwig came to Westport from his Washington home for rehearsals, then sat in the audience — always different seats — for the first performances. Along the way, he consulted with director Emily Mann. (The American Theater Hall of Fame member is a big name in the theater world too; she served for 30 years as artistic director of Princeton’s McCarter Theater.)
The Playhouse found housing for Mann — another expense it cannot always afford. (They take care of their actors and directors as much as possible, including hotels during tech week and vans back to New York after shows.)
Some of Ludwig and Mann’s fine tuning worked. Some changes were discarded.
“Giving birth to a play is a process,” Shanahan explains. “You need time. It’s not like a proven show.”
Lucy Austin as Lydia Wickham, Allison Wick as Anne de Bourgh, and Mathias Goldstein as Lieutenant Melville. (Photo/Carol Rosegg)
Ludwig enjoyed his time in the Playhouse immensely. He admired the posters hanging in the lobby, and reveled in so many famous actors and directors.
“It’s so wonderful to add his name to our history, and our other world premieres,” Shanahan says.
There are not many theaters in the country with 95 years of history. “This one has been through so many twists and turns. You never know what will happen.”
What happened is fortuitous. Ludwig told Shanahan, “It really found a home.”
Now many artistic directors are reaching out to him, hoping to produce “Pride & Prejudice: Part 2.”
“We all need a laugh right now,” he notes.
Mark Shanahan, at the Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/Dan Woog)
While staging an Equity production in a union theater is expensive, Shanahan and the Playhouse board strive to make their shows affordable.
They offer discounts to seniors, students, school employees, servicemembers and veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and indigenous people.
Organizations like the Y’s Men and Y’s Women, Rotary Clubs and Senior Center often get tickets too.
Next Wednesday (November 4) is a “Pay What You Will” performance, starting at $10.
Audiences have less than 2 weeks to see “Pride & Prejudice: Part 2” — at least, before (fingers crossed) Broadway. It runs here through November 7. (Click here for tickets, and more information. For a special Halloween performance with a pre-show party for just $25, click here.)
Meanwhile, the Westport Country Playhouse is not resting on its 95-year laurels — or the success of the current show.
The next show — “The Pancake Club,” starring Judith Ivey (April 28 to May 8) — is also a world premiere.
Richard Rodgers, Alan Jay Lerner and James Earl Jones would be very proud.
(“06880” reports regularly on the Westport Country Playhouse — and all the rest of Westport’s diverse arts life. If you enjoy stories like these, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
