Philip Langner is 97 years old. He is a theater and film producer, known for classics like “Judgment at Nuremberg” and “The Pawnbroker.” He writes:
I have known the Westport Country Playhouse all my life.
In 1931 — when I was 5 years old — my parents, Lawrence Langner and Armina Marshall, founded what has become one of America’s most historic theaters.
Last May, I was thrilled to return to the iconic red building — once a barn, then a tannery — to celebrate Westport’s first Literary Landmark.
Three generations of the Langner were present, as a plaque was unveiled in honor of my father.
Philip Langner (front) at last year’s Literary Landmark ceremony, at the Westport Country Playhouse. Standing from left: Westport Library director Bill Harmer; Langner’s daughter Eve and granddaughters Brielle and Lauren; Playhouse honorary trustee Ann Sheffer; 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Soon after that event, I was very happy and relieved that an emergency call for donations to keep the Playhouse going successfully raised $2 million. This fundraising effort illustrated clearly that Westport residents know how important the arts — and specifically this Playhouse — are to the community.
I read the other day that “The Trip to Bountiful” recently played as a Script in Hand on the Playhouse stage.
I am very aware of this beautiful play. My family produced it on the Westport Playhouse stage years ago. before moving the production to Broadway.
Longtime Langner friends Lillian Gish and Horton Foote had great success, along with their whole company. Honoring, revisiting and reviving great plays is very important.
Equally, or perhaps even more important, is following the example set by my parents to find new plays that can begin at the Westport Country Playhouse and then move to New York. That was one of the important goals for the founding of the Westport Playhouse.
For decades, audiences packed the Westport Country Playhouse to see shows that soon headed to Broadway. (Photo/Wells Studio)
In that regard, I would like to suggest a wonderful new play. It is called “Adoption Roulette,” and is based on a true story tied to the Westport area.
I saw the play, read it twice, and found it to be moving, powerful and very timely.
[NOTE: “Adoption Roulette” is written by former Weston resident Elizabeth Fuller, and writer/director/actor Joel Vig. It is based on Fuller’s experiences when she and her husband, author John Fuller, adopted a little girl from Russia in the early 2000s. They found themselves trapped in a story with all the elements of a Hitchcock thriller. The play takes audiences through Moscow and Siberia, as the couple tries to realize their dream.]
From left: actress Sachi Parker, and playwrights Joel Vig and Elizabeth Fuller, at “Adoption Roulette”‘s performance at the Theater Artists Workshop in Norwalk. (Photo/Rose Billings)
If I were younger, I would raise the money myself and produce this play. “Adoption Roulette” could begin as a Script in Hand or a full production at the Playhouse.
I believe this play could have a commercial life on Broadway and beyond, which could give both prestige and revenue to the Westport Country Playhouse.
I look forward to many more years of the Westport Country Playhouse fulfilling an important role in the cultural life of Westport and Connecticut.
As one of my parents’ best friends, playwright George Bernard Shaw, once said, “Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.”
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On Thursday Adil Kassam, and Mehnaz and Atif Bhanjee — representatives of the Ismaili Muslim community — presented 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore, and the Westport Police and Fire Departments with gifts of appreciation.
During the holy month of Ramadan, it’s traditional to visit municipal offices, to express thanks and appreciation for the valuable contributions and services they provide.
Town officials, in turn, expressed gratitude for the Muslim community’s thanks.
Town officials and Ismaili Muslim community representatives, on Thursday.
Two Westport pizza restaurants are looking for new owners.
Ignazio’s — which after many delays opened in November 2019, just 4 months before COVID struck — is one.
A description on BizBuySell reads: “Fantastic opportunity to take over a well executed and furnished Pizza restaurant. Casual and contemporary interior with a wood fired Pizza oven as the center piece makes for a great setting. Keep the existing, highly acclaimed concept….
“Capitalize on this highly trafficked corridor on the Post Road E. in Westport with great visibility, easy access and a parking lot that can accompany 30+ cars. Indoor seating capacity of 60 plus outdoor seating.
“Seller will stay on to train incoming buyer on all operations and recipes. Add a driver(s) to your staff to capitalize on delivery. Target marketing and added delivery will definitely bolster the bottom line.”
The asking price is $275,000. Rent is $8,000 a month. Ignazio’s lease runs through 2028.
The other restaurant is Golden Pizza, in the Westfair strip mall. Less information is available; the price for this business is $85,000. Click here for details. (Hat tip: Tony Litman)
On Tuesday, May 24 (7:30 p.m.; Zoom link), the Architectural Review Board will review the proposed transformation of the long-closed hotel, from 117 rooms to 41 hotel rooms, and 10 apartments.
According to the application, the front of the building would be demolished to create better parking, circulation, landscaping, and a new addition to the west side.
Opening night at the Levitt Pavilion opens with Fleetwood Mac.
Well, with Tusk, anyway — the ultimate Fleetwood Mac tribute band.
The Sunday, June 12 show kicks off a season of over 50 nights of free entertainment. The Tusk show is free too.
Free tickets will be available to Levitt Pavilion members today (Saturday) at noon. Public access begins tomorrow (Sunday) at noon. Click here for tickets, and more information.
For those who missed the Westport Library “#StopAsianHate: One Year Later” program last week, video links are available.
Click here or below for part 1 of the documentary “We Need to Talk About Anti-Asian Hate.
Click here for the panel discussion that followed.
Up next: a Remarkable Theater screening of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (May 19, 8 p.m.). A short film about AAPI Westport will be shown before the feature. Click here for tickets.
Aspetuck Land Trust’s next “Lunch & Learn” is “Designing Biodiversity: Pollinator Habitat Creation, Connectivity, and Research at the Aspetuck Haskins Preserve.”
Evan Abramson leads the session this Friday (May 20, noon to 1:15 p.m.). He’ll discuss current research at ALT’s Haskins Preserve in Westport, to improve the landscape for at-risk pollinators.
Participants will receive a PDF of the Pollinator Toolkit to use on their own properties. Click here to register.
Cheese fries and Froot Loops may not be on the menu at any Westport restaurant. But it’s the name of a one-man show at Fairfield Theater Company May 23 (8 p.m. — free!).
Westporter Mark Graham is directing Chris Fuller’s production, getting ready for Off-Broadway. The star is the son of noted Weston author Elizabeth Fuller, and grew up there.
It is described as “a true, moving and humorous story of a professional golfer’s struggle with bipolar disorder, and his unexpected journey to enlightenment.” Click the teaser below:
Janette Kinnally sends this obituary for her mother, Janet Kinnally, who died last week at 80.
“She was a loving, kind soul that cared deeply about her family and friendships. I don’t think I ever met a person who did not remember her with great affection and fondness.
“She grew up in London, during the war, and her family of 5 girls was displaced. She lived in a convent for 5 years. When she returned back home, her father suddenly passed away when she was 15. She needed to make money and worked in many jobs, including as an usherette. She met the Beatles. She worked in England until she moved to the States to help her sister, who had moved to Connecticut.
“While on a work visa, she met my father at an insurance company at the age of 23. It was love at first sight for my father. They dated for several weeks until she told him she had to go back to England. My father wrote and said he would like to visit. He went to England, but bought 2 tickets back to the States. He asked her to move back and stay with his family.
“They got married in 1967. They had a true love story. The ones you read about in books, that you wish you had; that was their love and affection for each other. They held hands and walked every day at the beach or her favorite place, Sherwood Island, until my mom could no longer walk a few months ago. They were married for 55 years. She was my dad’s one true love.
“My mom and dad moved to Westport in 1967 and gave birth to me in 1969, her one and only child. We had a special bond. She said I taught her what true unconditional love was. I understand what she means, now that I have 2 boys (ages 16 and 11) of my own. She loved her two grandchildren, Mikhail and Andrew, more than anything.
“My mom was also a lifelong health and wellness pioneer. She sought out Eastern and holistic healing modalities throughout her life. She worked for a chiropractor, a naturopathic doctor and as a caregiver for end-of-life patients. She loved nature, gardens, the ocean and animals, and was a dog walker. She loved helping others. She was truly an amazing woman who inspired me daily.
“My mom and dad enjoyed traveling around the world. Every year they met up with her sister and brother-in-law to travel to a different destination around the globe. They had many stories to share of their adventures and the amazing people they met around the world.
“I moved back to Westport in 2012 with my husband Andrey and my two boys, wanting to be close to my parents as my mom’s health declined from dementia/Alzheimer’s. We lived together until the end of her life.
“I feel grateful that we had the last 10 years together, so she could spend time with me and my children. We have many special memories together, but the ones I remember most are singing at the dinner table and afterwards dancing to the music from the ’50s and ’60s, or doing karaoke at our house during the holidays with our extended family.
“My mom will be greatly missed by our family every day, but her love and her life lessons and generosity of spirit will live on in us forever!
“Please make donations in her honor to the Westport Senior Center or alz.org, an organization providing support, care and research for Alzheimer’s.”
A memorial service and reception to celebrate the life of Joel Hallas is set for Saturday, May 21 (2 p.m., the Memorial Garden of Saugatuck Congregational Church). A reception will follow also in the garden.
And finally … if you’re wondering where Tusk — the Fleetwood Mac band that opens the Levitt Pavilion season next month (story above) got its name — click below.
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