Tag Archives: Ryan Reynolds

Roundup: Ryan Reynolds & Staples Players, Jim Abbott & Library …

Posted on October 22, 2025 | 5 comments

You never know who’s going to wander in to a Staples Players rehearsal.

Yesterday it was Ryan Reynolds.

The “Deadpool” and “Welcome to Wrexham” star surprised the cast and crew of “Les Misérables” at the end of Monday night’s rehearsal.

He spent an hour talking about his career, and the industry.

Ryan Reynolds, with Staples Players cast and crew. (Photo/Kerry Long)

Then he made this video (click here or below). Welcome to Westport!

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There’s always something special at the Westport Library.

This Friday (October 24, 7 p.m.), it’s baseball.

ESPN Films screens the E60 documentary, “Southpaw: The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott,” about the life and career of the legendary pitcher.

And Abbott himself will be there.

Produced by Westporter Jeremy Schaap, it tells the story of the man who was born without a right hand yet rose to Major League Baseball stardom. Most impressively, he threw a no-hitter with the New York Yankees.

After the film, Abbott will be on our stage and in conversation with Schaap, ESPN senior feature producer Mike Farrell, and Westporter Dave Briggs. They’ll talk about life, overcoming adversity, and baseball.

The event is free.

And priceless.

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Yesterday’s Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce selectpersons debate at the Westport Library drew over 150 people.

If you missed it — or want to learn more than the “06880” report — you’re in luck.

Click here or below for the full video.

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Speaking of the election: Through the first 2 days of early voting, 423 votes have been cast in-person and absentee. That’s 2.22% of all eligible voters.

The breakdown:

  • Democrats: 251 of 7,955 eligible voters (3.16%)
  • Republicans: 57 of 3,338 eligible voters (1.71%)
  • Unaffiliated: 114 of 7,580 eligible voters (1.50%).

To subscribe to the Voter Checklist website, click here.

NOTE: Click here for early voting information.

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“What do you want Westport to be known for?”

That’s the question Sustainable Westport asked of residents. Their responses — sharing hopes, values and ideas for a Westport that leads in sustainability, resilience and community engagement — are part of a new video.

From protecting natural spaces to electing officials who invest in and prioritize sustainability, the video highlights the town’s natural beauty, and captures a vision of  not just a greener Westport, but a trailblazing leader in sustainability.

Click here to view the video.

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StartUp Westport’s First Thursday networking events have become one of the hottest (free) tickets in town.

The next one — sponsored by the public/private partnership for entrepreneurs and innovators — is November 6 (6 to 8 p.m., Nômade restaurant). Click here to reserve a spot.

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The final event at the Inn at Longshore’s ballroom is tomorrow (Thursday).

The long-awaited renovation project begins next week.

But first — this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). everything that was in The Inn is on sale.

The giant tag sale includes most items from the rooms, along with some furniture from the first floor. That includes bedroom suites, lounge sets, TVs, mini-fridges, outdoor furniture, sofas, love seats, mirrors, art, lamps, shades, curtains and more.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to CLASP Homes.

Meanwhile, the Inn at Longshore is booking weddings for fall of 2026, and winter 2027. In late November they’ll open the books for spring and summer 2027 weddings.

Contents of an Inn at Longshore room.

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“The Importance of Being Earnest” opens at the Westport Country Playhouse on October 28.

A number of special events are scheduled throughout its 3-week run. They include:

Taste of Tuesday (October 28, 6 p.m.): A reception pairing food from Gruel Brittania and wine. Exclusive for “Taste of Tuesday” season ticket holders.

Together at the Table (October 29, 5:30 p.m.): For $15 per person, your family or group can enjoy a communal pizza dinner and casual conversation before the 7 p.m. performance. Must attend as a family group with student-age children or school group. Call 203-227-4177 to make your reservation.

 Pride Night (October 30, 6 p.m.): A pre-show cocktail party for the LGBTQ+ community and friends, including a limited open bar and appetizers from Aux Délices. Use code EARNESTPRIDE online to receive $40 tickets, or call the box office at 203-227-4177.

Opening Night Post-Show Reception (November 1): Celebrate with the cast, crew and creative team.

Sunday Symposium (after the November 2nd 3 p.m. performance): No ticket necessary.

Backstage Pass (after the November 5th 2 p.m. performance): No ticket necessary.

Open Caption (November 9, 3 p.m.): Deaf and hard of hearing audiences can enjoy the performance while watching an easy-to-read digital screen with the actors’ dialogue.

Thursday Talkback (after the November 13th 7 p.m. performance):Q&A with cast members. No ticket necessary.

Click here for more details “Earnest,” and all programs. 

Seats will be filled for “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

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The US national soccer team cruised into the knockout stage at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco yesterday, with a 5-2 win over China. It was the Americans’ second group win in 2 games.

Staples senior Natalie Chudowsky came on as a substitute in the 64th minute. She played the final 26 minutes.

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The Glass House has selected the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport to host this Saturday’s American Modern Opera Company concert (October 25, 4 p.m.).

Pianist Matthew Aucoin and tenor Paul Appleby will perform works by John Adams, Aucoin, Benjamin Britten, and Franz Schubert.

It’s presented by The Glass House, which offers a series of talks, performances and other live events. Click here for more information.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation sanctuary. (Photo/David Vita)

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows a bunch of turkeys.

Where were they? Turkey Hill, of course.

You can’t make this stuff up.

(Photo/Nico Eisenberger)

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And finally … on this day in 1934, FBI agents shot and killed notorious bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd.

(Pretty Boy Floyd robbed banks. All we want is for our loyal readers to go to their piggy banks, and send loose change — or a few bills — to “06880,” to support our work. Thank you so much!) 

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Posted in Entertainment, Library, Local politics, Longshore, Sports, Staples HS, Westport Country Playhouse

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It’s “McElhanney” (With Thanks To Justin Paul & Benj Pasek)

Posted on August 1, 2024 | 1 comment

You don’t have to be a soccer fan to love “Welcome to Wrexham.”

The Emmy-winning FX series chronicles actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of a floundering football club, in a seen-better-days Welsh town.

It covers the ups and downs as the team strives for promotion to higher leagues. But it also tackles topics like autism, gay parents, the insecurities of athletes, the financial burdens of sports franchises, the meaning of community, the importance of tradition, the fragility of life, and much more.

Through it all, the actor/owners have fun. On each other’s birthday, for example, Reynolds and McElhanney try to outdo each other with creative pranks.

Season 3 is currently airing. In episode 4, Reynolds (star of the very successful “Deadpool” franchise) plans a musical video tribute to McElhanney (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), keyed to his often-mispronounced last name.

As the video began, I though, “Cute!”

As it continued — with clever lyrics, a catchy melody and first-class choreography, filmed in bars, the Wrexham stadium and other sites — I realized, “Whoa! Ryan Reynolds really put a lot of time and effort into this.”

Then came the reveal: The song was written by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek.

I should have known.

They’re the songwriting duo responsible for (among others) “Dear Evan Hansen,” “The Greatest Showman” and “La La Land.”

And Justin Paul is a 2003 graduate of Staples High School.

Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, at the Golden Globe Awards. They’ve also won Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. (Photo/Paul Drinkwater NBC)

“06880” is “where Westport meets the world.” Including Wrexham.

So I asked Justin for the back story.

A couple of years ago, he said, he and Benj were working on “Spirited,” an Apple TV+ Christmas comedy starring Reynolds and Will Ferrell.

Justin and Benj were living in London. Reynolds invited them to Wembley Stadium, where Wrexham faced Bromley in the FA Trophy finals. The match would decide the winners of the tournament for clubs in levels 5-8 of the English National League system.

Yes, that’s pretty low. Playing at the most storied stadium in Britain was a Very Big Deal. (Spoiler alert: Wrexham lost, 1-0.)

“We had to sign a release to get into the owner’s box,” Justin recalls. “That was strange.”

Then he saw a film crew. He learned that Reynolds was working on a documentary about the club he owned.

“David Beckham was sitting next to Ryan in the box,” Justin says. “I have no idea what they were talking about, but it was pretty cool.”

Ryan Reynolds and David Beckham

Justin became a fan of the Wrexham team — and, once the series aired, of Reynolds’ show.

He and Reynolds stayed in touch. One day, Reynolds asked Justin for a favor. He wanted to create a music video, for McElhanney’s birthday.

“It was the most random assignment. But it was so much fun,” Justin says.

“This was right in the spirit of Ryan Reynolds: bringing people together under the umbrella of joy. It was poking fun of Rob, but also himself.”

From New York to Hollywood and Wrexham, Justin Paul has not forgotten his Westport roots. Last spring, he met with Staples Players — the group he once acted in — prior to their production of Pasek & Paul’s “James and the Giant Peach.” (Photo/Kerry Long) 

Coming up with ideas for the song was fun too. “There was plenty of good, bad and inappropriate stuff,” Justin notes.

They included references to the Racecourse (Wrexham’s stadium, the oldest one in the world still hosting international matches) and The Turf (a pub that plays a prominent role in the documentary).

“It’s a love letter to the club — while making fun of Rob at the same time,” Justin says.

“And Ryan’s feelings come through too: ‘I paid a bunch of money to write a song and video to you, because I love you so much.’ He lives life with joy, humor and self-deprecation.”

There was a bonus for Justin and Benj: They cast many of their actor/dancer friends in the video.

Screenshot from the”McElhanney” video.

It was shot primarily in a New York bar, as well as Wrexham. (There’s a quick cameo of Justin playing piano, which I missed the first time around.)

“Ryan went way above and beyond for this video,” Justin says. “He knew how ridiculous it was. That’s who he is.”

Rob McElhanney was “very surprised” by the song and video, Justin adds.

Many of Justin and Benj’s projects take a long time, from conception to completion. “Dear Evan Hansen,” for example, made it to Broadway after 7 years — “and that’s relatively short.”

Working on the “McElhanney” song was “fun, down and dirty — and quick,” Justin says.

“We created it, shot it, then sent it out to the world in a really short time.”

Wrexham fans loved it.

And now they know how to pronounce “McElhanney.”

Click below, and you will too:

(Welcome to Wrexham — and “06880.” If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Entertainment, Sports, Staples HS

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Blake, Ryan, Suzanne, Martha, Paul And Oscar

Posted on May 21, 2012 | 10 comments

Suzanne Sherman Propp — no slouch in the talent department herself — was in Oscar’s yesterday afternoon.

Sitting a few feet away were Ryan Reynolds and his Gossip Girl, Blake Lively. Bedford, New York — where they just moved — may have Martha Stewart, but it lacks a good deli.

“Thank you, Paul Newman, for training us Westporters to be calm, cool and collected during celebrity sightings,” Suzanne says.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds (not at Oscar’s, and not at the Oscars).

10 Comments

Posted in Entertainment, People, Restaurants

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