Westport taps Woodward topper
Playhouse also names Keefe associate a.d.
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Anne Keefe has also been named associate a.d. as the venerable venue seeks to establish itself as a resident nonprofit theater and not just a summer theater.
The announcements were made at the opening night of the theater's 71st summer season on Friday night. This year, the number of plays has been cut from six to five and the runs have been lengthened from two to 2-1/2 weeks, with previews prior to Friday night openings.
Woodward and Keefe will work closely with artistic manager Janice Muirhead and executive director Alison Harris.
The season opened with Darko Tresnjak's adaptation of Gozzi's "Princess Turandot," originally produced in New York by the Blue Light Theater Co. (Woodward is a board member). It will be followed by "Don't Make Me Laugh," directed by Gene Saks, in which Gene Wilder will return to the American stage for the first time in 35 years.
Comprising short plays by Chekhov, Feydeau and Shaw, the production will also feature Carol Kane, Bob Dishy, Bill Buell, David Costabile and Vivenne Benesch.
Woodward will direct Richard Greenberg's play "Three Days of Rain," which will be followed by a revival of Harry Segall's "Heaven Can Wait," directed by Joe Grifasi. The play was seen on Broadway for nine performances as "Wonderful Journey" in 1946 and was previously seen at the WCP in 1955.
The season will close with Gordon Edelstein's staging of "Temporary Help," a rewritten version of a thriller by local playwright David Wiltse ("Doubles"). An earlier version was seen at Seattle's A Contemporary Theater in 1999.
