Playhouse Marks 80 Years with Cake and Champagne

Playhouse Marks 80 Years with Cake and Champagne

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

6/29/11

Westport, CT – She’s come a long way baby, from a country tannery to a humble summer playhouse and now one of the theater community’s most respected grand dames of pre-Broadway entertainment. Wednesday marked 80 years that the Westport Country Playhouse has been in show business and locals, staff and dignitaries toasted her milestone with cake and champagne.

The theater was founded in 1931 by Lawrence Langner, a producer for the Theater Guild in New York, which, in the 1920s and 30s was a big driver of productions in the city. Langner lived in Weston with his wife Armina, an actress and co-founder of the theater.

“His goal was to find a place in the ‘country’ where he could try out shows away from the hubbub of the city,” explained Patricia Blaufuss, publicity manager for the Playhouse. “The site was approximately four acres and featured a tannery which provided leather for a hat maker in Danbury. The original structure – a barn – was converted into a theater and existed that way until 2005, when a major renovation took place. The only remnants are the walls on either side of the theater and at the back. There’s also a little patch of the old stage. For decades, actors have walked on this – if only it could talk.”

“The Streets of New York”, starring Dorothy Gish and Rollo Peters, was the first play performed, in 1931. Langner ran the theater until 1959, when it was taken over by James B. McKenzie, who then led the theater as executive producer for the next 41 years. In 2000, actress Joanne Woodward took over as artistic director. She was very instrumental in the major renovation.

“It really was falling apart,” said Blaufuss. “The building required $18 million in work.”

As to the talent the theater has hosted over the years, it has included the likes of Liza Minelli, Jane Fonda and Gloria Swanson. “Besides these well-known names, there have been so many other talented artists,” said Blaufuss.

Attending the event on behalf of Gov. Malloy, Connecticut State Representative Jonathan Steinberg commented, “When I was growing up, I remember people speaking with such reverence about the Playhouse. Look how far we’ve come in 80 years. It epitomizes Westport’s dedication to culture.”

Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff was also on hand for the birthday bash. “The Playhouse has always been a focal point for the arts community in Westport,” he said. “We’re very proud of this institution. It puts us on the world stage and has an incredible track record in sending productions to Broadway. Oklahoma had its start here. It’s part of the allure of Westport.”

Perhaps no happier to witness the theater’s 80^th was Fairfielder Warren Pistey, who was born two years before the theater was founded and served as a production assistant at the Playhouse from 1949 to 1951. “What a wonderful place,” he said. “Everyone who came here was very talented. I remember meeting Van Johnson, Walter Abel, Claudette Colbert, Mary Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein and Jeanette MacDonald.”

At a midpoint in the celebration, Joseloff and Steinberg joined Playhouse Managing Director Michael Ross and Artistic Director Mark Lamos behind a table, on top of which sat an elaborate cake made to look like the Playhouse, provided by CakeSuite of Fairfield. Each made a few brief remarks and Steinberg and Joseloff read proclamations declaring June 29 Westport Country Playhouse Day, both in the town of Westport and statewide.

Lamos recognized Woodward, Paul Newman and others for helping “a brand new theater rise and confront the future” and thanked Ross and the Playhouse’s devoted staff for their service. He added, “The Playhouse gives back to the community what the community can give to it. Thank you Westport.”

Joseloff said the theater was an anchor of a great community. “Who would want to live anywhere else?” he remarked. Steinberg said the theater is “a very special place with a long association with the arts.”

With regard to the proclamations, Ross joked, “Yay, everyone gets free parking” and “no sales tax today.” Then, as champagne and cake began to circulate, Ross, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, added, “Champagne’s appropriate at 11:15 in the morning, right?”