Westport Country Playhouse

Westport Country Playhouse is a nonprofit regional theater in Westport, Connecticut. Its venue occupies a former tannery originally built in 1835, making the institution unusual among major American theaters for the combination of a historic industrial structure and a professional theatrical legacy. New York theater producer Lawrence Langner acquired the disused building in 1930 and commissioned Broadway designer Cleon Throckmorton to convert it into a theater with professional production facilities. The first performance took place on June 29, 1931. The Playhouse quickly became part of New England's summer-stock circuit, sometimes known as the straw-hat circuit. Its programming brought professional actors, directors, designers, and writers to southwestern Connecticut while also providing a platform for new plays. Productions associated with the theater included early presentations of William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba and Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful; both works later reached Broadway and became important parts of the American dramatic repertory. The venue has also hosted many prominent performers, including Billie Burke, Liza Minnelli, Eartha Kitt, Gene Wilder, Paul Newman, James Earl Jones, Jane Curtin, Ruth Gordon, Henry Fonda, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Olivia de Havilland, and Jane Fonda. The institution's history includes a substantial training mission. Beginning in the 1940s, its apprentice and internship programs provided practical experience to emerging theater professionals. Alumni and former participants have included Stephen Sondheim, Frank Perry, Sally Jessy Raphael, Mary Rodgers, Tammy Grimes, Cary Elwes, and Christina Crawford. The educational work continues through programs that combine supervised production responsibilities with professional development. The Joanne Woodward Internship Program, named for the actor and former artistic leader, offers seasonal and academic-year opportunities for students and recent graduates. The Playhouse suspended operations during World War II, closing from 1942 through 1945. After the Langner era ended in 1959, James B. McKenzie led the organization for several decades, serving through 2000. Actress Joanne Woodward became artistic director in 2000 and helped guide a major modernization effort. The eighteen-month renovation, completed between 2003 and 2005, was supported by a $30.6 million fundraising campaign known as the Campaign for a New Era. The project updated backstage systems, seating, accessibility, and audience facilities while retaining the building's historic character. The renovated theater reopened in 2005, with 578 seats in an orchestra and mezzanine configuration. Westport Country Playhouse operates as a year-round cultural organization rather than only a summer-stock venue. Its activities include theatrical productions, readings and related performance events, education, internships, community programs, and audience engagement. The building retains the visual identity of the former barn-like tannery while incorporating modern theatrical infrastructure, including a counterweight fly system, updated lighting, and adaptable accessibility provisions. Mark Shanahan has served as artistic director in the Playhouse's contemporary period. The organization is a United States nonprofit and has received recognition from Charity Navigator for financial health and accountability. Its positioning rests on the intersection of American theater history, professional regional production, historic-place stewardship, and talent development.

The building used by Westport Country Playhouse began as a tannery constructed in 1835 for R&H Haight and associated with Henry Haight. Charles H. Kemper acquired the operation in 1866 and renamed it C.H. Kemper Co. The industrial site fell out of use during the 1920s. In 1930, New York theater producer Lawrence Langner purchased the building for $14,000 and engaged Broadway designer Cleon Throckmorton to redesign the interior for theatrical use. The first production opened on June 29, 1931. The new theater soon became an established destination on the New England summer-stock circuit, attracting professional artists and audiences from the region. Its identity developed around a mixture of established plays, new work, and the practical training of theater workers. During the 1940s, the Playhouse established an apprentice program. Former apprentices and interns later included figures such as Stephen Sondheim, Frank Perry, Sally Jessy Raphael, Mary Rodgers, Tammy Grimes, Cary Elwes, and Christina Crawford. The educational programs became a lasting part of the institution rather than a short-term supplement to its performance schedule. The Playhouse closed from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II. In the late 1940s and 1950s it regained prominence through successful productions and premieres. William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba and Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful were among the works associated with the theater that later moved to Broadway, strengthening its reputation as a place where significant American plays could be developed and introduced. The Langner leadership period ended in 1959. James B. McKenzie then held a senior administrative role until 2000. In 1973, the Playhouse became a nonprofit organization, formalizing its civic and cultural rather than commercial identity. Joanne Woodward became artistic director in 2000. Her tenure coincided with an ambitious effort to make the historic venue suitable for contemporary, year-round theater while maintaining its architectural and institutional heritage. The Campaign for a New Era raised funds for an eighteen-month renovation costing $30.6 million. Woodward and executive director Alison Harris were associated with the project, which received major support from public and philanthropic donors, including the State of Connecticut, the Devlin Foundation, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, Elisabeth and Stanley Morten, and Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. The renovation replaced old wooden pews with individual cushioned seats, improved the proportion of limited-view seating, expanded accessibility options, and modernized the stage and technical systems. The building reopened in 2005 with 578 seats. A piece of the former stage floor was retained at the dressing-room entrance at Woodward's suggestion as a theatrical good-luck tradition. Woodward left the artistic-director position in January 2006. Tazewell Thompson subsequently served through the 2007 season. In the contemporary period, the Playhouse has continued to combine mainstage and related performance activity with education, internships, and community engagement. Its Joanne Woodward Internship Program gives students and recent graduates substantial practical responsibilities in production and front-of-house work. The venue's current technical infrastructure includes a counterweight fly system, modern theatrical lighting, and adaptable seating for wheelchair access. The organization remains active as a nonprofit regional theater, with Mark Shanahan identified as its artistic director.

• 2005

  Renovated venue reopens

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  An eighteen-month modernization project concluded, creating a year-round theater facility.

• 2000

  Joanne Woodward becomes artistic director

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  Woodward assumed artistic leadership and helped initiate a major redevelopment of the venue.

• 1973

  Organization becomes a nonprofit

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The Playhouse adopted nonprofit status as part of its long-term cultural mission.

• 1942

  World War II closure begins

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The theater suspended operations during the war until reopening in 1945.

• 1940

  Apprentice program established

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The Playhouse began formal training opportunities for emerging theater professionals.

• 1931

  Grand opening

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The first Westport Country Playhouse production opened on June 29.

• 1930

  Lawrence Langner acquires the former tannery

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  Langner purchased the unused building and commissioned its conversion into a theater.

• 1866

  C.H. Kemper Co. takes over the tannery

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  Charles H. Kemper acquired the tannery and operated it under a new name.

• 1835

  Tannery building constructed

  [1]Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org

  The structure that later became the Playhouse was built as a tannery for R&H Haight.

A historic, nonprofit American regional theater combining professional productions, new-play presentation, education, and preservation of a distinctive converted tannery venue.

• Professional theater · 1931

  Mainstage productions

  The Playhouse's core offering is live professional theater presented in its historic Westport venue. Its repertory has included established American drama, contemporary plays, and works developed or presented before wider exposure. The mainstage program connects the institution's summer-stock origins with its modern year-round regional-theater role.

• Theatrical development

  New-play development and readings

  The Playhouse has supported the presentation and development of new dramatic work. Its historical importance includes productions of works by William Inge and Horton Foote that later transferred to Broadway. Contemporary readings and related programming extend the theater's role beyond finished productions.

• Education and training

  Joanne Woodward Internship Program

  Named for former artistic director Joanne Woodward, this program provides summer and school-year internships for college students, graduate students, and recent graduates aged 19 and older. Participants receive position-specific responsibilities while also working across production, ushering, concessions, parking, and other theater operations.

• Cultural venue · 1931

  Historic theater venue

  The converted 1835 tannery contains a 578-seat auditorium with orchestra and mezzanine seating. The renovated venue retains its historic appearance while providing modern accessibility, backstage equipment, counterweight rigging, stage lighting, and adaptable seating for patrons using wheelchairs.

• 2003Campaign for a New Era

  United States

  A capital fundraising campaign supported the Playhouse's $30.6 million renovation. Contributions from public and philanthropic sources helped convert the historic venue into a modern, year-round theater while preserving its architectural identity.

  Outcome. The eighteen-month renovation was completed and the theater reopened in 2005 with updated seating, accessibility, stage systems, and audience facilities.

  Source

• 2003

  Modernize the historic venueStrategy

  Background

  The former tannery retained aging theater infrastructure and needed substantial improvements to operate as a contemporary year-round venue.

  Action taken

  The Playhouse launched the Campaign for a New Era and undertook an eighteen-month renovation.

  Aftermath

  The renovated theater reopened in 2005 with modern audience, accessibility, and technical facilities while retaining its historic character.

  Renovation cost. $30.6 million (2003-2005)

  Source

• 1973

  Adopt nonprofit statusStrategy

  Background

  The Playhouse's cultural and educational mission required a structure oriented toward public benefit rather than conventional commercial theater operations.

  Action taken

  The organization became a nonprofit institution.

  Aftermath

  Nonprofit status became the framework for its regional theater, education, fundraising, and community activities.

  Source

1. 1Westport Country Playhouseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westport Country Playhouse official websitewestportplayhouse.org