Westport: Westport Country Playhouse Schedules Post-Show Discussions Open to the Community on “Doubt: A Parable”
In conjunction with the staging of “Doubt: A Parable,” Westport Country Playhouse will present four post-show discussions featuring community guests who deal closely with issues addressed in the play, on November 11, 12, 16, and 19. The post-show discussions will provide audience members the opportunity to respond to “Doubt: A Parable,” a drama about a nun’s suspicion of a priest’s behavior. The discussions are free-of-charge and open to the public; a ticket to “Doubt: A Parable” is not required to attend the discussions. Attendees must be masked and show proof of vaccination.
Liam Lonegan, Playhouse assistant artistic director, will moderate. “With a play that naturally engenders such a strong audience response, we felt it was necessary to create a safe space for our community to dialogue after the performance,” said Lonegan. “This group of guests, curated by Jenny Nelson, the Playhouse’s Roz and Bud Siegel director of education and community engagement, will help us connect the play to issues of faith, truth, and doubt in our world today.”
Community facilitators include Beth McCabe, co-leader for Connecticut chapter of SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests), on Thursday, November 11, following the 8 p.m. performance; Mark Fuller, member of SNAP, on Friday, November 12, following the 8 p.m. performance; Lucy Gellman, editor, The Arts Paper, on Tuesday, November 16, following the 7 p.m. performance; and Thomas Burke, associate minister of children, youth, and families, Norfield Congregational Church, following the Friday, November 19, 8 p.m. performance. Discussions will begin approximately 90 minutes after the performance’s starting time. They will not be streamed or recorded; they are dialogues with the audience, rather than a Q&A or presentation. More information at: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/doubtdiscussions/
Winner of 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award® for Best Play, “Doubt: A Parable” marks the Playhouse’s first live theatrical production since 2019. It runs fromNovember 2 through November 20. A performance will also be filmed on stage for on-demand streaming in HD video from November 11 through November 21. Written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, “Doubt: A Parable” will culminate the Playhouse’s 90th anniversary year.
“Doubt: A Parable” is about Sister Aloysius, a school principal with a mandate to uphold tradition. She is certain something’s terribly wrong about the relationship between a young parish priest and a troubled boy. But beneath her moral crusade to reveal the horrible truth lies a chasm of doubt, where choices made can reverberate beyond imagination. For more information, visit: www.westportplayhouse.org/doubt
Playwright John Patrick Shanley won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film “Moonstruck.” He wrote and directed the film adaptation of his play, “Doubt,” and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Shanley is the author of more than 23 plays, which have been translated and performed around the world.
Director David Kennedy is in his thirteenth season as Playhouse associate artistic director. He has directed Playhouse productions each season, including “Suddenly Last Summer,” “Loot,” and “The Invisible Hand,” which received the 2016 Connecticut Critics Circle (CCC) Award for Outstanding Production of a Play, and for which Kennedy won the CCC honor for Outstanding Director of a Play. He was previously with Dallas Theater Center, and was founding artistic director of The Lunar Society in Toronto and Milkman Theatre Group in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week, Nov. 2 – 6). Special series feature LGBT Night on Nov. 4, Opening Night on Nov. 6, Sunday Symposium, featuring a conversation with director and cast members, on Nov. 7, Open Captions on Nov.14, and Thursday TalkBack on Nov.18. Distanced seating available on Wednesdays, Nov. 3, 10, and 17.
Running time is approximately 90 minutes; no intermission. Appropriate for ages 14 and up.
Tickets to attend in person start at $30. Tickets to stream on-demand are $25 individual, $50 pair, and $100 household. Each streaming purchase entitles the ticket buyer to one individual link.
For special offers to seniors, students, military, first responders, educators, and playwrights, visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/box-office/
The production of “Doubt: A Parable”is sponsored by the Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation, and Judy and Scott Phares, with additional support from the Burry Fredrik Foundation. The 2021 season is generously supported by the Eunice and David Bigelow Foundation. 2021 season Media Sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio.
Last year, the global pandemic shut down the Playhouse’s 2020 Season. During 2021, the Playhouse has produced online, outdoors, and on the radio as pandemic safety concerns prevented staging live theater. Easing guidelines at federal, state, and local levels, as well as those of theatrical unions, has allowed in-person theatrical productions to resume. Currently, patrons must be masked and fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine to attend an indoor performance and must show proof of vaccination with their valid ticket to enter. For updates on Covid-19 health and safety protocols at the Playhouse, visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/covid19safety/
All play titles, artists, dates, and formats are subject to change.
To purchase tickets, visit westportplayhouse.org, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
We only accept tips and submissions for events and news regarding Westport, Connecticut.
Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook
While you’re here why not shop.