Welcome back to a season of fully produced theatre at the Playhouse.

I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately!  As I’ve scoured my bookshelf, lined with many of my favorite plays, I’ve been asking: What stories do we want to tell at the Playhouse right now? What might our loyal audience want to see on stage next year? What kinds of plays will help bring us all together?

With these questions in mind, I’m proud to present A SEASON OF LAUGHTER, with a slate of comedies chosen specifically to energize our community with a welcoming sense of warmth, humor, and joy.

Below, you’ll find details about each of the productions we look forward to producing in the coming year. From family friendly plays to old-fashioned screwball comedies, to stories with more biting and topical humor, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

It’s my hope that every trip to the Playhouse will feel like a fresh, new experience, and one that will keep your spirits lifted after the curtain falls.

We’re so grateful for your support of the Westport Country Playhouse and we hope the coming season is one you’ll remember as your favorite yet.

I’ll see you at the Playhouse!

--
Mark Shanahan, Artistic Director

2024/2025 Season Subscriptions will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, June 25.

See what’s in store in 2024-2025

2024-2025
Calendar Updates

Our 2024-2025 season begins in the fall and extends through next spring, with three productions running three weeks each, alongside two shorter-run, “add-on” productions.

Just as the Playhouse continues to undergo a transformation into a year-round venue for our homemade productions and special presented events, these plays are rooted in the very idea of transformation, too.

The 39 Steps
October 22 - November 9, 2024

It’s Hitchcock meets hilarity! Mix Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced frenzy of espionage and murderous mayhem! Thrill as unflappable hero Richard Hannay goes on the run from dangerous spies and femme fatales in an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat! This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs as a ridiculously talented cast of four plays 150 zany characters in a riotous homage to the "Master of Suspense."

Native Gardens
February 18 - March 8, 2025

Good fences make good neighbors. Or do they? In Karen Zacarías’ outrageous comedy, cultures clash and bad behavior reigns as two sets of well-intentioned neighbors become feuding enemies in a backyard battle for the ages. When expecting parents Tania and Pablo Del Valle move in next door to longtime suburbanites Virginia and Frank Butley, a dispute over their yard’s property line spirals into an epic, flower-flinging war over taste, class, personal identity…and gardening. With Pablo’s upcoming office barbecue party threatening the Butleys’ plans for the future of their yard, can these couples ever learn to love their neighbor and mend the fences that separate them? DC Theatre Scene calls Native Gardens “a true breath of comedic fresh air” which is “biting, perceptive and ultimately hopeful.”

Theatre People
March 25 - April 12, 2025

It’s 1948, and the brightest names on Broadway have descended upon a glamorous Newport mansion for a weekend of romance, chaos and more than a few misunderstandings. Join an unforgettable cast of characters populated by a pair of scheming playwrights, a couple of misbehaving actors, a star-struck young author and a disgruntled housekeeper for a comedy that’s a love letter to the theatre and all the people who make it. Author Paul Slade Smith conjures the spirit of the classic screwball comedies of yesteryear with irresistible charm and backstage antics certain to leave you breathless with laughter. After all, who doesn’t love theatre people?

A runaway hit in last year’s Script In Hand playreading series, we’re pleased to offer this rollicking comedy by Connecticut-born playwright Paul Slade Smith as a full production on the Playhouse stage!

“The 39 Steps” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

“Native Gardens” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Add-Ons
These are our two shorter-run, “add-on” productions. These are not included in the subscription package but can be added on.

A Sherlock Carol
December 17 – 22, 2024

Back at the Playhouse by popular demand! Moriarty was dead, to begin with. And Sherlock Holmes is a haunted man. When a grown up Tiny Tim asks Holmes to investigate the death of Ebenezer Scrooge, the Great Detective must use his gifts to solve a Dickens of a mystery! But, it’s a dark and treacherous Christmas Eve, and once again the night is haunted by the spirits of the past, present, and future. Can Holmes overcome his own ghosts to crack the case? Celebrate the holidays at the Playhouse with this heartwarming and highly theatrical treat for all ages!

Broadway Scores at the Playhouse
January 23 – 26, 2025

Come for a night of Broadway’s most memorable songs at the Playhouse, reimagined as you’ve never heard them before. Music from the Golden Age as well as recent musicals featuring new arrangements created for a powerhouse band of musicians and new interpretations performed by a cast of Playhouse favorites and Broadway veterans. The lights will be shining bright at the Playhouse - and we promise to keep your toes tapping and leave you humming long after the curtain falls!

Great theater, great entertainment, and great perks!
Become a subscriber and you’ll receive great perks like - keeping the seats you love, substantial savings over single ticket prices, flexible ticket exchanges, discounts at our restaurant partners, and more.