Carole King to Perform at Westport Country Playhouse Benefit
GREENWICH, CT - Carole King and Robin Williams performed in "Breaking New Ground: A Celebration", a benefit for Connecticut's legendary Westport Country Playhouse. Among the other major celebrities lending their support were famed actress Olivia de Haviland (on videotape) and Paul Newman, who did a turn as the real-life auctioneer on Thursday, October 9, 2003, at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Connecticut. This event caps the $30.5 million campaign launched in 2001 by Joanne Woodward, the Playhouse's Artistic Director, to renovate and expand the historic site. After renovations begin this fall, the Playhouse is expected to reopen for its 75th season in summer 2005.
Under Woodward's auspices, the Westport Country Playhouse has explored new plays and returned America's leading actors to their stage roots in challenging new roles. Founded by Theatre Guild producers Lawrence Langner and Armina Marshall in the 1930s, it has played a major part in developing important productions and launching artists such as Gene Kelly, Liza Minelli, Henry Fonda, composer Stephen Sondheim and screenwriter Frank Perry.
For more information on the Westport Country Playhouse go to www.westportplayhouse.org