"Seasons Readings,” offering theater with a holiday theme, will take place Dec. 13 at the Westport Woman’s Club, 7:30 -9 p.m. The audience is invited to join cast members for eggnog and dessert at the conclusion of each program.
Chris Wilkes of Norwalk and Carolyn Marble of Ridgefield are among the performers.
“Seasons Readings’ promises to provide short-story readings and one-act plays that have both humor and heart,” states Carole Schweid, JIB artistic director. “Each performance will include whimsical, humorous and sentimental stories, read by professional entertainers.”
In “Verna” by Paul Gallico, audiences will be treated to a story about a kindhearted -- if not particularly talented -- USO girl and member of a performing troupe in World War II Belgium, winning the hearts of American soldiers. Carolyn Marble (of Ridgefield) will play the title role.
Carolyn Marble also will join Tom Zingarelli (New Haven) in “Santa comes to the King David” by George Cameron Grant. In this comedic tale, a distraught woman saves what she thinks is a bridge leaper in a Santa suit, discovering instead a story of unfulfilled dreams, unconditional devotion, a Kris Kringle who makes annual visits to a Jewish nursing home, and the crazy possibility that two broken hearts can indeed make one whole.
Broadway veteran and Westport resident Susan Terry will read “A Christmas Memory,” written by Truman Capote. First published in 1956, this autobiographical recollection of the author’s rural Alabama boyhood has become a modern-day classic.
“Rounding out the evening will be “A Celebrity’s Guide to Celebrating the Birth of Jesus” by Tina Fey and Garrison Keillor’s short story, “The Season of Letter-Perfect Families.”
“With ‘Seasons Readings,’ we’ll offer audiences provocative material – just as we do with ‘Play With Your Food’ -- but holiday-related and in the evening,” explains Nancy Diamond, JIB producer. “These productions will make you laugh, think and elicit empathy. It's an entertaining and edgy addition to the mix of traditional holiday fare.”
Tickets for ‘Seasons Readings’ are $30 per person. For information, visit www.jibproductions.org or call the box office at (203) 293-8831 or email info@jibproductions.org
Eggnog will be supplied by The Pantry of Fairfield.
“Play With Your Food” Announces Season Selections
The flagship PWYF series, held from noon to 1:30 p.m., will get under way in January 2013. “Play With Your Food” is a lunchtime theater program that includes a buffet lunch and dessert, short-play readings by professional actors and a post-show discussion.
Performances at Toquet Hall in Westport are set for Jan. 15-17, Feb. 5-7, March 5-7 and April 2-4. At Fairfield Theatre Company, productions will be held Jan. 22, Feb. 12. , March 12 and April 9. Greenwich Arts Council programs are offered Jan. 23-24, Feb. 13-14, March 13 and April 24-25. Tickets are priced at $43 per show and include lunch.
The 2013 line-up of productions will include:
“Mexico City,” by Hannah Moscovitch, a tale about the trials and unexpected revelations of traveling with your spouse – hidden in the back streets of exotic places.
“Amicable Parting” by George S. Kaufman and Leueen Macgrath, written by a formerly married couple, proposes what happens to two funny, witty people when their relationship comes to a crossroad.
“Barbra’s Wedding” (an excerpt) by Daniel Stern, will amuse audiences as the actor/ playwright describes how Barbra Streisand is getting married, but not inviting her next-door neighbor, an out-of-work actor. This is driving him, and by proximity, his wife, way over the edge.
"Driving Miss Daisy" (an excerpt). Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize winning play will feature Broadway veteran Carolyn Kirsch.
“The Man Who Couldn’t Stop Crying” by Murray Schisgal (author of “Luv”) is a comedy about a wealthy businessman who constantly chokes up, whimpers and blubs, to the dismay of his loving but long-suffering wife, to be played by Nadine Willig (Stratford).
"The Marriage Proposal" is a classic comedy, written by Anton Chekhov, one of history's greatest writers. Famous for his short comedies as well as "The Seagull," "Uncle Vanya" and "The Cherry Orchard," "The Marriage Proposal" will feature New York actress Bethany Caputo, a PWYF audience favorite, most recently seen as Eve in Mark Twain's "The Diaries of Adam and Eve."
“Moby Dude or The Three-Minute Whale “by David Ives is a short play about a young dude, trying to impress his English teacher.
“Color Coordination” by Benjamin Conrick proposes that when it comes to the big moments in life, it all comes down to what to wear.
“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (excerpt) book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts will feature a scene from the long-running, off Broadway hit. “Move On or Sondheim at Studio 54” by Michael McKeever is play about a song, a backhanded love letter to Stephen Sondheim.
"Confessions of a Golfaholic," written and performed by Westport resident John O'Hern, is in the lineup for the spring.
Other plays under consideration: include works by Terrence Rattigan, Christopher Durang, Rosemary Foley and David Henry Hwang, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of “M Butterfly.”
About JIB Productions
JIB Productions introduced the successful Play With Your Food (PWYF) in 2003. Since then, PWYF has provided audiences throughout Fairfield County with a dynamic midday theater experience that includes a gourmet buffet lunch, a selection of one-act play readings and discussions with actors and playwrights – all packed into a 90-minute program.
The PWYF concept, and caliber of performances, has been praised by the New York Times as well as local media, critics and audiences.
JIB also is the creator of the “Short Cuts” short film and discussion events and the annual holiday-themed presentation of “Season Readings.”
Those interested in attending any of the JIB Productions offerings should visit www.jibproductions.org or call the box office at (203) 293-8831 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
