Apr. 29-May 17: Gordana Rashovich, Mia Dillon and Brian Murray Lead Cast of Westport Country Playhouse’s A SONG AT TWILIGHT

Gordana Rashovich Photo by Lia Chang

Gordana Rashovich, Mia Dillon and Brian Murray are currently appearing in Westport Country Playhouse’s 2014 Season opener, a revival of Noël Coward’s A Song at Twilight, directed by Playhouse artistic director Mark Lamos, April 29 – May 17, a co- production with Hartford Stage where it ran earlier this year. Celebrating its 84th season, Westport Country Playhouse was recently named Theater Company of the Year by The Wall Street Journal. Yale School of Drama graduate Nicholas Carriere is also featured in Coward’s poignant comedy.

Gordana Rashovich, Nicholas Carrière and Brian Murray. Photo by T. Charles Erickson

“A couple seasons ago Annie Keefe directed a Script-in-Hand reading of this beautiful final play of Coward’s, and we were all taken with its wit as well as its bittersweet and wise look at a life lived as a lie,” said Lamos. “The audience loved it, as well, and so we decided to open our 2014 season with a complete revival. Co-produced with Hartford Stage, where it began life last winter, the play features stunning performances by Broadway veterans Brian Murray, Gordana Rashovich, and Mia Dillon. The show was a success in Hartford, and it’s a treat for us that we will be able to revisit and refine it once again for our Playhouse season premiere. It’s a powerful and surprisingly moving work from the 20th century’s master of comedy, written at the end of his long and dazzling career.”

Mia Dillon and Gordana Rashovich. Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Gordana Rashovich and Brian Murray. Photo by T. Charles Erickson

A Song at Twilight is an exquisite battle of wits, exploring the nature of passion, the cruelty of love, and the price of hidden secrets. In his long career, Sir Hugo Latymer (played by Brian Murray) has achieved more than most writers even dream of—money, fame, and a reputation beyond reproach. But his carefully constructed ivory tower is imperiled when a long-ago love (Gordana Rashovich in the role of Carlotta Gray) threatens to shed a very public light into the most scandalous corner of his private past, a revelation that could bring it all tumbling down.

The play is appropriate for ages 16 and up. Running time is approximately 90 minutes.

Director Mark Lamos has directed many plays at Westport Country Playhouse since 2008, winning the 2013 Connecticut Critics Circle Award for his direction of The Dining Room last season. His extensive New York credits include Our Country’s Good, for which he received a Tony Award nomination. A former artistic director at Hartford Stage, he received the 1989 Tony Award for the theater’s body of work. He was awarded the Connecticut Medal for the Arts as well as honorary doctorates from Connecticut College, University of Hartford, and Trinity College.

Playwright Noël Coward (1899 – 1973) was a dramatist, actor, writer, composer, lyricist, painter, and wit. He wrote 60 produced plays and musicals (Hay Fever, Private Lives, Design for Living, Blithe Spirit, Present Laughter, The Girl Who Came to Supper), and over 300 popular songs (“I’ll See You Again,” “Mad Dogs and Englishmen”).

Gordana Rashovich and Brian Murray. Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Gordana Rashovich’s Broadway credits include Conversations with My Father, Cymbeline and Old Acquaintances. One of her most acclaimed performances was in Hartford Stage’s production of A Shayna Maidel, which transferred to rave reviews Off-Broadway in New York. She won the Obie and Theatre World awards for the role. On television, she played Jadwiga on the “Whoopi” series.

Actor, director and 2004 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee Brian Murray’s many Broadway credits include three Tony Award-nominated performances: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in 1968, The Little Foxes in 1997, and The Crucible in 2002. He appeared at Westport Country Playhouse in The House of Blue Leaves and a Script in Hand play reading of Angel Street.

Mia Dillon, nominated for the 1982 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Crimes of the Heart, also appeared on Broadway in Da, Hay Fever, The Miser, Our Town, and Agnes of God. At Westport Country Playhouse, she appeared in Once a Catholic, Return Engagements, Speed- the-Plow, Angel Street, Our Town; and Script in Hand playreadings of A Song at Twilight, Angel Street, Morning’s at Seven.

Nicholas Carrière most recently toured nationally in The Lion King. He was also in the American Premiere of Zorro and the World Premiere of Abigail/1702.

The design team includes Alexander Dodge, scenic design (Westport Country Playhouse’s The Circle – Connecticut Critics Circle Award; Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Connecticut Critics Circle and Craig Noel Awards); Fabio Toblini, costume design (Broadway’s Romeo and Juliet; awards include Connecticut Critics Circle Award 2012); Matthew Richards, lighting design (Westport Country Playhouse’s Loot, Tartuffe, Suddenly Last Summer, Dinner with Friends; Broadway’s Ann); and John Gromada, original music and sound design (Westport Country Playhouse’s Harbor, Twelfth Night, Beyond Therapy; more than 30 Broadway productions including The Trip to Bountiful, as well as the Lifetime movie adaptation).

Now available are 2014 5-play and 4-play subscriptions, including online purchasing capability 24/7. Subscribers receive a host of benefits not afforded to single ticket buyers, including significant savings, priority seating, free and easy ticket exchanges, and restaurant discounts. Flex passes are also now available for those seeking a more flexible subscription option. Single tickets start at $30.

A Song at Twilight performance schedule is Tuesday at 8 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. Special series feature Taste of Tuesday, Previews, LGBT Night OUT, Opening Night, Sunday Symposium, Open Captions, Thursday TalkBack, Together at the Table Family Dinner, Playhouse Young Professionals, and Backstage Pass.

For more information, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org, or by using the new Playhouse App or mobile website.

Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), or view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).

About Westport Country Playhouse
Westport Country Playhouse, named Theater Company of the Year by The Wall Street Journal, is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, professional theater under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos and management leadership of Michael Ross. The Playhouse creates five live theater experiences, produced at the highest level, from April through October. Its vital mix of works—dramatic, comedic, occasionally exploratory and unusual—expands the audience’s sense of what theater can be. The depth and scope of its productions display the foremost theatrical literature from the past—recent as well as distant—in addition to musicals and premieres of new plays. During the summer, the Playhouse is home to the Woodward Internship Program, renowned for the training of aspiring theater professionals. Winter at the Playhouse, from November through March, offers events outside of the main season—Family Festivities presentations and Script in Hand play readings. In addition, businesses and organizations are encouraged to rent the handsome facility for their meetings, receptions and fundraisers.

As an historic venue, Westport Country Playhouse has had many different lives leading up to the present. Originally built in 1835 as a tannery manufacturing hatters’ leathers, it became a steam- powered cider mill in 1880, later to be abandoned in the 1920s. Splendidly transformed into a theater in 1931, it initially served as a try-out house for Broadway transfers, evolving into an established stop on the New England straw hat circuit of summer stock theaters through the end of the 20th century. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, the Playhouse became a state-of-the-art producing theater, preserving its original charm and character.

Today, the not-for-profit Westport Country Playhouse serves as a cultural resource for patrons, artists and students and is a treasure for the State of Connecticut. There are no boundaries to the creative thinking for future seasons or the kinds of audiences and excitement for theater that Westport Country Playhouse can build.

Other articles about Gordana Rashovich:
Feb. 20-Mar. 16: Gordana Rashovich, Mia Dillon and Brian Murray Set for Hartford Stage’s A SONG AT TWILIGHT
Photos: Brandon Uranowitz, Gordana Rashovich, Todd Lawson, Sarah Grace Wilson and More Star in Superb Revival of Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song Trilogy, Extended through October 27, 2013
A night out with Gordana Rashovich, Flora Goforth in The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
Photos: Alan Cumming, Sutton Foster, David Pittu, Jarlath Conroy and Gordana Rashovich at Charles Busch’s Judith of Bethulia

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Jun. 23: The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion: Live The Dream at Carnegie Hall Features Chapman Roberts, Norm Lewis, André De Shields, Chuck Cooper, Brandon Victor Dixon and More
Jun. 4-29: Tony Award–winner BD Wong Leads Cast of A.C.T.’s U.S. Premiere of Orphan of Zhao, a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder Leads 2014 Tony Award Nominations; Bryan Cranston, LaTanya Richardson, Mark Rylance, Audra McDonald, Neil Patrick Harris, Leigh Silverman among nominees
Signature Theatre to Be Honored with the 2014 Regional Theatre Tony Award
Tony Award Winning Playwright David Henry Hwang Receives $275,000 Doris Duke Artist Award
Photos: André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Christine Toy Johnson, Antoinette LaVecchia, Richard Topol, Victor Williams, Nikkole Salter, Elizabeth Van Dyke at Oni Faida Lampley’s Tough Titty at the Paradise Factory
Miss Saigon’s Francis Jue Receives Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Apr. 22 – May 18: Working Theater Presents The off-Broadway Premiere of James McManus’ CHERRY SMOKE at Urban Stages
André De Shields, Mary Zimmerman, Among 4 Elliot Norton Award Nominations for Huntington’s World Premiere of The Jungle Book, a co-production with The Goodman
Photos: Bryan Cranston, Peter Jay Fernandez, Roslyn Ruff, Tamara Tunie, Leslie Uggams, Ruben Santiago-Hudson Celebrate All The Way Opening Night
Photos: AALDEF Honors Mari Matsuda, Aasif Mandvi, and John Chou in 2014 at 40th Anniversary Celebration
Jun. 22 – July 27: Richard Thomas and Kristen Connolly Set for Old Globe Debut in OTHELLO
Apr. 17-May 18: Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman Lead the Cast of New Federal Theatre’s Off-Broadway Production of The Fabulous Miss Marie
Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz Presents “LADY” Featuring Lia Chang, Monica Garrido, Carolyn Holmes, Noel Simon’ Wippler, Linda Hudson, Adi Meyerson and Kathleen Doran
Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
Photos: Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Hannah Elless, Vadim Feichtner, Cathryn Salamone, Ken Triwush and Kate Wetherhead Celebrate The Other Josh Cohen Opening Night
Photos: Backstage and Opening Night of Signature’s World Premiere of David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu
Celebrating the Year of the Horse with David Henry Hwang’s Kung Fu at Signature Theatre; Previews begin February 4, 2014
Photos: David Henry Hwang, Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph honored at Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright “Mimi” Awards
Photos: Backstage with Michi Barall and the cast of Regina Taylor’s stop.reset. at Signature Theatre
Photos: The 58th Annual Drama Desk Awards and After Party
Q & A with Meet Me in St. Louis: A Live Radio Play’s Garth Kravits
Photos: Christine Toy Johnson, Baayork Lee, Jose Llana, Ann Harada, Dodie Pettit and More at Charles Randolph-Wright’s “Three Voices” concert series at Stage 72
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia recently starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Phynjuar, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine. All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com