Entertainment
Sandy Duncan and Karen Ziemba in comedy play reading at Westport Country Playhouse
By Westport Country Playhouse
Mar 25, 2008 - 1:01:24 AM

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter , managing director) will present two of Broadway’s most versatile performers, Sandy Duncan and Karen Ziemba, in a reading of the new comedy, “The Real Tabasco,” written by Deborah Grace Winer, formerly of Westport, on Monday, April 14, 7 p.m. The reading is part of the Playhouse's “Funny Mondays” series, showcasing both new and classic comedies, followed by audience feedback, often with the playwright in attendance.

“The hit play-reading series returns as a cast of professional actors sit down to read plays with a hint of humor, some hilarious, some touching, but each one guaranteed to bring a smile to your face during the course of the evening,” said Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic director and curator of “Funny Mondays.” “In our commitment to develop new works, play readings are the first step in bringing the playwright’s words from the page to the stage in front of a live audience.”

When a prize-winning show dog escapes the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport , “The Real Tabasco” captures the ensuing crisis of the entangled lives of a blue-collar Astoria couple with marriage problems, an immigrant baggage handler, and an under-employed actress leading the rescue effort.

Sandy Duncan appeared on Broadway in “Chicago” (as Roxie Hart), “Canterbury Tales” (Tony Award nomination), “The Boyfriend” (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards), “Peter Pan” (Tony nomination) and “My One and Only” (with Tommy Tune and husband Don Correia). At New York City Center , she appeared in “Music Man,” “Carousel,” “Life with Father” and “Finian’s Rainbow.” Off-Broadway, she was in “The Fourth Wall,” “Ceremony of Innocence” (Theatre World Award) and “Your Own Thing.” In Los Angeles , she was in “Vanities” (LA Drama Critics nomination). Other stage productions include “5,6,7,8 Dance!” ( Radio City ), “I Do! I Do!” (with James Naughton), “Love Letters” (with Peter Fonda) and “South Pacific” (with Michael Nouri). Her television credits include “Funny Face” (Emmy nomination), “Roots” (Emmy nomination), “The Hogan Family”; specials “Sandy in Disneyland ” and “The Sandy Duncan Special”; made for television movies “My Boyfriend’s Back” and “Miracle On I-880”; “Pinocchio” (with Danny Kaye), “Law & Order” and “The Muppet Show.” Ms. Duncan is also widely known as the commercial spokesperson for Nabisco’s Wheat Thins and the Sylvan Learning Center . Animation work includes “My Little Pony,” “The Fox and the Hound,” “Rock-a-Doodle,” “ Swan Lake ” and “I Am Curious.” Concerts include “Together” (with Don Correia and Guy Stroman) with major symphony orchestras across the country. Ms. Duncan continues her commitments to AIDS and children’s issues. The Correias have two sons, Jeffrey and Michael.

Karen Ziemba currently appears on Broadway in “Curtains” (Outer Critics Circle Award, Tony and Drama Desk nominations). Other Broadway credits are “Contact,” at Lincoln Center Theatre (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards), “Never Gonna Dance” (Outer Critics Circle Award), “Steel Pier” (Tony nomination) “Chicago,” “Crazy For You,” “42nd Street” and “A Chorus Line.” Off-Broadway credits are “And the World Goes ‘Round” (Drama Desk Award for a performance she repeated at Westport Country Playhouse in 1992) and “I Do! I Do!” (Drama Desk nomination). For New York City Opera, she appeared in “110 in the Shade,” “The Most Happy Fella” and “Candide.” For Encores! at City Center , she was in “Allegro,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “The Pajama Game” and “Ziegfeld Follies of 1936.” Regional work includes “Much Ado about Nothing” (Shakespeare Theatre/Hartford Stage), “The Three Penny Opera” (Williamstown Theatre Festival), “Leading Ladies” (Ford’s Theatre) “House and Garden” (GeVa Theatre) and “The Opposite of Sex (Magic Theatre). Television and film includes “The Producers,” “Scrubs,” all three “Law & Order” series, “The Kennedy Center Honors,” and for PBS, “Ira Gershwin at 100,” “My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies” and “Stephen Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall.”

Two other actors will be announced.

Playwright Deborah Grace Winer’s play, “Big Important Issues” was read at Westport Country Playhouse during the “Funny Mondays” series in 2005, with Karen Ziemba. Another of her plays, “The Last Girl Singer,” was produced Off-Broadway by the Women's Project and Productions, starring Tony Award-winner Kelly Bishop. Ms. Winer presented “Dorothy's Side of the Street,” the Dorothy Fields Centennial Show, for the 92nd St. Y's “Lyrics and Lyricists” series, for which she was guest artistic director, host and writer. She also wrote “Fans!: The Sally Rand Centennial Celebration” presented at Town Hall. For New York 's City Center , she wrote the script for “Gotta Dance - A Dance Tribute to Hollywood ,” and “Dancing on Air - A Dance Tribute to Television.” She is also author of several books and articles.

Kaitlin Hopkins will direct. She appeared in the New York productions of “Batboy” and “Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” as well as television and film roles.

“Funny Mondays” are supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, the Playhouse is now open year-round, welcoming 85,000 audience members annually. On its legendary stage are theatrical productions, educational programming and special events, including films, readings of short fiction and new plays, and a Family Festivities series. The rich history of the Westport Country Playhouse dates back to 1931, when New York theatre producers Lawrence Langner and his wife Armina Marshall created a Broadway-quality stage within an 1830s cow barn. Now celebrating its 78th season, the Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 35 of which later transferred to Broadway. Its roster of actors reads like a "Who's Who" of the American theatre. Westport Country Playhouse serves as a treasured home for the performing arts for audiences and artists alike, and as a true cultural landmark for Connecticut .

Tickets to "Funny Mondays" are $25, $20 and $15. For more information, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit 25 Powers Court , off Route 1, Westport . Information about the Playhouse is also available at www.westportplayhouse.org.

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