Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand play-reading of the humorous and poignant “Painting Churches” by Tina Howe, on Monday, February 9, at 7 p.m. A Connecticut theatrical family - Jack Gilpin, his wife Ann McDonough, and their daughter Betty Gilpin, who currently is a leading character in television’s “Nurse Jackie” – are cast members. Director is Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Tickets are $20 each.
“Painting Churches” is about Gardner and Fanny Church, who are preparing to move out of their Beacon Hill house. Gardner, once a famous poet, now retired, slips in and out of senility as his wife Fanny valiantly tries to keep them both afloat. Their daughter Mags comes home to help, hoping to finally paint their portrait. She is on the verge of artistic celebrity and hopes, by painting her parents, to come to terms with them, and they with her.
“In my continuing exploration of female playwrights this season, starting last fall with Joanna McClelland Glass’ ‘Trying,’ and Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap,’ I remembered this lovely and funny play by Tina Howe,” said Keefe. “When I realized I could cast an actual family to play all the roles it seemed a no-brainer. I’m looking forward to seeing Art imitate Life and vice versa as these talented performers delve into playing these fascinating characters.”
Betty Gilpin was in earlier Playhouse Script in Hand playreadings, “The Breadwinner,” “Holiday,” and “Butterflies Are Free.” In addition to currently appearing on television’s “Nurse Jackie,” she is now performing Off-Broadway in the two-character play, “I’m Gonna Pray for You So Hard,” with Reed Birney.
Jack Gilpin was at Westport Country Playhouse in “Lend Me a Tenor,” “The Fourth Wall,” “A Cheever Evening,” “Hay Fever,” “A Holiday Garland,” and Script in Hand playreadings of “Fallen Angels” and “Holiday.” He has played both on and off-Broadway and was in over 30 films, including “Something Wild,” “Reversal of Fortune,” and “Higher Ground.”
Ann McDonough was recently at the Playhouse in a Script in Hand playreading of “The Mousetrap.” She was also on the Playhouse stage in A. R. Gurney’s “The Cocktail Hour.” In New York, she appeared in Gurney’s “The Dining Room,” and regionally in Long Wharf Theatre’s “Our Town.” Her film credits include “Moonstruck” and “Six Degrees of Separation.”
Director Anne Keefe served as artistic director of Westport Country Playhouse with Joanne Woodward in 2008, and as associate artistic director from 2000-2006, also with Ms. Woodward. She co-directed with Ms. Woodward the Westport Country Playhouse production of “David Copperfield,” and directed many Script in Hand playreadings.
Script in Hand sponsors are Marc and Michele Flaster; Script in Hand partners are Ann Sheffer and Bill Scheffler. Script in Hand corporate sponsor is People’s United Bank Wealth Management. The series is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.
For more information or tickets, 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. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), or view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).