Four Years of Change

by Director of Marketing, Eric Smith

It is hard to believe that the Playhouse is now in its 4th season since we completed our capital renovations. And through those four years, the Playhouse has gone through many different changes, from shifts in artistic directors to expanding the season, and probably a slew more that comes quickly to the mind of our audience. Through it all, I think we have learned what we want the Playhouse to become, and we are grateful that our audience and patrons have supported us during this process. We know that, at times, it may not been easy for our audience to understand the reasoning behind some of the institutional decisions, but I hope this will be one of many steps on the road to a better understanding and a richer appreciation of Westport Country Playhouse.

In a recent networking meeting one of our current corporate sponsors remarked that “a lot of people are waiting to see what the Playhouse is going to be.” Since I have been living with it every day since I came to the Playhouse a year ago, I realized that we need to be more diligent in educating our audience about our intentions for this landmark cultural treasure. Our audience is the heartbeat that keeps this theatre vibrant and alive, and it is crucial that you believe in our choices as much as we do.

First and foremost, we want Westport Country Playhouse to regain its stature as a nationally recognized professional theatre. We want artists, designers, directors, producers and agents across the country to view this wonderful campus as a viable destination for their work. In addition to the mainstage season, we are will continue to create programming that keeps the building busy all year-round. That programming will take many different forms including our current Selected Shorts series, increased collaboration with the Westport Arts Center, Westport Library, Fairfield University and others. It may include film series, concerts, theatre classes, and more.

Second, Westport Country Playhouse built one of the preeminent internship programs in the nation, so for us, not only the cultivation of future theatre artists, but the use of the arts to supplement the education the next generation, is a cornerstone of the future Westport Country Playhouse. We will continue to grow our educational offerings including our newest summer camp and fall classes, develop new programs that promote life-long learning in the arts, and strengthen our school outreach programs as we work to become a vital arts resource within the community.

Finally, we will want to be a community gathering place where our audience can sit on the porch and enjoy a glass of wine before seeing a world-class theatrical production, or where corporations can host conferences, or where children first learn the art of storytelling. We want our audience think of us as a source of pride for their community, to feel comfortable taking advantage of all the Playhouse has to offer, and to relax knowing that the service they receive, the performance they attend, or class in which they participate will always be world-class.

Your comments are welcome. Whether it is about the state of the arts, or commentary on the latest show, the WCP Blog is a forum for your thoughts and ideas as much as a window into Westport Country Playhouse’s backstage.