Bravo! A Century of Theatre in Fairfield County, to be Presented by Fairfield Museum and History Center

Bravo! A Century of Theatre in Fairfield County to be presented by the Fairfield Museum and History Center in Fairfield, Connecticut, will begin with a special gala fundraising preview that will honor actor Christopher Plummer; playwright A.J. Gurney; director Mark Lamos; and costume designer Jane Greenwood on Saturday, September 24 at the museum. The honorary event chair is Joanne Woodward and the gala event chairs are Mary Jane Berrien, Lisa Callahan, and Caroline Owens Crawford, all of Fairfield.

According to director of exhibitions and programs for the museum, Kathleen Bennewitz, Bravo! opens to the public on Sunday, September 25 and will run through Sunday, March 18, 2012. "It will be the largest, first-of-a-kind exhibition the museum has undertaken and will focus on the legacy of Fairfield County's regional theatres, highlighting the Westport Country Playhouse, the White Barn Theatre, and the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre and Academy," she said.

Bravo! is made possible, in part, through a grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council (CHC). Additional support for Bravo! has been provided by The Graham Foundation of Connecticut, Inc., The Lucille Lortel Foundation, the Betty R. and Ralph Sheffer Foundation, Fairfield University, graygraham, and Still River Editions, with additional support from private individuals. Media sponsors include Fairfield Magazine for the gala preview on September 24; Moffly Media for the length of the exhibition, WSHU Radio, and the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.

Fairfield Museum and History Center is working in partnership with Martha S. LoMonaco, PhD, professor of visual and performing arts at Fairfield University, who is guest-curating this exhibition.

The Fairfield Museum has chosen this topic because Fairfield County holds a unique place in the history of American theatre and is rich with vibrant stories. "One of Connecticut's important roles in the performing arts has been as an 'incubator' of emerging talent, providing a place where playwrights, actors and designers have had the freedom to experiment with groundbreaking ideas," Bennewitz noted.

"Over the past century, regional theatres have provided opportunities for internationally known artists to 'try out' their craft on a regional stage to allow audiences to experience the best in classical, popular and innovative dramatic art in a different setting outside New York.

"Collectively, the productions have comprised a who's who of stage artists like Katharine Hepburn, Alfred Drake, Morris Carnovsky, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Christopher Plummer, James Earl Jones, June Havoc, Robert Ryan, and Bert Lahr, to mention only a few. Bravo! will offer visitors a unique opportunity to hear the fascinating stories behind those actors and some of their landmark performances," Bennewitz added.

Bennewitz explained that interactive stations will provide a window to behind the scenes of stage production and a colorful array of costumes, props, photographs, and manuscripts will combine to illustrate Fairfield County's theatrical history.

The museum will also offer a slate of public education programs related to Bravo!, where visitors may participate in activities, presentations and performances at the Museum and at partnering institutions. "Another of the very exciting aspects of Bravo! is the partnerships we have established with more than 60 performing arts organizations throughout Fairfield County that will co-promote the exhibition and its related educational programs and performances," Bennewitz said. "These partnerships will help make the exhibition and their own performances appealing."