Westport Country Playhouse will host the second annual “Letters to Our Daughters,” a free-of-charge event to celebrate International Women’s Day, on Thursday, March 8, at 7 p.m. A diverse group of 13 women, including Tony Award winners Joanna Gleason and Judith Ivey, and “This Is Us” series regular Susan Kelechi Watson, will read essays and poems written by female authors on global women’s issues.
The program is curated by Samantha Goober and Anne Keefe.
“International Women's Day is a great way of reminding us to celebrate the women in our lives, not just on this day, but every day,” said Goober. “On March 8th we are looking forward to welcoming a group of vibrant women on our stage with a wealth of different backgrounds and experiences to share the words of an equally vibrant group of women writers from around the world.”
Keefe, Playhouse associate artist, noted that last year’s presentation was “completely sold out.” She added, “This year, we’ll bring back some favorite readings from 2017 and add new selections that have resonance given our collective experiences over the past year. Along with serious moments, we’ll have lighter reflections as well.”
Readers of works by female writers will include Farah Bala, actor in ABC’s “Quantico, HBO’s “High Maintenance,” Comedy Central’s “Broad City,” and social justice advocate/organizer; Danielle Davenport, actor and writer currently appearing in the second season of Amazon’s “Sneaky Pete”; Joanna Gleason, Tony Award-winning actor for “Into the Woods” and Tony nominee for “Joe Egg”; Wilhelmina Hartong, writer, award-winning standup comedienne, and theater teacher at Regional High School for the Arts in Trumbull, CT; and Alicia Hernandez Strong, a senior at Wesleyan University and a political activist from New Britain, CT.
Also, Judith Ivey, Tony Award-winning actor for “Hurlyburly” and “Steaming,” television’s “Designing Women”; Susan Kelechi Watson, WCP’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” NAACP Image Award nomination and SAG Award win for NBC’s “This Is Us”; Elise Kibler, actor in Broadway’s “The Heidi Chronicles,” “This Is Our Youth”; Pamela Lewis, founder of Connect-Us, connecting suburban and urban neighbors in Fairfield County, CT, and beyond; Aleta Mitchell, actress in original cast of Broadway’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and WCP’s “Intimate Apparel,” “The Member of the Wedding”; Patricia Russo, executive director of Women’s Campaign School at Yale and public speaker; Najla Said, actress, playwright, and author of “Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family”; and Pearl Sun, actor in Broadway’s “If/Then,” Netflick’s “Orange Is the New Black,” WCP’s “tick, tick…Boom!”
Seating is reserved; limit of two free tickets per household. The program is geared for age 14 and up. Audience members are encouraged to wear purple - a color internationally recognized as symbolizing women, and the official color of International Women's Day.
Reserve tix by calling 203.227.4177 or email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org,
