Seasoned Director at Helm of Westport Community Theatre's Production of Nine, the Musical

The Westport Community Theatre is proud to have Mark Graham, director of over 100 plays and musicals at the helm of its current production, Nine, the musical. Graham, a Stratford resident, has an MFA in directing from the University of Connecticut and has extensive experience directing in both Manhattan and throughout the country.

Graham’s revival production of Elizabeth Fuller’s Me and Jezebel recently ran Off-Broadway at 
The Snapple Theater in New York City and he produced and directed its many productions across the U.S. He also directed John O’Hern’s Rooster in the Henhouse on Theater Row and at the legendary Feinstein’s, he directed singer/lyricist Barbara Schottenfeld’s highly acclaimed cabaret act. He has recently been nominated in the 2015 On Stage Critics Awards for Best Director of a Play for his direction of God of Carnage at the Darien Arts Center earlier this spring.

Graham has served on the boards of the Westport Country Playhouse and Playhouse on the Green, and additionally is a former president and board member of The Theatre Artists Workshop. For ten years, Graham was a producing partner of the late Tony Award winning producer Lester Osterman. He was general manager of Lucille Lortel’s White Barn Theater in Westport, CT and is one of the founding members of the Downtown Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport.

Nine, which won a Tony Award in 1982 for best musical, delighted theatregoers in a hit revival starring Antonio Banderas in 2003, winning another Tony for best revival of a musical. Based on the Federico Fellini film, 8 1/2, Nine is the story of celebrated film director Guido Contini as he attempts to come up with the plot for his next film; all the while being pursued by countless beautiful women vying for his affection.

WCT’s spectacular show is being produced by the experienced team of Donna Wyant, Sam Mink and Robert Watts, and choreographed by Carol Schweid. Cast members are Beth Bria, Josie Bielmeier, Mia Cenholt-Haulund, Ainsley Dahlstrom, Lisa Dahlstrom, Nicholas Ferreira, Stephanie Ficarra, Karen Hanley, Sarah Hernandez, Robie Livingstone, Jodi Maxner, Lucia Palmieri, Bennett Pologe, Janice Rudolph, Betsy Simpson and Donna Wyant.

WCT’s production, based on the book by Arthur Kopit, runs during the month of June. Performances are through June 28, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, with a Thursday performance on June 11 at 8:00 p.m. There is an extra matinee at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. Tickets are $28, $26 for seniors and students, and can be purchased at westportcommunitytheatre.com or by calling (203) 226-1983. Westport Community Theatre is located at 110 Myrtle Avenue in Westport.