Westport Country Playhouse To Present Script In Hand Reading This Month Of New Comedy

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand reading of "The Next Best Thing," a new comedy by Connecticut playwright Matt Hoverman, at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14.

The play centers on an outspoken grandmother and the android her family builds to replace her after her death. Hoverman, a Redding native, wrote the play. Mark Shanahan, the Playhouse's artistic director and curator of the Script in Hand series, will direct.

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"It's a time to celebrate new work at the Playhouse!" Shanahan said. "As we launch a season filled with new work on our mainstage, our Script in Hand series continues to celebrate new plays with Matt Hoverman's 'The Next Best Thing.' This wild and wonderfully funny ride introduces us to a family any of us might recognize, while mixing outrageous comedy with smart observations about technology, family dynamics, and the very nature of what it means to be human. Matt has a soaring imagination and a singular wit, and I couldn't be happier to welcome this Connecticut native to the Playhouse to share his terrific new comedy with our audience."

"The Next Best Thing" explores whether people should accept the difficult qualities of those they love or seek a more acceptable alternative.

The story follows Jo, an outspoken 80-year-old whose goal is to ensure that her 9-year-old granddaughter inherits her ferocity, strength and courage. Jo's son, John, an artificial intelligence programmer, offers to create an AI android resembling his mother to fill the void after her death. Jo agrees, hoping a version of her perspective will remain to influence her granddaughter.

When the time comes to scan Jo's personality, however, John secretly changes the settings. Rather than giving the android a copy of his mother's personality, he creates a kinder, gentler version of her.

The android is accidentally activated while Jo is still alive and begins winning over Jo's family and granddaughter. Jo then sets out to remove her synthetic replacement and preserve the influence she believes her granddaughter needs.

Hoverman is a television writer, producer and playwright whose work in children's animation includes "Arthur," "Curious George," "Fancy Nancy," "Sofia the First," "Firebuds," "Batwheels" and "RoboGobo." His work has received an Emmy and the Humanitas Prize, among other honors and nominations.

His theater comedies include "Puck'd: A Middle-Aged Summer Night's Dream," "The Glint," "The Next Best Thing," "Who You See Here," "Thrillsville," "In Transit" and "Christmas Shorts." His plays have received the FringeNYC Best Playwriting Award and the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival award.

As a librettist, Hoverman co-wrote the book for The Transport Group's "The Audience," which received a Drama Desk Award nomination for outstanding new musical. He also wrote the book for "Disney Junior Dream Factory," which ran for five years at Disneyland Paris, and TheaterWorksUSA's national tour of "Clifford: The Big Red Dog: The Musical." The latter is scheduled to come to Westport Country Playhouse on Sept. 19.

Hoverman earned a bachelor's degree in playwriting from Brown University and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from the University of California, San Diego.

Cast members for "The Next Best Thing" will be announced later.

Tickets are $35. Information is available through Westport Country Playhouse.

The 2026 Script in Hand Playreading Series is supported by Joyce Hergenhan and the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Barbara Streicker is the 2026 programming and season sponsor. Media sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio.

The Script in Hand series continues at 7 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 5 and Nov. 30. Titles have not yet been announced. Subscriptions and single tickets are available.

The readings feature professional actors without scenery or costumes.

Westport Country Playhouse is a nonprofit organization located at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, in Westport. Information and tickets are available at westportplayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 203-227-4177 or 888-927-7529. Play titles, artists, dates and times are subject to change.