Westport Country Playhouse To Host Symposium Tied To 'Primary Trust' Themes

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Country Playhouse will host a Sunday Symposium after the April 19, 3 p.m. performance of "Primary Trust," bringing a public conversation on recovery, mental health and support to the theater. The event is tied to the themes of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning play and is free and open to the public.

The symposium will feature Rev. Richard Williams, pastor and executive director of Pivot Ministries in Bridgeport, and Liz Moore, director of community relations for Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan. Mark Shanahan, the Playhouse artistic director, will moderate the discussion, which will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the audience.

According to the organizers, the panel will focus on people in the local community who help others through support and connection. Pivot Ministries treats drug and alcohol addiction in men as a spiritual problem, connecting each man with a career path or educational goal and helping him live a disciplined life as an active part of his church. Silver Hill Hospital is described as a leader in mental health care for adults and adolescents.

Williams battled addiction and now leads the organization that supported his recovery. According to the Playhouse, he came to Pivot in 2008 looking for a fresh start after addiction overtook his life. He was later ordained as a minister.

Moore works to build partnerships, raise awareness and expand access to Silver Hill’s care. The organization said she supports dialogue and connection in settings like the Sunday Symposium while advancing Silver Hill’s mission to reduce suffering from mental illness and addiction.

"Primary Trust" is written by Eboni Booth and directed by Logan Vaughn. The Playhouse describes the work as "a gentle and inspiring exploration of friendship, courage, and new beginnings." It also said the play examines "the importance of human connection, the power of kindness, and the essential trust needed to navigate life's changes."

The play centers on Kenneth, a lonely 38-year-old man living in the small town of Cranberry, New York, according to the playhouse. Kenneth is something of a failure to launch, never quite stepping into full independence or adult responsibility. A creature of habit, he spends every evening sipping mai tais at the local tiki bar with Bert, his best friend – who happens to be imaginary.

When Kenneth is suddenly laid off from his lifelong job in a bookstore, his world is upended. Facing a reality he's long avoided, Kenneth is forced to leave the comfort of his imagination and learn to trust beyond the barstool. He musters courage to take a new job at the Primary Trust Bank with transformative, and even sweetly comical, results.

The production runs through May 2 in Westport. The four-member cast includes Jasminn Johnson, Greg Stuhr, Alphonso Walker Jr., and Lance Coadie Williams.

Westport Country Playhouse is at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, in Westport. More information about “Primary Trust,” other Playhouse events and tickets is available at westportplayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 203-227-4177 or 1-888-927-7529. Play titles, artists, dates and times are subject to change.

The Sunday Symposium Series is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation. 2026 Programming and Season Sponsor is Barbara Streicker. 2026 Media sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio. 2026 Opening Night Sponsor is RDM Financial Group at Hightower. Production Patron is RBC Wealth Management. Westport Country Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.