WESTPORT — “The Trip to Bountiful,” a play-reading of Horton Foote’s drama about an elderly woman’s determination to visit her childhood hometown, will be presented March 11 at the Westport Country Playhouse.

The production, part of the theater’s “Script-in-Hand” play-reading series, will be staged at 7 p.m. Monday, March 11, at the playhouse, 25 Powers Court.

To purchase tickets in advance online, click here.

“The Trip to Bountiful” had its world premiere in 1953 at the playhouse, and then moved to Broadway and later film adaptations.

The original Westport and Broadway productions starred Lillian Gish, Eva Marie Saint and Jo Van Fleet, who won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Jessie Mae Watts.

Geraldine Page won an Academy Award for Best Actress in her role as Carrie Watts for the 1985 film adaptation of the play.

This play-reading will be directed by Michael Wilson, who also directed a 2013 Broadway revival and 2014 Lifetime movie of the play.

The cast includes Nancy Robinette, Leon Addison Brown, Kimberly Gilbert and Hero Marguerite.

“Michael Wilson’s understanding of this play is deeply felt, as evidenced by the celebrated Broadway revival and television film versions which he directed,” Mark Shanahan, the playhouse artistic director, said in a publicity release.

“It is a thrill to host him at the playhouse to re-investigate a work he knows so intimately and loves with such passion.” 

Playhouse to host series of public tours

Guided tours of the playhouse will be offered, twice monthly, from March through July.

The tours are scheduled — by reservation — at 10:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 29-30, April 20 and 26, May 17-18, June 28-29 and July 26-27. Each tour group is limited to 25 people.

Bruce Miller, the playhouse archivist, will lead the tours, which will touch on aspects of the theater’s history dating to its founding in 1931, as well as state-of-the-art technology used to stage current-day productions.

Miller will recount anecdotes about playhouse productions and performers over the years. Tour participants will visit the playhouse stage and backstage areas such as the green room, dressing rooms, scene shop, wardrobe room, posters, photos, costumes and set models.

Click here to reserve a spot with a tour group. There is no fee, although donations are encouraged, according to the playhouse announcement.

Private group tours also can be scheduled by contacting Kelly Richards Mikolasy, house and events manager, at krichards@westportplayhouse.org.

For more information, check the Westport Country Playhouse website, or call the box office at  203-227-4177.