"Brand new plays and musicals by both new and veteran playwrights and composers will be given a chance to grow," said Mark Lamos, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director in a press statement. "Our goal is to nurture and nourish new writing and seek exciting projects for our five-play seasons, as well."

The program is backing the development of two projects this month: Out of the Mouths of Babes by Israel Horovitz, in partnership with New York’s Cherry Lane Theatre; and the new musical The Rivals, based on the 1775 play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, with book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg, and music by Stephen Weiner. Each project will receive a workshop at the Playhouse that will culminate in a staged reading before an audience. Dates and details will be announced soon.

The initiative is made possible by funding from the Playhouse's New Works Circle. Founding members are Howard J. Aibel, Ania Czekaj-Farber, Sandra and Neil DeFeo, Kate and Bob Devlin, Michele and Marc Flaster, Susan Jacobson and David Moskovitz, Judy and Scott Phares, Barbara and John Samuelson, Barbara and John Streicker, and Johnna G. Torsone and John McKeon.

"Due to the passionate generosity of our New Works Circle members, we will now be able to continue at an even higher level the Playhouse's long history of supporting the development of new work," commented Lamos.

For more information, visit westportplayhouse.org or call the box office at (203) 227-4177.