Phylicia Rashad to Star in Westport’s Sweet Bird of Youth

Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad will play the Countess de Lago in the Westport Country Playhouse’s production of Tennessee Williams’ Sweet Bird of Youth, August 5-23. The production will be directed by Tazewell Thompson, the Playhouse’s artistic director.

The Playhouse’s 2008 season will also include Morris Panych’s Vigil (February 26-March 15), Jon Marans’ A Strange and Separate People (April 1-19), Craig Wright’s The Pavilion (May 13-31), the musical revue Hot ‘n Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration (June 10-28), David Wiltse’s Scramble (July 8-26), and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men (October 7-25).

Rashad is currently starring on Broadway in Cymbeline and will appear as Big Mama in February in her sister Debbie Allen’s production of Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in A Raisin in the Sun and received a 2005 Tony nomination for Gem of the Ocean. She is well known for her work in TV’s The Cosby Show and Cosby.

For more information, visit www.westportplayhouse.org.