"Play With Your Food" Launches 2013 Season!

ellen bowen

Performing arts producer JIB Productions has announced its Play With Your Food program at Toquet Hall in Westport , on Jan. 15, 16 and17, Fairfield Theatre Company on Jan. 22, and at Greenwich Arts Council January 23 and 24th

Now in its 11th season, PWYF is a theater program that includes a seasonal buffet lunch and dessert, short-play readings by professional actors and a post-show discussion. Performances are held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on dates in January, February, March and April.  

January’s lunch in Westport and Greenwich will be catered by Norwalk’s Nicholas Roberts Gourmet Bistro, and will feature Chef Robert Triolo’s seasonal lunch roll ups: Butternut Squash & Honey, Ginger Truffle Tuna Salad, Chicken Salad w/ Sage, a Sweet Potato salad w/ Mixed Greens & dried fruit.

For the January 22nd Fairfield production at FTC, The Pantry, based in Fairfield, will feature their Smokin Chicken Burritto, Black Bean and Cheese Burritto, Haricot Vert Green Bean Salad with grapes, shallots and vinaigrette, and Mixed Green Salad with toasted pumpkin seeds, cranberries, edamame, carrots in a Balsamic Dressing. and their renowned chocolate chip and “World Peace” cookies. 

Upcoming food features include Polpo, in Greenwich in February and more to be announced later!

Opening the season  this month will be:  an excerpt from “Dinner With Friends,” a  Pulitzer Prize-winning  play by Donald Margulies, “Color Coordination” by Benjamin Conrick” and “Move On or Sondheim at Studio 54” by Michael McKeever, a PWYF favorite playwright. 

“We chose these plays to both amuse and move our audiences,” notes Artistic Director Carole Schweid. “’Move On or Sondheim at Studio 54’ is a play about a song. Friend and foe of the great Stephen Sondheim are bound to get a lot out of this inspired little comedy. ‘Dinner with Friends ‘is a story about food, family and friendship, and the  bottom line in ‘Color Coordination’ is, that when it comes to the big moments in life, it all comes down to what to wear.”

A high-caliber cast will bring the stories to life, adds Schweid. “Local professionals Susan Vanech (Fairfield) and Jodi Stevens (Weston) will be joined by New York’s Dustin Sullivan and Josh Sienkiewitz. This high-voltage ensemble is a blast to work with. They’ve all worked nationally, Off Broadway, in television, and with us. We’re very excited to welcome them back.”

During 2013, performances at Toquet Hall in Westport are set for Jan. 15-17, Feb. 5-7, March 5-7 and April 2-4. At Fairfield Theatre Company, productions will be held Jan. 22, Feb. 12. , March 12 and April 9.  Performances also will be held at the Greenwich Arts Council in Greenwich on Jan 23-24, Feb 13-14, March 13 and April 24-25.

Tickets are priced at $43 per show and include lunch. To purchase tickets and see complete schedule, visit www.jibproductions.org or call the box office at (203) 293-8831 Monday-Friday. between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.