“From the Mississippi Delta” Hits the Westport Country Playhouse Stage
L–R: Goldie E. Patrick, director of Westport Country Playhouse’s “From the Mississippi Delta,” and cast members Claudia Logan, Tameishia Peterson, and Erin Margaret Pettigrew. Contributed photo by Cynthia AstmannPress Release
Westport Country Playhouse will stage the gripping tale of determination, hope, motivation, and inspiration, “From the Mississippi Delta,” written by Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph.D., and directed by Goldie E. Patrick, from October 18 - 30. The play was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and won a Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award.
“I have had a love affair with this play for many years and was truly blessed to get to know its creator Endesha Ida Mae Holland -- the woman who in fact lived it -- when I produced it at Hartford Stage years ago,” said Mark Lamos, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director. “She attended rehearsals and took great pride in the fact that it then moved on to a successful run Off-Broadway. We were so proud of the production and were so happy to welcome the audiences that were hungry to experience it. I'm thrilled that Goldie is going to be bringing her vision of it to the Playhouse as our season finale.”
Based on the author’s life, the triumphant journey begins in Greenwood, Mississippi--the Delta--where Phelia works in the cotton fields. Her coming-of-age experiences inspire her to dream, sweeping her into the momentum of the civil rights movement.
“Who we are and who we become is so beautifully tied to where we are from,” said Goldie E Patrick, director. “’From the Mississippi Delta’ is such a powerful journey of how three Black women step into themselves and their becoming as they experience the world around them.”
The three-member cast includes Claudia Logan as Woman 1. She is from Detroit, a graduate of SUNY Purchase, and now lives in Brooklyn. Credits include Westport Country Playhouse’s “Don Juan” (2019), Dallas Theater Center’s “Penny Candy,” HBO’s “Random Acts of Flyness” and “The Deuce,” and Netflix’s “Tales of the City.” Tameishia Peterson portrays Woman 2. Born in Dayton and raised in Memphis, she is a graduate of The Ohio State University, Michael Howard Studios, and Fiasco Conservatory. She now lives in New York. Credits include Starz’s ““Power Book II: Ghost,” Hulu’s “WuTang: An American Saga,” and Netflix’s "The Perfect Find." Erin Margaret Pettigrew plays Woman 3. She is a first generation Los Angeles native after having roots in Belize and the American South. Her artist-journey has been shaped with many communities and creators such as Manhattan Theatre Club, Page 73 Productions, JAG Productions, and more, while facilitating and learning alongside institutions such as UCSB, NYU, and CUNY.
Playwright Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph.D. (1944-2006) was born in Greenwood, Mississippi. During the 1940s and 1950s, Greenwood was an impoverished Delta community where Black people lived in fear of their lives. Raped by a white man on her 11th birthday, expelled from school, a prostitute at 12 and a mother at 15, Holland was headed in the wrong direction; that is, until the civil rights movement came to her town. She was swept into the momentum, participating in sit-ins, mass rallies, even going to jail with other activists, and her life was transformed. Holland earned her GED, and in 1966 she moved north to Minneapolis. Subsequently, Holland earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as a doctorate from the University of Minnesota in American studies, with a concentration in theatre arts (playwriting). The first of her plays, “The Second Doctor Lady,” won the Lorraine Hansberry Award for Best Play in 1981. She retired as professor emeritus from the University of Southern California, where she held joint appointments both in the School of Theatre and the program of the Study of Women and Men in Society (SWMS). Holland was forced into early retirement and a wheelchair by ataxia, a hereditary, neuromuscular disorder,
Directing “From the Mississippi Delta” is Goldie E. Patrick. She is a Detroit native and proud alumna of Howard University where she is currently a professor of hip-hop theater. Based in New York City, for over 20 years she has passionately worked in and built artistic collaborations in Black theater as a playwright, director, and producer. Her approach to theater-making lives at the intersection of her work as an artist, cultural worker, and educator. She is the former founding executive director of FRESHH Inc Theatre Company for Black womxn and girls. She is also a member of the Culture Caucus at the Kennedy Center and currently the inaugural Black Creation Playwright in residence at New Federal Theatre. Directing credits include “Project 892” (New York University–MFA program), “The Halal Brothers” (Columbia University), “Foriwa” (Hedgepig Ensemble & Classical Theatre of Harlem), “Paradise Blue” (Detroit Public Theatre), and “HERstory Love Forever, Hip Hop” (John F. Kennedy Center). Associate director credits include “Between the World and Me” (Apollo Theatre) and “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” (Signature Theatre). www.goldiepatrick.com
The creative team includes Jason Ardizzone-West, scenic design; Heidi Hanson, costume design; John Alexander, lighting design; Michael Keck, sound design; Ann James, intimacy coach; Dawn-Elin Fraser, voice and speech coach; Sean Sanford, props supervisor; Melissa Sparks, production stage manager; and Tré Wheeler, assistant stage manager.
The play is recommended for age 15 and up. Running time is approximately 90 minutes with one intermission. For the Playhouse’s 2022 season only, plays are consolidated to a two-week performance schedule instead of the usual three-week run.
Production Sponsors are Judy and Scott Phares. 2022 Season Media Sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio. Support for programming for this production is provided from CT Humanities (CTH), with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature.
Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Special series include Taste of Tuesday (October 18), LGBTQ+ Night Out (October 20), Post-Play Dialogue (October 20), Opening Night (October 22), Sunday Symposium (October 23), Backstage Pass (October 26), Thursday TalkBack (October 27), and Open Captions (October 30).
Single tickets for “From the Mississippi Delta” start at $30 during preview performances (October 18 - 21), and beginning October 22 Opening Night, tickets start at $50 and are subject to change based upon availability. Buy early for best prices. For information on special offers, including discounts for students, senior citizens, educators, military and first responders, Indigenous peoples, professional playwrights, and groups, as well as options for pay-what-you-will and Westport, Norwalk, and Bridgeport Library passes visit www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/box-office/.
Masks are required for four performances of “From the Mississippi Delta” on Friday, October 21 at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, October 26 at 2 p.m.; Friday, October 28 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, October 29 at 3 p.m. At the other 10 performances, masks are strongly encouraged, but not required. For updates on Covid-19 health and safety protocols at the Playhouse, visit https://www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/covid19safety/
More info on “From the Mississippi Delta” at https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/mississippidelta/
All play titles, artists, dates, and times are subject to change.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.westportplayhouse.org, or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 6; State Positivity Rate 10.21%
The State Department of Public Health reported 6 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day. The State positivity rate was up to 10.21% while 390 people remain hospitalized.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,849 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 40 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 10.21% [up from 9.89%]
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 52. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
High Tides
10:11 AM / 10:28 PM
Low Tides
4:08 AM / 4:26 PM
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 4; State Positivity Rate 9.89%
The State Department of Public Health reported 4 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day. The State positivity rate was up to 9.89% while 400 people remain hospitalized.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,843 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 40 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 9.89% [up from 9.88%]
River Reflections
Evening light and cooler weather marked the end to the first day of autumn in Westport’s downtown tonight. WestportLocal.com photo
Mark A. Blake, 61, Died; Westport EMS Crew Chief, Weston Firefighter
Mark A. Blake, age 61, of Stratford, Connecticut, died Tuesday, September 20, 2022, after a valiant battle with COVID-19. Mark, a beloved and loving son, brother, husband, father, and friend, passed peacefully with his family by his side.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 27, 1961, Mark is survived by his devoted wife Eileen, and his two children, Ryan (16) and Liam (13), of whom he was incredibly proud. Mark leaves to cherish his memory: his mother Mary Blake; brother Terry Blake and his wife Tracy Dayton, and their children Jillian and Jackson; and his in-laws Mike and Alexine Henzy, Tim (Kerry), Bill (Wendy), and Catherine (Ryan Eastwood), and their children, his dear nieces and nephews. Mark also had numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who he loved dearly, some of whom were there to greet him when he passed.
Mark was a selfless volunteer for his community. He was honored to be a Life Member of the Weston Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) and the Emergency Medical Service (EMS). He served the WVFD as Vice-President and as a Lieutenant. He was also Chairman of the WVFD Benevolent Committee, the Public Relations Committee, and the Explorer Post, amongst others. During his tenure, Mark established the Child Passenger Safety Program in Weston and the Fairfield County Chapter of Safe Kids. He was a Child Passenger Safety Instructor and one of his greatest joys was working with parents and families to teach them how to safely transport their children. Mark received numerous awards, including Firefighter of the Year, the President and Chief Award, and was recognized for Outstanding Service at the Blue Mass by the Diocese of Bridgeport and the Knights of Columbus. Mark also was a Board Member and President of the Southwest EMS Council and the Vice-President of the Southwest Regional Communications Center.
In addition to his volunteer work, Mark was an EMS Supervisor on the Westport Emergency Medical Service, where, after first serving as a volunteer, he was employed for more than 30 years. While Mark was a decorated member of EMS, his greatest sense of accomplishment was doing what he loved to do – assisting others when they needed it the most.
Mark was a mentor to members of his Fire and EMS families. Mark’s family and friends have found comfort in the incredible stories and tributes shared by so many individuals who Mark aided and inspired over the years.
Mark was very proud of his work during the L’Ambiance Plaza building collapse in 1987, and his involvement with the Red Cross, supporting its response to the 9/11 attacks. Mark instilled his love of, and dedication to, community service in so many others, most significantly his brother and sons who so proudly carry on his legacy.
Mark was a wicked Boston sports fan. Going to the Boston championship Duck Boat parades and Red Sox games at Fenway with his brother and with his sons were among his most cherished memories. A member of the Norwalk Police Emerald Society, Mark took every opportunity to celebrate and share his Irish heritage.
Mark and his family would like to express their gratitude to his angels at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Gaylord Healthcare, who so genuinely cared for him from their heart, helping him to find the silver lining during his battle, and making this journey more bearable. Those individuals know exactly who they are because he was sure to express his appreciation no matter what the circumstances.
Visitation will be at the Harding Funeral Home in Westport, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2022.
A Mass will be held at St. Matthew Church in Norwalk at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Burial will follow at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, where his family has established the Mark A. Blake scholarship to be awarded to a student interested in pursuing a career as a first responder. Donations in Mark’s memory may also be made to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department. The Mass of Christian Burial will livestream on the following platforms:
• St. Matthew Website: http://stmatthewnorwalk.org/
• St. Matthew Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMatthewNorwalk/
Morning Weather Report
Today
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 2pm, then a chance of showers after 2pm. High near 72. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Clear, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
High Tides
9:31 AM / 9:46 PM
Low Tides
3:27 AM / 3:44 PM
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 6; State Positivity Rate 9.88%
The State Department of Public Health reported 6 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past two days. The State positivity rate was up to 9.88% while 375 people remain hospitalized.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,839 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 40 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 9.88% [up from 9.33%]
Westport Museum Offers Colonial Field Day October 1st
Press Release
Kick of a fun fall season by stepping into the past and learning about life in days of yore! Westport Museum for History & Culture is hosting a Colonial Field Day with games, dancing, workshops and more for the whole family.
During Colonial Field Day visitors will get to experience real activities that young people would have done during the 18th century here in Westport and elsewhere in New England.
“The Field Day is meant to be enjoyable but also to educate about actual daily life during the Colonial period,” said Nicole Carpenter, Westport Museum’s Director of Programs and Collections. “Beating a rug and breaking flax are fun activities when done for a few minutes, but also gives insight into how these chores would have impacted people when these laborious tasks were a mainstay of life.”
A free program, costumed interpreters will lead the afternoon events. In addition to demonstrations, hands-on pickling and candle making workshops will be held for a nominal free with a discount for members. Colonial Field Day will be held at the Museum’s lovely grounds in downtown Westport at 25 Avery Place (across from Town Hall) on October 1st from 2pm to 5pm. Visitors may park on Avery Place; Myrtle Avenue, across from the Museum driveway; behind town hall; and in the Baldwin Parking lot off Elm Street which has stairs up to Avery Place.
Motorists Warned to Drive Carefully during Bigelow Tea Run on Sunday
Westport Police DepartmentThe Bigelow Tea Community Challenge Run is scheduled for the morning of Sunday, September 25th. While the majority the route is in Fairfield, some Westport roads will be utilized for a short time. Runners will be traveling northbound on Westway Road and turning left to travel westbound on Greens Farms Road before proceeding southbound on Sasco Creek Road to Pequot Avenue.
Motorists are asked to use caution while traveling through this area between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.