Westport Country Playhouse launches masterclass series for middle school students

Adam Riegler

Westport Country Playhouse will launch a new Masterclass Series for middle school students in grades 6 through 8, expanding its educational programming with hands-on instruction from professional theater artists.

The first class in the series will take place Sunday, Feb. 8, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Lucille Lortel White Barn, adjacent to the Playhouse. Broadway actor and Westport native Adam Riegler will lead the inaugural session, which will focus on theater acting. The class is currently full, with a wait list available.

Riegler, whose Broadway credits include “Shrek the Musical” and “The Addams Family Musical,” will introduce students to techniques for analyzing and understanding theatrical text. The class will emphasize character development and help students learn how to translate unfamiliar scripts into effective stage performances.

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“The Playhouse is so special to me because it is where I got my start in professional theater,” Riegler said. “I am so pleased that I now have the experience to pass that education, as well as my own insights from many years of professional work and education, onto the next generation at the Playhouse.”

Riegler grew up in Westport and made his professional debut at Westport Country Playhouse in a 2005 production of “David Copperfield,” followed by an appearance in “A Christmas Carol” in 2006. In addition to his Broadway work, he has performed on and off Broadway and on screen, including in the film “The Way Way Back,” and has also directed for the stage and screen.

The Masterclass Series is limited to 15 participants per session and costs $75. Additional details and registration information are available on the Westport Country Playhouse website.

Event details

Masterclass series
Westport Country Playhouse • 25 Powers Ct, Westport, CT 06880
February 8, 2026
Click here to purchase tickets.

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Westport Country Playhouse launches masterclass series for middle school students