Wendie Malick and Tony Shalhoub headline the 100th reading of “Portrait of a Woman in Repose” in Westport

Wendie Malick and Tony Shalhoub will be the stars of the 100th reading of the well-known “Script in Hand” series at Connecticut’s Westport Country Playhouse, where they will take the stage with Nicky Glossman’s play “Portrait of a Woman in Repose” on October 5, at 7:00 p.m., as Playbill reports.

The festive reading marks two decades since the launch of the theatre’s staged-reading series, a tradition founded by Annie Keefe and now curated by artistic director Mark Shanahan. “It is our 100th ‘Script in Hand’ reading!”, Shanahan said, adding that for this jubilee evening he wanted “something truly special, full of humour, magic and heart”. According to him, Glossman’s play “has all of these”, besides being “a celebration for three wonderful actors”.

“Portrait of a Woman in Repose” is set in Restoration France, in 1818: a simple art-conservation job brings together Madame Anne Dulac, recently returned from exile, Jean Howlitz, a former painter with a complicated past, and Roderick Calley, the sharp-minded manager of her affairs. The reading is directed by James Glossman, while the stage manager will be Nicole Caroselli.

For Tony Shalhoub, a Tony and Emmy award winner known for his roles in “Monk”, “The Band’s Visit” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, this is a return to the theatre stage after many screen engagements; Wendie Malick, known from “Just Shoot Me!”, “Hot in Cleveland” and “Shrinking”, also joins the jubilee ensemble. Tickets cost 35 dollars, while the rest of the cast will be announced in the coming days.