Darien actress Hilary Webster is making her debut with DAC Stage in its spring musical, Baby, directed by Carin Zakes and written by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.
Fellow Darien residents are contributing their talents as well; Nova Hall is producing the show, while her husband Jonathan is part of the ensemble cast. Dwayne Condon is musical director for the production.
Performances take place on April 21, 22, 28, 29 and May 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., and April 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. in the Darien Arts Center’s Weatherstone Studio.
Photo from Darien Arts Center
Danielle Valdes and Hilary Webster in the production
Hilary Webster, who recently moved to town, plays the part of Lizzie, one of the college students. Webster toured with the production of Androcles and the Lion with Children’s Stage Adventures as an actor/educator, and recently performed in Born Yesterday, Pinocchio, and The Jungle Book with the Peterborough Players.
She has a bachelor’s degree in theater from Gordon College and has trained with the Moscow Art Theatre. She is currently part of the Equity Member Candidacy program.
Dwayne Condon is director of music & fine arts at Noroton Presbyterian Church. His accomplished career includes accompanying the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and more. As a singer he has sung on more than 150 major motion picture soundtracks.
Photo from Darien Arts Center
Rehearsing music for “Baby” at Darien Arts Center
He continues to work as a freelance composer and arranger, conducting and orchestrating for the New York Film Chorale, Keystone State Boychoir, San Francisco Opera Chorus, and for movie and video game soundtracks, such as Halo Fall of Reach, Forza 5, and the anniversary of the Halo 2 soundtrack.
Photo from Darien Arts Center
Carin Zakes and Nova Hall
Also cast in the production are Billy Shubeck, Peter Green, Jeffrey Aldana, Danielle A. Valdes and Lisa Spielman. Ensemble roles include Regina Elliott, Julie Thaxter-Gourlay, Beth Brandon, Alison Soderquist, Michele Salustri and Juan Londoño.
The play’s story examines how parents-to-be experience the emotional stresses and triumphs, as well as the desperate lows and comic highs that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby.
Photo from Darien Arts Center
Rehearsing “Baby” at Darien Arts Center
Three couples work their way towards parenthood under three very different circumstances: college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; thirty-somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night of unexpected passion lands them back where they started.
Baby is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Performances take place in the DAC Weatherstone Studio at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Darien Town Hall.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for students and seniors at darienarts.org. For more information, call the DAC at (203) 655-8683.
