08/23/2025
Preview by Bonnie Goldberg Westport Country Playhouse
In 2024 Mark Shanahan, the Artistic Director of the Westport Country Playhouse, saw a production of Jeffrey Hatcher’s “Tuesdays with Morrie.” adapted from Mitch Albom’s masterfully written book of the same name, performed by the Sea Dog Theater in New York City and determined to bring it to Westport. That dedicated decision is now a reality and “Tuesdays with Morrie” will star Len Cariou as Morrie and Christopher J. Domig as Mitch from Thursday, September 4 to Saturday, September 6 and the theater community is in for a most special entertainment treat, one that may change the way you live your life.
To Shanahan, Len Cariou is a force of nature and a powerful storyteller, an actor who enjoys a great comradery with Christopher J. Domig. Cariou originated the role of Sweeney Todd to great acclaim, a legendary Broadway actor who has played Shakespearian roles, musicals like A Little Night Music and tv roles like Henry Reagan in Blue Bloods. Domig is the founder of the award-winning Sea Dog Theater in New York City and has dozens of film and acting credits like Broadway Empire and Law and Order: SVU. Together they are a powerful duo tackling a difficult road map about the twists and turns of life and the stunning relationship they develop on stage. After witnessing their friendship, you may be prompted to reach out to people in your own past who mentored you and changed the course of your life.
The thought is that giving of yourself, your time and talents, to others is rewarding for both the giver and the receiver. Mark Twain is credited with saying: "the two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." For Mitch Albom, that realization was brought home to him when he reconnected with a special professor at Brandeis University, Morrie Schwartz, after a sixteen year absence. His sociology teacher had been a mentor to Albom and when Albom graduated he promised to keep in touch. He didn't and the years passed. Now a chance sighting of his old friend on the Ted Koppel television show brings Mitch to Morrie's door to visit him as he battles with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, and makes peace with his impending death.
For a poignant and meaningful conversation, seize this unique opportunity for wonderful theater by listening in on "Tuesdays with Morrie," written by Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher, and being offered at the Westport Country Playhouse. Mitch is our narrator, explaining about how his career as a jazz musician morphed into a profession as a sports writer, now housed in Detroit, and why he is flying every Tuesday to visit Morrie in his Massachusetts home.
This man whom Mitch calls "coach" is still providing life lessons, even though his thirty years as a teacher are over. As Morrie faces death, he wants Mitch to discover the wonders of love, work. aging, family, community, forgiveness and even death. His muscles may be degenerating but his mind is sharp. What starts as a one time visit of an hour quickly changes into a commitment to come every week...until the end.
Morrie poses difficult questions to Mitch: Are you at peace with yourself? Are you as human as you can be? The message is clear that every day is a gift, that's why they call it the present. Morrie posits that, like the Buddhists, there is a little bird on his shoulder that asks him every day if he is ready, ready for death. Mitch learns that the truth that when you learn how to die, that is when you learn how to live. Morrie urges Mitch to go after life and embrace it, a lesson we can all profit from adopting.
Christopher J. Domig is a wonderfully sensitive Mitch, a man who cares deeply and is open to expanding his heart in meaningful ways. Len Cariou is exceptional as the transitional professor facing the most important class in his life, and facing it with wisdom and humor and courage. We literally see his disintegration in front of us, sensing his pain and trying to hold him in a healing hug.
For tickets ($45. to 65.00), call the Westport Country Playhouse at 203-227-4477, or online at westportplayhouse.org. Performances are Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Erwin Maas directs this meaningful production, one that began as a book by Albom to pay for Morrie’s medical expenses.
Come discover, like Mitch, that without love, we're birds with broken wings and we need to forgive everyone for everything. The message is to let go of fear and grief and lead a life of kindness. You may be encouraged to find new priorities, a new path, to become a better you. Also learn what Morrie asks for as extra credit.
