Speakers will be Neil Eddinger, baritone, actor and lecturer for New York City Opera, and Dr Laura Nash, assistant professor of music and director of music education at Fairfield University. They will discuss the real-life musical career of the remarkable Ms Jenkins, a Manhattan society eccentric who believed herself an opera diva of the highest caliber, but couldn’t hit a single note on key. Her love and passion for music, when paired with her conviction and drive, catapulted her to fame.

“Ms Jenkins’ lack of talent is clearly at odds with her determination to change people’s lives through music,” said Tazewell Thompson, the artistic director at Westport Country Playhouse. “Yet her passion to fully express herself and to never face reality frees her as a person and miraculously transports her to realizing her dreams.”

Souvenir by Stephen Temperley features Tony Award-winner Judy Kaye in the role of Ms Jenkins, and Donald Corren as her compassionate piano accompanist Cosme McMoon. Both appeared in the Broadway production of Souvenir, where Ms Kaye earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance. The play will be staged at Westport Country Playhouse May 31 through June 16.

Neil Eddinger, baritone, actor and speaker, made his debut at the New York City Opera in 1983 as the Prime Minister in Massenet’s Cendrillon. He has been a member of the Regular Chorus since 1983 and has appeared in solo roles in La Boheme, Carmen, The Student Prince, Naughty Marietta, Brigadoon and The Pajama Game.

Mr Eddinger has toured extensively with NYCO and its national company and was a featured soloist in two “Live from Lincoln Center” national telecasts: Mozart’s Die Zauberfloete and Britten’s Paul Bunyan. He is a frequent lecturer for the education department of City Opera as well for the Sarasota Opera.

Dr Laura Nash is an assistant professor of music and director of music education at Fairfield University. Relevant to Souvenir, she teaches classes on the history of European music, as well as on Women in Music and The History of American Song. She is particularly interested in America’s cultural identity and the contextual role of society on its development.

Dr Nash has also received grants from the US Department of Education, The Dana Foundation, The Educational Foundation of America, and others to support her work on arts education, particularly in urban school districts.

Tickets for the Sunday, June 3, matinee (3 pm) performance of Souvenir start at $35 and include admission to the symposium.  Students and educators are eligible for 50 percent discounts.  Groups of ten or more can save up to 30 percent off the regular ticket price.

For more information and tickets, call the box office at 203-227-4177 or toll-free at 888-927-7529, or visit the box office at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Information about the Playhouse is also available at WestportPlayhouse.org.