Norwalk Man Becomes New President Of Theater Company

POUND RIDGE, N.Y. – As the Pound Ridge Theatre Company marks its 25th anniversary this year, a new president has taken the helm.

Ted Burtt was named to the post last month, succeeding Sherry Asch. He brings with him a wealth of theatrical experience.

Burtt, a resident of South Norwalk, Conn., owns Burtt & Associates, a marketing and creative services company. He was an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was chairman of the Division of Humanities and the Department of English, Speech and Theater, as well as writer-in-residence. He was also playwright-in-residence at SUNY-Fredonia.

Burtt received a Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut, where he was playwright-in-residence and a Shubert Fellow in Playwriting. He has had 28 original plays produced, directed 75 and acted in 40.

The Pound Ridge Theatre Company found Burtt through the Ridgefield Theatre Barn.

“A lot of [members] also are involved in the Ridgefield Theatre Barn, and they were speaking with my daughter, who had directed there, and told her they were looking for a new president,” Burtt said. “Sherry Asch, who has been doing yeomen’s work for a long time, was ready to step aside. I told them I’d be happy to do it."

The Pound Ridge Theatre Company’s next projects had already been chosen when Burtt took over in September.

In November, the group will present “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” written by the late award-winning Nora Ephron (“Sleepless in Seattle” and “When Harry Met Sally”) and Delia Ephron. It will be directed by Larry Schneider. The Pound Ridge Theatre Company will also produce John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” in May.

Additionally, the first of the company's bimonthly Play Readings will take place Sunday at 2 p.m. at Conant Hall. It will feature “Hang the Moon” by Sam Havens, directed by Jose Helu. There is no admission charge, and there will be a talk after the show with the director and cast.

The group would also like to perform a children’s show in March, Burtt said. “We are still in the introductory period of getting to know each other and seeing what we want to do,” he said.

The company also wants to find a way to give back to the community, Burtt said.

“We’d like to do something for the town,” he said. “We want to see how we can help the community, maybe through theater education for school kids and perhaps seniors. Any group relationship should be strong on both sides. The town has been very gracious with its support, and we’d like to give that back. That was one of the things that attracted me to this group.”

For more information about the dates of the company’s productions, for directions, to order tickets or to get additional information, visit its website.

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