Kennedy, who served as the associate artistic director of the Dallas Theater Center, as well as the assistant director for Urinetown on Broadway, began his role at Westport March 16.

Kennedy joins newly appointed Westport artistic director Mark Lamos, who assumed the role that had been filled by interim co-artistic directors Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe since January 2008. Westport also recently welcomed Michael Ross as its new managing director. Both Lamos and Ross began their tenure Feb. 1.

The Westport season includes Around the World in 80 Days (April 21-May 9), A.R. Gurney's Children (May 26-June 13), Jonathan Larson's tick, tick…BOOM! (June 23-July 18) and Alan Ayckbourn's How the Other Half Loves (July 28-Aug. 15). A fifth production will be announced shortly.

For further information and tickets to the Westport season, visit www.westportplayhouse.org.

In its 78-season history, the Westport Country Playhouse — located in Westport, CT — has produced more than 700 plays, 35 of which have transferred to Broadway.