Woog’s Web World

Stephen Schwartz is a theater icon.

He’s contributed music to “Godspell,” “Pippin,” “Children of Eden” and — currently on Broadway — “Wicked.”

He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for “Mass.”

He’s written an opera, earned 4 Grammy awards and 3 Oscars — and was recently given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

All of which might never have happened, had Schwartz not written an original song for the Westport Country Playhouse production of “Butterflies Are Free” — way back in 1969.  The rest, as they say, is history.

That long-ago collaboration kindled a rich relationship between the Playhouse and the musical theater composer.

The partnership will be strengthened even further on Monday, Sept. 13.  The Playhouse’s annual gala will honor Schwartz with a “star-studded production.”  Guest artists — sure to include some big-as-Schwartz names — will be announced soon.

The fundraiser includes pre-show cocktails, dinner, a performance of “The Magical Music of Stephen Schwartz,” post-show champagne and dessert, and a silent auction.

Butterflies may be free, but the gala is not.  Patron tickets are $1,000 each.

(For information — including how to become a corporate sponsor — call 203-227-5137, ext. 122, or email kgloor@westportplayhouse.org)

The Connecticut Flame — an Under-17 basketball team comprised of inner city players, and Staples’ Dan Scanlan — returned Thursday morning from 2 tournaments in Las Vegas.

They finished 3rd in the 1st, then won the 2nd — by 30 points.  Their final record:  a glowing 11-1.

The team jelled, Scanlan says.  And they had fun on and off the court (in Vegas?  go figure).

Scanlan — who wore #14 in honor former Staples basketball player Scott “Hoover” Wilder, who died last year — thanks Westporters for their support of the Flame.  Two of Scanlan’s teammates had never been on a plane before this trip.

Some Flame players, Scanlan says, are destined for stardom.  There may be many flights ahead.

I have never been to Trinidad & Tobago.  I don’t know much about the islands’ cuisine, my culinary skills are minimal, and I’m sure not about to attempt to saute caraili, bake an aloo pie or smoke a buccaneer chicken.

But Ramin Ganeshram has got it covered.

Daughter of a Trinidadian father and Iranian mother — that’s a phrase I never imagined typing — the Westport resident is a professionally trained chef, journalist and teacher.  She holds degrees from the Institute for Culinary Education and Columbia University.  Her writing has appeared in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Cooking Light and Newsday.

Now she’s written Sweet Hands:  Island Cooking from Trinidad & Tobago.

It’s more than a cookbook.  Ganeshram describes her country’s rich cultural heritage.  African, Indian, Chinese and British culinary influences (okay, the last might be an oxymoron) combine to make Trinidadian cooking special.

Who knew?  I sure didn’t.

(Sweet Hands includes a foreword by New York Times food columnist Molly O’Neill; travel tips for the islands; 170 recipes (adapted for US kitchens), and a 16-page color photo insert.)

The downtown plan subcommittee has been meeting for a couple of years, trying to figure out how to implement Westport’s 10-year development.

Tonight (July 28, 7 p.m., Town Hall Room 309), an urban planner will present ideas focusing on issues like downtown vibrancy and traffic.

The plan — and subcommittee — have not gotten much publicity.  But important work keeps moving along.

The meeting is open to the public.

Fred Carpenter — born and raised in Westport — spent his beach school days with Bobby Hudson.

Bobby — another Westport native — still lives here.

Three summers ago, when Fred was listening to Westport band Voodoo Carnival play at the Black Duck, he and Bobby reconnected.

Fred is now a movie producer and director.  He’s just cast Bobby in his next film “Jesse,” the story of Long Island detective Jessica Weinstein.  Bobby plays an internal affairs detective.

The film stars William Forsythe (“Dick Tracy,” “Raising Arizona”) and Armand Assante (“Gotti,” “The Mambo Kings”).

The moral of the story:  Beach school kids, be nice to everyone in your group.  Forty years later, you never know who’ll give you a part in a movie.

(From left): Fred Carpenter, Bobby Hudson, Armand Assante.

It’s any organization’s worst nightmare:  In the midst of a final publicity push, its website goes down.

With a few days to go before the curtain rises on Staples Players’ summer production of “Rent,” they’re scrambling to let audiences know that the error message they get at StaplesPlayers.com is not fatal.

Tickets for this week’s shows — July 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 31 at 2 p.m. — are available at an alternate site:  http://playersrent.tumblr.com.

If you were frustrated last week that you couldn’t order tickets — don’t worry.  The glitch has been solved — and the show will be more than worth the hassle!

In the 1950s,in the midst of Westport’s garbage disposal crisis, Amy Vanderbilt held a “tea party” atop the town dump.  It was located behind Taylor Place — where the library is now.

On Thursday (July 29, 7:30 p.m.) another tea party is set for Westport — and it’s at the library.

“Westport Tea” is hosting a discussion “examining the total taxes you pay, and are about to pay.”

Amy Vanderbilt’s tea party made the national news.

So far, Westport Tea has kept a low profile.  Will that change after Thursday night?

It’s late July.  The temperature is a jazillion degrees.

But Al’s Angels has its sights firmly fixed on winter.

The Westport organization — which very quietly helps hundreds of Westport children and families in need — has an ambitious goal:  to serve over 2,000 holiday meals.  That’s 500 more than in last year.

They’d also like to provide over 5,000 toys to kids.  Last year, they gave away 4,000.

Al DiGuido and his crew raised over $34,000 through their recent “Angels in July” event.

Next up: a “24 Hours of Hope” fund drive and recruitment event (October 2-3 at the Edge in Norwalk).  The club will provide equipment, which volunteers can work out on in return for pledges per hour.

Then comes a “Monster Mash” Halloween celebration for adults and kids (October 30 Saint Matthew’s Church in Norwalk).

Al’s Angels urges Westporters to save the dates; pass the word; recruit participants — and, as always, donate time and money.

For more information, email alsangels@optonline.net; call 203-254-1759, or click here.