Major Film Star, Former 'Today' Show Anchor Visit New Canaan Movie Theater

NEW CANAAN, CT — "Pretty Woman" actor Richard Gere and former "Today" anchor Ann Curry were both in attendance for a screening event held earlier this month at The Playhouse movie theater in New Canaan.

According to Cinema Lab, the owner of the theater, Gere returned to New Canaan on Dec. 13 to join members of the local community in support of "The Wisdom of Happiness," a documentary written and directed by Swiss filmmakers Barbara Miller and Philip Delaquis and executive produced by Gere.

The documentary "unfolds in an era marked by anxiety and division, centering on the Dalai Lama’s profoundly human reflections on compassion, wisdom and the pursuit of genuine happiness," according to Cinema Lab.

"Given the close friendship between the two men," Cinema Lab Spokesperson Andy Sachs said in an email to Patch, "it was especially fitting that Mr. Gere helped bring the film to The Playhouse, offering thoughtful and illuminating insights into both the work and the spiritual leader at its heart."

Gere was joined by Curry, who moderated a post-screening conversation. The screening was hosted by CEO Luke Parker Bowles.

According to Sachs, the audience of approximately 100 guests included New Canaan residents who were delighted to discover that both Gere and Curry were in attendance.

The post-screening Q&A with Gere, moderated by Curry, "was so engaging that it extended for more than 90 minutes," Sachs noted.

"Following the discussion, dignitaries and audience members continued the conversation and celebration in the Playhouse's elegant Marquee Lounge overlooking the 50-yard line of Elm Street," Sachs said.

Gere attended the event with his wife, Alejandra Silva, as well as their son and several close friends from the New Canaan community.

"[Gere] looks forward to deepening his support of The Playhouse and helping to bring compelling new projects to the theater," Sachs said.

The event was held at The Playhouse just months after movie and television star Allison Williams attended a screening of her newest film, "Regretting You," at the theater in October.

The historic New Canaan movie theater recently underwent a major transformation before officially reopening to the public last summer.

Located in the heart of downtown New Canaan, The Playhouse first opened in 1923. In 1986, the theater added a second auditorium.

The Playhouse now features a new pub and lounge, and a design inspired by the warm charm of an English country pub, according to the Cinema Lab team.

According to Sachs, the events attended by Gere, Curry and Williams reflect a deliberate expansion of The Playhouse from a traditional cinema into a multidisciplinary cultural forum.

"Since reopening, the venue has moved well beyond first-run screenings to host filmmaker-led premieres, journalistic and literary conversations, civic dialogue and special cultural presentations that invite sustained engagement," Sachs said. "That evolution is evident in both the breadth of films shown and the range of voices it has attracted."

In the new year, The Playhouse will announce a slate of filmmaker events and special screenings planned for 2026.

"We came to New Canaan not only to preserve what is arguably one of the most beautiful theaters in America, but also to embrace, welcome, and engage with local filmmakers by showcasing their work," Parker Bowles said in a statement sent to Patch. "The discovery of something new—whether a genre, a forgotten piece of history, a novel artistic approach, or simply a new voice within the community—is what motivates us every day. We are profoundly indebted to these filmmakers and to the extraordinary community that has so enthusiastically embraced our programming. There is much more to come."

Gere and Silva returned to town the same month two properties set on the former site of the expansive New Canaan estate previously owned by the couple became listed for sale.

The nearly 32-acre Brookwood Lane property was previously owned by Gere after he purchased the land from acclaimed musician Paul Simon and his wife, Edie Brickell, in the summer of 2022.

At one point, the "Pretty Woman" actor sought to turn part of the property into a private farm and even attended a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in August 2023 to discuss the couple's plans.

Gere ultimately decided to move his family to Spain and sold the home in late 2024, shortly after which plans to turn the iconic estate into a nine-lot subdivision were submitted to the town.

Gere is best known for his roles in acclaimed films such as "An Officer and a Gentleman," "Pretty Woman," "American Gigolo," "Runaway Bride" and "Chicago," the latter for which he won a Golden Globe Award.