The Pasadena Playhouse Announces Upcoming Season

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran Executive Director) announced their 2013-2014 season today. The season will include a revival of the longest-running Broadway musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe featuring the musical masterpieces of the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton, by Vanessa Claire Stewart and starring French Stewart ("3rd Rock From the Sun") which enjoyed a successful run at Sacred Fools Theatre Company this past summer; Above the Fold a new drama by Bernard Weinraub, about the world of journalism in the digital age, which received a HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse staged reading in 2012; Noël Coward's rarely produced A Song at Twilight, directed by Art Manke, who recently directed The Playhouse's hit revival of Coward's Fallen Angels; and a theatrical surprise production that will be selected and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, to be announced at a later date. Panto at The Playhouse returns with Lythgoe Family Productions' special musical twist on the classic Aladdin tale, which will be offered as a holiday season add-on. The 2013-2014 Season begins September 2013.

"I often think of putting together the season as an opportunity to take our audiences on a series of exciting journeys, with the promise of new and different experiences at each destination," said Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of The Playhouse. "Certainly that will be true of our upcoming season. I am very pleased that our next theatrical year will include existing classics and new work that represent our ongoing commitment to diversity of every kind, and to provocative storytelling that both entertains and illuminates theatregoers. It is my hope that these choices will stimulate mind, body and the soul...Exactly what great theatre should do."

Playhouse Executive Director Elizabeth Doran added, "This season represents a very special aspect of The Pasadena Playhouse - celebrating artists and developing their work. With Stoneface I am proud we will act as a springboard for work that came out of L.A.'s fertile theater scene; with Above the Fold, we are producing work that began in our HOTHOUSE new play development program; and with Aladdin we get the added bonus of bringing new work to young audiences - and ALL on our mainstage. Finally, we honor one of own, Mike Stoller, a member of our Board and one of the greatest music artists of our time. Building on the incredible momentum of the current season, we look forward to 2013-14 as a time when our theater will simply sparkle with artistic electricity!"

The Pasadena Playhouse 2013-2014 season features:

SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE
Book by Stephen Helper and Jack Viertel
Music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Directed by Jeffrey Polk
September 18 - October 13, 2013

Smokey Joe's Cafe is the hottest joint in town! This Tony Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriters Leiber and Stoller is a dazzling, song-and-dance celebration of 39 of rock 'n' roll's greatest hits from "Stand by Me" and "Fools Fall in Love" to "Jailhouse Rock," "Spanish Harlem" and "Yakety Yak." The New York Times claims, "Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller are the Rodgers and Hammerstein of rock 'n' roll!" The New York Daily News calls Smokey Joe's Cafe "wildly infectious" and Time Magazine says "it sails and soars!" Smokey Joe's Cafe is being presented this season in honor of Playhouse supporter and Board member, Mike Stoller and his wife, Corky Hale Stoller.

STONEFACE
The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton
By Vanessa Claire Stewart
Directed by Jaime Robledo
Starring French Stewart
November 5 - December 1, 2013

Chronicled through the lens of his own silent films, Stoneface recreates some of Buster Keaton's most memorable gags live on stage, capturing the legend of a bygone era and telling the tale of the redemption of one of Hollywood's greatest performers. Following a successful engagement at Sacred Fools Theatre Company this past summer, Stoneface, was designated a Los Angeles Times "Critic's Choice" and French Stewart's performance hailed as "...quite simply, a revelation." LA Weekly said "GO! ...one of the best new works of the city's theatrical season."

ABOVE THE FOLD
A World Premiere Drama
By Bernard Weinraub
Directed by Steve Robman
January 28 - February 23, 2014

Jane, an African-American New York reporter, flies to a Southern university there four white fraternity boys have been accused of raping a young African-American woman. Taking place amidst the shift from print to digital journalism, Above the Fold asks tough questions about the exploitation of tragedy, the cost of success and the dangers that come when ambition collides with truth.

A SONG AT TWILIGHT
By Noël Coward
Directed by Art Manke
March 18 - April 13, 2014

An elderly writer hesitantly accepts a visit from his former mistress, leading to a confrontation of past secrets, forbidden affections and surprising confessions. Following this season's smash-hit production of Noël Coward's comedy, Fallen Angels, Art Manke returns to The Playhouse to direct Coward's rarely produced and final play of his illustrious career.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
Directed by Sheldon Epps
May 27 - June 22, 2014

The "Surprise Production" for the current 2012-2013 season brought to The Playhouse the wildly successful, smash-hit One Night With Janis Joplin. This season, Artistic Director Sheldon Epps will be selecting and also directing the season's final production. Titles under consideration are Gypsy, My Fair Lady and an August Wilson play.

In addition to the 2013 - 2014 season, The Playhouse will host a special holiday presentation of:

PANTO AT The Playhouse - ALADDIN
A Lythgoe Family Production
December 11 - 30, 2013

An updated version of the classic story, in the style of the traditional British family Panto, Lythgoe Family Productions will present a new holiday version of the classic tale of Aladdin featuring family-friendly magic, a comedic twist and contemporary music. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to fairytale fans of all ages. "Those who have never been to a panto will have a glorious introduction to the forum." - Los Angeles Times. Tickets for this holiday engagement will be available as a special add-on to a season subscription. Single ticket on-sale information will be announced at a later date.

Subscriptions for the 2013-2014 season will be available for purchase in April. All renewing subscribers will receive priority access to their current seat locations and new subscribers will receive the best available seats within requested sections.

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. Subscriptions are available for purchase at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, by calling the Box Office at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. The Box Office is open Monday from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates the box office is open Tuesday - Saturday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Group subscriptions are also available. For additional information about subscriptions contact the Box Office at 626-356-7529 or visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.