Sheldon Epps News

The new musical BREAKING THROUGH with book by Kirsten Guenther, and music and lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz, will have an industry presentation on Wednesday, November 5 at Carroll Studios in New York.

This just in! The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) announces Garrett Clayton (Disney's "Teen Beach Movie") as Sleeping Beauty's Prince of Alhambra in this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The cast also features previously announced Disney Recording Artist Olivia Holt as "Aurora" (Disney's "I Didn't Do It"), Lucy Lawless as "Carabosse" ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Spartacus"), David Engel as "Nanny Tickle" (Broadway's "La Cage aux Folles," "Seussical"), Tamyra Gray as "The Good Fairy" ("American Idol," Broadway's "Bombay Dreams" and "Rent") and returning from last year's Panto at the Playhouse production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish, Ben Giroux as "Silly Billy" (CW's "Hart of Dixie).

The Pasadena Playhouse announced that they will present Matthew Lopez's multi-award winning play THE WHIPPING MAN, which will replace the previously announced production of William Gibson's TWO FOR THE SEESAW as the fourth production of the 2014-2015 season. THE WHIPPING MAN is produced in association with South Coast Repertory, where the show will play January 4-25, 2015, and then transfer to The Pasadena Playhouse February 3 - March 1, 2015 with a press opening on February 4.

The Pasadena Playhouse announce cast members for this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The cast will feature Disney Recording Artist Olivia Holt as "Aurora" (Disney's "I Didn't Do It"), Lucy Lawless as "Carabosse" ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Spartacus"), David Engel as "Nanny Tickle" (Broadway's "La Cage aux Folles," "Seussical"), Tamyra Gray as "The Good Fairy" ("American Idol," Broadway's "Bombay Dreams" and "Rent") and returning from last year's Panto at the Playhouse production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish, Ben Giroux as "Silly Billy" (CW's "Hart of Dixie).

KISS ME, KATE starring multi Emmy-Award Winning Wayne Brady ("Let's Make a Deal," "Whose Line Is It Anyway?") as Fred/Petruchio, is in its final week, presented by The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and Executive Director Elizabeth Doran) and closes October 12. The production also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway's Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lilli/Kate and is directed by Sheldon Epps.

Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate is a timeless, delightful musical romp that can be seen again and again. It's an overblown, joyous account of two egotistical actors, once married to each other, who adore one another but just cannot be around each other very long without catastrophic, calamitous results. It's also a play within a play, as Lilli Vanessi (Merle Dandridge) and Fred Graham (Wayne Brady) are on tour essaying Katharine and Petruchio in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Above all, the silly contrived story is overshadowed by Cole Porter's divine score with some of the most glorious tunes ever composed. Kiss Me Kate is a showcase to Porter's genius. The current revival at Pasadena Playhouse, although not any better than any of the other local revivals as of late, does boast the comical presence of Wayne Brady and the stunning talent of Merle Dandridge..

The Pasadena Playhouse presents multi-Emmy Award winning Wayne Brady ("Let's Make a Deal," "Whose Line Is It Anyway?") as Fred/Petruchio in the Cole Porter Broadway musical KISS ME, KATE, directed by Sheldon Epps. The production also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway's Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lilli/Kate. KISS ME, KATE opened tonightperforms through October 12, 2014. The production opened last night, September 21, and Broadway's original 'Kate', Patricia Morison, visited the show - scroll down for a photo!

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) has announced the 2014-2015 Committee for the Joe A. Callaway Award, the only peer-given award for excellence in direction and choreography. The Committee, which will oversee the award for the theatre season, is Sue Lawless, William Martin, Barry McNabb, Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Linda Burson, Jonathan Cerullo, Edie Cowan, Clinton Turner Davis, John Going, Richard Hamburger, Bruce Heath, Michael Montel, DJ Salisbury, and Amy Saltz. Sue Lawless will serve as Committee Chair.

The Pasadena Playhouse welcomes Wayne Brady as Fred/Petruchio in the Cole Porter Broadway musical KISS ME, KATE. The multi-Emmy Award winning Brady will head a cast of 17. Epps will direct the 2014-2015 Season opener, which will run from today, September 16- October 12, 2014 with the official press opening on September 21. The production also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway's Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lily/Kate.

This year's show will be hosted by Kym Whitley, star of the humorous and poignant docu-series "Raising Whitley" on Oprah Winfrey's The OWN Network.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) announces MEET THE CHAIRS, an invitation only event to be held Monday, September 15 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in celebration of new Board Chair David DiCristofaro, new Vice-Chair Brad King, and the theatre's long anticipated new chairs and carpeting.

The Pasadena Playhouse announces the cast of STOP KISS, the second production of its 2014-2015 Season. Written by Diana Son and directed by Pasadena Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Seema Sueko, STOP KISS stars Sharon Leal (Bill Condon's Dreamgirls, Fox's "Boston Public," and Lionsgate's Addicted), Angela Lin (Broadway's Chinglish), John Sloan (Fox's "Happy Hour"), Brandon Scott (ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"), Amanda Carlin (Liar Liar), and Jeff De Serrano (A&E's "Longmire"). The production is performed November 4 - 30, 2014 with the official press night on Wednesday, November 9, 2014.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that trailblazing actress Diahann Carroll will be the 2014 Diversity Award Honoree at the 8th Annual Pasadena Playhouse Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project fundraising event on Sunday, September 21, 2014.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that David DiCristofaro, currently serving as the Board's Vice-Chairman, will be taking on the role of Board Chairman as of September 1, 2014. Board member Brad King will fill DiCristofaro's position as Vice-Chairman.

Pasadena Playhouse presents Kiss Me, Kate from Sept. 16 to Oct. 12. Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Bella and Samuel Spewack, and directed by Sheldon Epps.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that Wayne Brady will star as Fred/Petruchio in the Cole Porter Broadway musical KISS ME, KATE. The multi-Emmy Award winning Brady will head a cast of 17. Epps will direct the 2014-2015 Season opener, which will run from September 16- October 12, 2014 with the official press opening on September 21. The production also stars Merle Dandridge (Broadway's Spamalot and Tarzan) as Lily/Kate.

New Musicals Inc. announces the line-up of panelists for the fifth biennial BIZ OF THE MUSICAL THEATRE BIZ CONFERENCE, set for today, July 18 through July 20 in North Hollywood.

New Musicals Inc. announces the line-up of panelists for the fifth biennial BIZ OF THE MUSICAL THEATRE BIZ CONFERENCE, set for July 18-20 in North Hollywood.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents SUMMER AT THE PLAYHOUSE - Music, Mayhem and Madness, three exciting productions playing this July. A Judy Garland Concert with Joey Luft features Judy Garland's son Joey Luft making a rare public appearance (July 10-13) followed by PLAYHOUSE ROCKS! with Tony Nominee Powerhouse MARY BRIDGET DAVIES, a Tony Award nominee for A Night With Janis Joplin which was presented last season at The Pasadena Playhouse and was the venue's highest grossing show in its history (July 17-20). The month will end with Henson Alternative's PUPPET UP! - UNCENSORED created by award-winning director, producer, and writer Brian Henson and actor and improvisational guru Patrick Bristow with The Jim Henson Company's renowned puppeteers (July 24-26). The Playhouse continues its tradition of distinctive and entertaining summer programming.