Sheldon Epps News

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director) announced that the theatre will host the SECOND ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL on Saturday, May 12, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director) announced that The Friends of The Pasadena Playhouse presented a memento check in the amount of $701,991.08 representing the monetary value of 29,974 hours volunteered in 2011. The check was presented at The Friends annual Volunteer Recognition event on March 8, 2012, and is on display in the Georgia McClay Friendship Center at The Playhouse.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, Interim Executive Director) announced their 2012-2013 season today. The season will include the rescheduled world premiere of Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical originally scheduled for this summer, the world premiere of the Broadway-bound comedy Under My Skin, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel, Noel Coward's comedy Fallen Angels and a surprise production to be announced. In a partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions, a special presentation of A Snow White Christmas will be offered for the holiday season. The 2012-2013 Season begins September 2012.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director), announced today that South Coast Repertory's (SCR) production of August Wilson's JITNEY, directed by Ron OJ Parson, will transfer to The Pasadena Playhouse immediately following its SCR engagement. Performances will begin June 21 through July 15, with an official press opening on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director) announced that the opening night celebration for LINCOLN - AN AMERICAN STORY will also honor Playhouse Board Member Lilah Stangeland and her late husband Roger Stangeland with a portrait unveiling at The Pasadena Playhouse Makineni Library. The portrait was commissioned by artist Kenton Nelson and painted by emerging local artist Liz Walworth. The ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m., prior to the opening night performance of LINCOLN - AN AMERICAN STORY on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director), in association with Stephen Eich announced that Hershey Felder will return to The Pasadena Playhouse with the World Premiere of the Eighty-Eight Entertainment and Samantha F. Voxakis production of LINCOLN - AN AMERICAN STORY for Actor and Symphony Orchestra.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director) announced today that the "best party in Pasadena" annual fundraiser entitled PREMIERE GALA: DESTINATION will be held at the private home of Playhouse Board member Stephen Bennett and his wife Chantal Bennett in San Marino on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. This year's event will honor two "jewels" - Playhouse Board Chair Michele Dedeaux Engemann and The Pasadena Playhouse. Gala Chair Sheila Grether-Marion and The Playhouse Board of Directors will be spearheading this gala event which will include cocktails, a seated dinner catered by The Kitchen For Exploring Foods, dancing and live entertainment provided by Wayne Foster.

Artistic Director Mark Clements yesterday announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2012/13 Season. The choice of plays includes a Tony Award-winning musical, two classics from American literature, two landmark plays written nearly 50 years apart, a musical parody of Broadway, two scintillating musical revues that celebrate the blues and the legendary music of Johnny Cash, an interactive stage show by mentalist Marc Salem and a soul-stirring hit from London and Broadway.

Artistic Mark Clements announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2012/13 Season today. The ambitious choice of plays includes a Tony Award-winning musical, two classics from American literature, two landmark plays written nearly 50 years apart, a musical parody of Broadway, two scintillating musical revues that celebrate the blues and the legendary music of Johnny Cash, an interactive stage show by mentalist Marc Salem and a soul-stirring hit from London and Broadway.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director), in association with Stephen Eich announced that Hershey Felder will return to The Pasadena Playhouse with the World Premiere of the Eighty-Eight Entertainment and Samantha F. Voxakis production of LINCOLN - AN AMERICAN STORY for Actor and Symphony Orchestra.

The Pasadena Playhouse's Stephen Eich will conclude his tenure as Executive Director on or around February 29, 2012, and will continue in a consulting capacity through June 30, 2012.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director), in association with David Shor announced today that the world premiere of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL will be rescheduled from the closing production of the current 2011 - 2012 season to a slot in the 2012 - 2013 season. The production which replaces SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL this June will be announced at a later date.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director), in association with David Shor announced today that the world premiere of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL will be rescheduled from the closing production of the current 2011 - 2012 season to a slot in the 2012 - 2013 season. The production which replaces SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL this June will be announced at a later date.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director) announces the full cast and creative team for THE HEIRESS at The Pasadena Playhouse. The production will star Richard Chamberlain in the role of "Dr. Austin Sloper," Heather Tom as his daughter "Catherine Sloper" and Julia Duffy as Dr. Sloper's sister "Lavinia Penniman." THE HEIRESS by Ruth and Augustus Goetz (suggested by the Henry James novel Washington Square), will be directed by Damaso Rodriguez and performs April 24 - May 20, 2012.

Miles College Presents An Evening With Bill Cosby Two Comedy Shows, One Night Only Hosted by Robin Givens on Friday, February 17, 2012 at The Historic Alabama Theatre located 1817 3rd Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203, with the first comedy show starting at 6:00pm and the second comedy show starting at 8:30pm.

The Board of Directors of The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director) announced today that Charles Dillingham will serve as interim Executive Director of the theatre during the transition period following Stephen Eich's departure and as The Playhouse launches a national search for a new Executive Director. Dillingham's services are being provided by Arts Consulting Group (ACG), a national consulting firm where he is Vice President. Until he joined ACG in June of 2011 he had been managing director of Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles for twenty years.

Miles College Presents An Evening With Bill Cosby Two Comedy Shows, One Night Only Hosted by Robin Givens on Friday, February 17, 2012 at The Historic Alabama Theatre located 1817 3rd Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203, with the first comedy show starting at 6:00pm and the second comedy show starting at 8:30pm.

The Pasadena Playhouse and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, announced today that Stephen Eich will conclude his tenure as Executive Director on or around February 29, 2012, and will continue in a consulting capacity through June 30, 2012.

Yank!, which played the York Theatre Off Broadway in the 2009-2010 season and previously announced a Broadway transfer for 2010-11, has now set its sights on a 2012-13 debut.

In April, a complaint was filed seeking damages on behalf of world-famous performers Beverly Lee of The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson, as well as the Estates of Doris Coley Jackson and Addie Harris Jackson, for the unauthorized use of their names and likenesses in BABY IT'S YOU. The case, Lee et al. v. Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Inc. et al., was filed in the Southern District of New York.