Sheldon Epps News

Tony Award winner Beth Leavel discusses the upcoming Broadway production of Baby It's You! during a photo shoot for the new musical.

A behind the scenes look of the publicity images shoot for the new Broadway musical Baby It's You! has just been released!

The first publicity images for the new Broadway musical Baby It's You! have been released! Baby It's You! tells the inspiring story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who changed the recording world forever when she discovered The Shirelles and created Scepter Records, becoming the music industry's first female powerhouse. Starring Tony Award winner Beth Leavel as Greenberg, conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet, Baby It's You! begins performances at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) Saturday, March 26, 2011, and opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Baby It's You! features a cast of 19 that includes Allan Louis, Geno Henderson, Erica Ash, Kelli Barrett, Kyra DaCosta, Crystal Starr Knighton, Barry Pearl, Christina Sajous, Brandon Uranowitz, Alison Cimmet, Erica Dorfler, Berlando Drake, Adam Heller, Jahi A. Kearse, Annette Moore, Zachary Prince, Ken Robinson and Chelsea Morgan Stock.

Furious Theatre Company and The Pasadena Playhouse have mutually agreed to the end of Furious' residency in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Furious produced 16 premiere productions in the intimate upstairs space, including the Los Angeles premieres of Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things and Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Award winner Grace by Craig Wright as well as the World Premieres of Canned Peaches in Syrup by Alex Jones and Garland Award winner An Impending Rupture of the Belly by Matt Pelfrey, in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre. This body of work earned Furious Theatre Company numerous awards and much critical acclaim.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced that full casting is complete for the new musical DANGEROUS BEAUTY by Jeannine Dominy (book), Michele Brourman (music) and Amanda McBroom (lyrics).

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced that full casting is complete for the new musical DANGEROUS BEAUTY by Jeannine Dominy (book), Michele Brourman (music) and Amanda McBroom (lyrics).

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced that Jennifer Berger will serve as their new Director of Development for the theatre.

The new Broadway musical Baby It's You! tells the inspiring story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who changed the recording world forever when she discovered The Shirelles and created Scepter Records, becoming the music industry's first female powerhouse. Starring Tony Award winner Beth Leavel as Greenberg, conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet, Baby It's You! begins performances at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) Saturday, March 26, 2011, and opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Baby It's You! features a cast of 19 that includes Allan Louis, Geno Henderson, Erica Ash, Kelli Barrett, Kyra DaCosta, Crystal Starr Knighton, Barry Pearl, Christina Sajous, Brandon Uranowitz, Alison Cimmet, Erica Dorfler, Berlando Drake, Adam Heller, Jahi A. Kearse, Annette Moore, Zachary Prince, Ken Robinson and Chelsea Morgan Stock.

Variety reported back in July that that the biographical musical about composer Florence Greenberg by Million Dollar Quartet producer and book writer Floyd Mutrux is being prepped for a 2011 Broadway opening. Entitled Baby, It's You, Variety reported that the musical is aiming to open in the winter of 2011, co- directed by Mutrux and Sheldon Epps. Mutrux and Epps also collaborated on the Pasadena Playhouse production in November of 2009. The show premiered at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles prior to its Pasadena run. Now, in today's New York Post, Michael Riedel reports that the show is now aiming to open this Spring at the Broadhurst Theatre. He reports that Beth Leavel is in negotiations to play the lead role of Lorence Greenberg.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that they will present TWIST - An American Musical, based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. This heartwarming family musical features a book by Tony Award-nominee William F. Brown (Broadway's The Wiz - Winner of Seven Tony Awards), music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Tena Clark (Natalie Cole's Still Unforgettable), and music by Gary Prim (songwriter for Dionne Warwick and CeCe Winans). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen (Broadway and the West Ends' Cat on A Hot Tin Roof - 2010 Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play and TV's Fame) is set to direct and choreograph the new musical. TWIST is presented in association with TAM Producing Partners - Skyline Pictures (Michelle Seward), Edgework Productions (Willette Klausner), and GGE Live (Gary Goddard & Forbes Candlish). Performances begin June 14, 2011 and play through July 24, 2011 with the official press opening on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) proudly announced today that they raised $2 million, which was a challenge inspired by anonymous donors' $1 million matching grant. The theatre continues fundraising efforts with a new $2 million campaign named Fund the Future. The new monies raised will support opportunities for the Playhouse's advancements including expansion of the next generation of theatre audiences.

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced that full casting is complete for the new musical DANGEROUS BEAUTY by Jeannine Dominy (book), Amanda McBroom (lyrics) and Michele Brourman (music).

According to Variety, UNCHAIN MY HEART might not move to Broadway this spring after all. The show, which was previously titled RAY CHARLES LIVE!, was to open at the Ethel Barrymore on November 7, but was postponed until spring. Now the production has been put on hold because a producer of the show is suing the show's primary investor. A rep for UNCHAIN MY HEART commented that he 'had no details about a new production timeline, but admitted a spring start doesn't seem viable.'

According to the Hollywood Reporter, RAY CHARLES LIVE! producer Stuart Benjamin is suing his primary investor, Maurice Grant, for fraud, and is demanding $20 million in damages. Grant reportedly 'promised him $9 million in several installments to get Ray Charles Live! to Broadway'. Grant's first payment of $150,000 never cleared, and he never received a $2 million payment from February.

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced principal casting for the new musical DANGEROUS BEAUTY by Jeannine Dominy (book), Amanda McBroom (lyrics) and Michele Brourman (music). Joining the principal cast, with previously announced lead actress Jenny Powers (Broadway's Grease) as Veronica Franco, are James Snyder (Drama League Award-nominee for Broadway's Crybaby) as Marco, Bryce Ryness (Drama Desk Award-nominee for Broadway's Tony Award-winning revival of Hair) as Maffio, Laila Robins (Broadway's Heartbreak House) as Paola, Michael Rupert (Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Sweet Charity) as Domenico, Megan McGinnis (Ovation Award-nominee for the Rubicon Theatre's Daddy Long Legs) as Beatrice, John Antony (Broadway's Passion) as Pietro and Morgan Weed (Second Stage Theatre's Next to Normal) as Giulia. Tony Award-nominee Sheryl Kaller directs the world premiere, which begins performances on February 1, 2011 with the official press opening on February 13, 2011 at Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

The 4th Annual Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project will be held on Friday, November 19, 2010 at Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

The 4th Annual Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project will be held on Friday, November 19, 2010 at Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that its new play development program, HOTHOUSE AT THE PLAYHOUSE, resumes this fall and will be produced in collaboration with Furious Theatre Company (Pasadena Playhouse's Artists in Residency since 2004). Furious co-founder Dámaso Rodriguez will head the HOTHOUSE program and is set to direct the fall 2010 season's first reading The Confessions of Deacon Jim by Jason Aaron Goldberg on October 28-29, 2010 at Pasadena Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre (39 South El Molino). The reading will feature Eric Close (CBS's 'Without a Trace') and Jonathan Tucker (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre).

Actress Stephanie Zimbalist certainly needs no introduction. With her star turn on Remington Steele on TV in the 80s, her multiple MOWs and frequent stage appearances all over the country, she is an actor in demand. In this conversation she talks about the challenges of playing Katharine Hepburn in Matthew Lombardo's Tea at Five, which she recently completed for the Rubicon in Ventura and is about to open at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank on October 22.

Lyricist Amanda McBroom (Pasadena Playhouse's Heartbeats and "The Rose"/Bette Midler) and composer Michele Brourman (TV's The Land Before Time and Universal Studios' The Little Engine that Could), the musical writing-duo of Pasadena Playhouse's upcoming musical Dangerous Beauty, together with the world premiere musical's leading lady Jenny Powers (Broadway's Grease as Rizzo and Little Women as Meg), will perform one special night at Show at Barre entitled DANGEROUS BEAUTIES.