Stephen Eich News

Arena Stage announces full cast for its upcoming production of The Quality of Life, newly rewritten by Emmy Award-winning Jane Anderson (TV's Mad Men and Normal) and directed by Lisa Peterson (Arena's The Rainmaker).

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director; Stephen Eich, Executive Director; and Tom Ware, Producing Director) today announced the theatre's 2010 Season. The season will include two world premiere musicals, a world premiere play, a fresh look at a favorite musical, a revival of a sultry farce and an award-winning contemporary play.

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director, Stephen Eich, Executive Director, Tom Ware, Producing Director) today announced full casting for the West Coast Premiere of THE NIGHT IS A CHILD, a new play by Charles Randolph-Wright. Sheldon Epps (Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director), who directed Pasadena Playhouse's production of Ray Charles Live!, directs a cast of six led by JoBeth Williams (The Big Chill and Poltergeist). Preview performances begin August 28 with the official press opening set for Friday, September 4 at Pasadena Playhouse (39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena).

The Armory Center for the Arts, Art Center College of Design, the Pasadena Playhouse and the Pasadena Arts Council have received news that they will be recipients of major grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law on February 17, 2009.

In preparation for the opening of the theater's renovated complex in Southwest D.C., Arena Stage has undertaken ARENA RESTAGED-a two-year festival of American voices. Part Two will continue the remarkable exploration of American work and provide the theater with necessary time to move into the new Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in time for the Fall 2010 opening.

Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors (Board Chairman Michele Dedeaux Engemann and Vice-Chairman Sheila Grether-Marion) announced today that Stephen Eich has been named Executive Director of Pasadena Playhouse. Eich will assume his new position on July 1, 2009.

Stephen Eich and Don Foster, the producers of Mark Roberts' RANTOUL AND DIE, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire, will host a benefit performance for Music Menagerie on Saturday, June 20 at 8:00 p.m., at The Lillian Theater (1076 North Lillian Way) in Hollywood.

Stephen Eich and Don Foster, the producers of Mark Roberts' RANTOUL AND DIE, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire, will host a benefit performance for Music Menagerie on Saturday, June 20 at 8:00 p.m., at The Lillian Theater (1076 North Lillian Way) in Hollywood.

Stephen Eich and Don Foster will present the world premiere of Mark Roberts? RANTOUL AND DIE, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire at The Lillian Theater (1076 Lillian Way) in Hollywood. Erin Quigley, who is known for her Tony Award-nominated costume designs for The Grapes of Wrath and The Songs of Jacob Zulu, is set to direct this new play. Preview performances begin May 14, 2009, with the official press opening on Saturday, May 16.

Producers Stephen Eich and Don Foster announced casting today for the world premiere of Mark Roberts? Rantoul and Die, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire at The Lillian Theater (1076 Lillian Way) in Hollywood. The new play stars Paul Dillon (originated the title role in Tracy Letts? Killer Joe) as Gary, Cynthia Ettinger (Actors? Gang?s I am not a racist, but . . .) as Debbie, Rich Hutchman (Buzzworks Theatre Company?s Invasion of the Minnesota Normals) as Rallis and Lisa Rothschiller (Chicago?s Defiant Theatre Company?s Action Movie: The Play) as Callie. Two-time Tony award-nominee Erin Quigley (costume designs for The Grapes of Wrath and The Songs of Jacob Zulu) is set to direct. Preview performances begin May 14, 2009.

Producers Stephen Eich and Don Foster announced casting today for the world premiere of Mark Roberts? Rantoul and Die, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire at The Lillian Theater (1076 Lillian Way) in Hollywood. The new play stars Paul Dillon (originated the title role in Tracy Letts? Killer Joe) as Gary, Cynthia Ettinger (Actors? Gang?s I am not a racist, but . . .) as Debbie, Rich Hutchman (Buzzworks Theatre Company?s Invasion of the Minnesota Normals) as Rallis and Lisa Rothschiller (Chicago?s Defiant Theatre Company?s Action Movie: The Play) as Callie. Two-time Tony award-nominee Erin Quigley (costume designs for The Grapes of Wrath and The Songs of Jacob Zulu) is set to direct. Preview performances begin May 14, 2009.

Stephen Eich and Don Foster will present the world premiere of Mark Roberts? RANTOUL AND DIE, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire at The Lillian Theater (1076 Lillian Way) in Hollywood. Erin Quigley, who is known for her Tony Award-nominated costume designs for The Grapes of Wrath and The Songs of Jacob Zulu, is set to direct this new play. Preview performances begin May 14, 2009, with the official press opening on Saturday, May 16.

In preparation for the opening of the theater's renovated complex in Southwest D.C., Arena Stage has undertaken ARENA RESTAGED-a two-year festival of American voices. Part One of ARENA RESTAGED was an ambitious staging of 10 productions ranging from classics such as Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance to the Broadway-bound rock musical Next to Normal. Part Two will continue the remarkable exploration of American work and provide the theater with necessary time to move into the new Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in time for the Fall 2010 opening.

Susan Barton, a twenty year veteran of the Los Angeles theater community will assume the role of managing director at the Geffen Playhouse until a nationwide search can be completed.

Stephen Eich, managing director of the Geffen Playhouse since August 2000, tendered his resignation effective in mid-June, after the opening of the theater's final production from its 07/08 season.

Playwright, performer and activist Daniel Beaty has been creating a community-wide buzz with his acclaimed one-man show Emergency that has enabled the Geffen Playhouse to produce a special week-long extension aimed primarily at Title I public schools (three additional performances will also be added for the general public). The production will now close at 2pm on Sunday, June 1.

Daniel Beaty is a Yale graduate, an activist, a classically trained musician, an award-winning actor and playwright, a slam poet champion … and most importantly, he's coming soon to a theater near you. The West Coast premiere of Beaty's acclaimed one-man show Emergency, which won the 2007 Obie Award for Outstanding Writing and Performance, opens at the Geffen Playhouse on April 23 helmed by award-winning director Charles Randolph-Wright.

The first Geffen-commissioned and produced play, The Quality of Life by Jane Anderson, is being picked up by San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.) as part of its 2008/2009 season.