Skip to main content
Shop Merch Add a Show Listing
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Hoyt Hilsman's Adaptation of Sheridan's THE RIVALS Will Come to Parson's Nose Theater

Sheridan's 18th century comedy follows Lydia Languish, Captain Jack Absolute and the malaprop-prone Mrs. Malaprop.

By:
Hoyt Hilsman's Adaptation of Sheridan's THE RIVALS Will Come to Parson's Nose Theater

Parson's Nose Theater will present a reading of playwright Hoyt Hilsman's new adaptation of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 18th century comedy The Rivals, with performances Sunday, August 30 at 3:00 p.m. and Monday, August 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Parson's Nose Theater in Old Pasadena.

Hilsman's adaptation brings Sheridan's classic comedy of mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, outrageous characters and unforgettable language to a contemporary audience while preserving the wit and comic spirit that have made The Rivals a theatrical favorite for more than two centuries. First performed in 1775, The Rivals follows the complicated courtship of Lydia Languish and Captain Jack Absolute, whose attempts to navigate love, family expectations and elaborate deceptions lead to a cascade of comic misunderstandings. At the center of the action is the famously eccentric Mrs. Malaprop, whose gloriously misused vocabulary has given the English language the term “malapropism.”

In Hilsman's adaptation, the timeless comedy is given fresh energy and immediacy while retaining Sheridan's sharp observations about romance, social class, vanity and the often ridiculous ways people pursue love. “Sheridan created characters and situations that are still remarkably recognizable,” said Hoyt Hilsman. “The challenge—and the pleasure—is to make the language and comedy feel immediate for a modern audience while honoring the brilliance of the original.” Parson's Nose Theater, known for its lively adaptations of classic works and its commitment to bringing great literature to contemporary audiences, continues its tradition of making classic theater accessible, fast-paced and entertaining.

Audiences are invited to experience Sheridan's classic comedy through Hilsman's fresh theatrical adaptation in the intimate setting of the historic Parson's Nose Theater.Hoyt Hilsman's Adaptation of Sheridan's THE RIVALS Will Come to Parson's Nose Theater Image

Click Here to Get Tickets
More on Parson's Nose Theater
Upcoming Shows
A Nightmare on Poe Street
10/17 - 10/25/2026
Shakespeare on Love
11/7 - 11/23/2026
Recent Articles
A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL to Open at Parson's Nose Theater
A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL to Open at Parson's Nose Theater
8/31/2026

Local Shows
CLUB27 in Los Angeles CLUB27
Jaxx Theatre (10/01-10/30) PHOTOS VIDEOS
Crone Creed in Los Angeles Crone Creed
El Portal Theatre (9/30-10/17)
Good Night, Oscar in Los Angeles Good Night, Oscar
North Coast Repertory (9/16-10/11)
The Cottage in Los Angeles The Cottage
North Coast Repertory (10/28-11/22)
Woof in Los Angeles Woof
Odyssey Theatre (10/03-11/08)
A Killer Night in Studio City in Los Angeles A Killer Night in Studio City
Vitello's (9/06-10/31) VIDEOS
CHAÏR in Los Angeles CHAÏR
The Elysian Theater (10/17-10/17)
Catch Me If You Can in Los Angeles Catch Me If You Can
Colony Theatre (9/17-10/18) PHOTOS
Gershwin and the Golden Age in Los Angeles Gershwin and the Golden Age
The Soraya (10/11-10/11)
Melt : The Play in Los Angeles Melt : The Play
The Marilyn Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Institute (9/24-10/02) PHOTOS

BroadwayWorld TV