2009-2010 Hothouse at the Playhouse Season Announced

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that it has been awarded over $200,000 in grant funding for its new play development program, HOTHOUSE AT THE PLAYHOUSE. The awards include a gift from the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust which will support the upcoming season of new play development readings at Pasadena Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre, a Theatre Communications New Generations grant funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation which supports Bari Newport in a newly created position of Artistic Associate/Literary Manager, and the Edgerton Foundation New American Play award which will support the production of the 2010 world premiere musical HAVANA by Nilo Cruz, Frank Wildhorn, and Jack Murphy.

"We're honored that our commitment to producing new work on our stages is being given this encouraging and empowering show of support. We look forward to building upon the Playhouse's impressive history as a generator of new plays and musicals," said Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps.

HOTHOUSE AT THE PLAYHOUSE began in 2005 and has supported the development of over 40 new plays. Each Hothouse project is tailored to the play's unique development needs and can include FREE public readings, private workshops or full productions on the main stage. Hothouse also focuses on expanding opportunities for minority playwrights. Recent Hothouse plays to receive full productions on the Playhouse main stage include Can-Can, Ray Charles LIVE!, The Night is a Child, and also Sister Act, The Musical, which is currently playing on the West End and Looped, starring Valerie Harper, which will be opening on Broadway in 2010.

Headed by Ms. Newport, the upcoming season of Hothouse readings in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre will include new work by some of the leading playwrights of our time, Lee Blessing, Theresa Rebeck, Stephen Metcalfe, and Nilo Cruz; as well as the works of a few of the newest up-and-coming playwrights, Allison Moore, Jason Aaron Goldberg, and Frank Tangredi.

Last month, HOTHOUSE AT THE PLAYHOUSE presented ONE NOVEMBER YANKEE, a play written and directed by Joshua Ravetch, about an ill-fated flight that ignites a series of unlikely consequences. The reading starred Robert Forster and Loretta Swit.

The 2009-2010 HOTHOUSE AT THE PLAYHOUSE SEASON includes:

MODERATION
By Lee Blessing
Directed by Oz Scott
Starring Lawrence Pressman and Granville Van Dusen
Justice Harry Blackmun redefines women's rights with Roe v. Wade.
December 8-9, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

PASTORAL
By Frank Tangredi
Directed by Sheldon Epps
Starring Angela Bassett
In this searing drama, a pastor's faith is tested by a shocking request.
*See it on the Playhouse mainstage September 2010!
January 26-27, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS
By Stephen Metcalfe
Directed by Art Manke
A man battles his neighbor to protect his ocean view.
February 9-10, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

AMERICAN KLEPTO
By Allison Moore
Directed by Alexis Chamow
A kleptomaniac, an Arizona desert, and a family in conflict.
March 16-17, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

THE CONFESSIONS OF DEACON JIM
By Jason Aaron Goldberg
Directed by Darin Anthony
A true western tale for the stage about infamous outlaw Jim Miller.
April 20-21, 2010 at 8:00 p.m..

THE NOVELIST
By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Jessica Kubzansky
Rebeck (2009's Mauritius) returns to the Playhouse with this new family drama.
May 4-5, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

THE COLOR OF DESIRE
By Nilo Cruz
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of the upcoming mainstage musical, Havana.
June 2010.

HOTHOUSE AT THE PLAYHOUSE readings take place at Pasadena Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. Each reading will begin at 8pm, and a complimentary wine reception will follow. Tickets are FREE and reservations are recommended. Tickets are available by calling the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office at (626) 356-7529.

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