A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN to Close Next Weekend at Pasadena Playhouse

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is now in its final performances at The Pasadena Playhouse and must close Sunday, August 23, 2015. The production was extended by popular demand, and became a summer smash, garnering milestone numbers at The Pasadena Playhouse box office.

Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of The Pasadena Playhouse, says, "Not surprisingly, it has been a joy to have JANIS back in the house....The Playhouse that is. Once again, she and her inspiring Blues ladies have filled our theatre with joy, theatricality and musical expertise. And once again our audiences have danced in the aisles as our wonderful company rocked the walls at each and every performance. This has been the ideal way to fill our summer weeks following a season that gives me great pride. This wonderful energy will send us into our 2015-16 season on a true high!"

Producer Daniel Chilewich said, "It's been an incredible thrill to be back at The Playhouse working on this amazing show with Sheldon Epps and his team. It was another incredibly successful run and Pasadena will always have a special place in our hearts and for A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. The Playhouse's marketing and PR team lead by Patty Onagan was second to none."

The production stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run. Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, alternates the role of Janis Joplin with Davies. The production is conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is presented by The Pasadena Playhouse in association with Michael Cohl, Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is presented in further association with The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc.

The show is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences -- trailblazers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith, who inspired one of Rock 'n' Roll's greatest legends. Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. The unmistakable voice filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Audiences will enjoy Joplin's favorites, including "Summertime," "Piece of My Heart," "Cry Baby," and "Me and Bobby McGee," among others.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN features: Sharon Catherine Brown as Blues Singer/Lead Chantel/Joplinare (Broadway's Dreamgirls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Crowns at The Pasadena Playhouse), Yvette Cason as Aretha Franklin/Nina Simone/ Joplinaire (Broadway's Play On and Dreamgirls, Ray Charles Live! at The Pasadena Playhouse), Sylvia MacCalla as Bessie Smith/Odetta/ Joplinaire (Original Broadway tour of Rent, Ray Charles Live! at The Pasadena Playhouse) and Jenelle Lynn Randall as Etta James/Joplinaire (Broadway's All Shook Up, Kiss Me Kate at The Pasadena Playhouse).

The creative team for A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN includes Rob Bissinger (Set Designer), Mike Baldassari (Lighting Designer), Amy Clark (Costume Designer), Ben Selke (Sound Designer), Darrel Maloney (Projections Designer), and Leah Loukas (Hair and Makeup).

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. Tickets, priced from $45.00 to $150.00, are available online, by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529, or visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. For more information, visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

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