A Noise Within Continues Free Hard Hat Sunday Tours

A Noise Within (ANW), Los Angeles' critically acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents additional dates for the exceedingly popular "Hard Hat Sundays" series, which are free public tours of its new Pasadena theatre's construction site, on the second Sunday of every month, 4 to 5 p.m. through April. The next "Hard Hat Sunday" is February 13, 2011, with additional dates on March 13 and April 10, 2011.

The tours, which also include refreshments, have consistently drawn large crowds since they began in November, according to ANW Founders/Artistic Directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, who personally conduct the tours. Also on hand are ANW board members to meet guests and discuss the project.

"There has been tremendous public interest in the new theatre, and 'Hard Hat Sundays' have been getting groups of up to 60 people, including some who return each month so they can see the progress," says Rodriguez-Elliott. "We are literally watching a 19-going-on-20-year dream turn into reality. A permanent home for A Noise Within ensures that the unique blend of classic theatre that we do will be here for adults and students for generations to come."

Elliott adds, "We are very excited by the number of community members attending who may not be familiar with A Noise Within, but who embrace the new theatre as their own and are curious to learn more about it. We invite everyone to join us - ANW donors, subscribers, neighbors and the community at large."

A Noise Within's next chapter provides the long-awaited opportunity to sink deep and lasting roots when the project is complete and the company moves in 2011 from its long-time base in Glendale to its spectacular, permanent home in a Pasadena mixed-use development at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue. The facility, hailed as an anchor in East Pasadena's arts growth, is designed to broaden A Noise Within's artistic possibilities, offer a greater scope of educational opportunities, meet ticket demand and allow the company to expand its role as a leader in the presentation and preservation of classical theatre.

The company recently entered the "home stretch" of its $13.3 million capital campaign, having reached the $11.71 million mark.

The new state-of-the-art 33,000-square-foot facility, located next to a Gold Line station, is being built in the former Stuart Pharmaceutical headquarters, a historic, mid-century modern masterpiece designed by celebrated architect Edward Durell Stone, known for landmark buildings around the country including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and Radio City Music Hall in New York. Constructed in the mid-1950s, the Stuart Pharmaceutical building was listed on the National Register in 1998.

A Noise Within (ANW) is the only year-round classical repertory company in Southern California and one of only a handful in the entire country dedicated solely to producing classical dramatic literature in the repertory tradition of rotating productions with a resident company of professional artists. The company has been hailed by critics as "adventurous," "compelling and current," "ingenuity at work," "a bona fide class act," and "what great theatre is all about." Founded 19 seasons ago, ANW quickly established itself as one of the region's key theatre companies, attracting fiercely loyal audiences and consistently high praise from the media for its productions and as a leading force in arts education.

For free "Hard Hat Sundays" reservations (required), for more information on A Noise Within or to make a donation, contact donors@anoisewithin.org or call 818-265-7959.

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