Closed Pasadena Playhouse to Host Events This Spring

Variety is reporting that the Pasadena Playhouse will host several music events this spring in order to rebuild its troubled financial foundation.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced in January that it would be closing its doors due to "a debt load of more than $2 million, with $500,000 of that immediately due" according to Variety.

The Playhouse is planning music events for the venue to stretch its boundaries beyond just theater. Variety reports that the "Pasadena Jazz Institute will produce a weekend of shows called "Jazz at The Playhouse," running May 28-30, to be followed by music revue "Ovations," produced June 4-6 by Kelley Oxley with the support of the Blair Learns program for the Blair IB School." In addition to these acts, the Lyric Opera of Los Angeles' will bring its production of Wagner's 'Die Feen' to The Playhouse from June 11th through the 19th.

As one of the great institutions of the American theatre since 1917, the Pasadena Playhouse remained committed to the development and presentation of a diverse variety of theatrical productions at the highest level of artistry. By cultivating and utilizing the unique resources inherent in our greater community, the Pasadena Playhouse preserved and amplify the powerful voice of theatre, assuring its vitality for generations to come.

In recent years, The Playhouse has become instrumental in launching new works and landmark revivals for the American theatre. Highlights since 2005 include the launch of the national tour of Purlie (with the Goodman Theatre), the world premiere of SISTER ACT the Musical (with the ALLIANCE THEATRE, opening on the West End in 2009), the world premiere of Ray Charles LIVE!, the world premiere of Looped starring Valerie Harper (opening at The Cuillo Center for the Arts in January of 2009) and the World Premiere of Vanities, a new musical.