Pasadena Playhouse Partners with the Lythgoe Family for TAKE THE LEAD AT THE PLAYHOUSE Gala, 5/4

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that the best party in Pasadena annual fundraiser entitled PREMIERE GALA -TAKE THE LEAD AT THE PLAYHOUSE will be held on the stage of The Pasadena Playhouse on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 5:30p.m.

This year's event will celebrate dance and choreography at The Pasadena Playhouse and will honor the Playhouse's great friends and partners the Lythgoe Family: Nigel Lythgoe, Bonnie Lythgoe, Simon Lythgoe, Kris Lythgoe, and Becky Lythgoe. The Playhouse Board of Directors, led by Committee Chair, Teena Hostovich, will be spearheading this red carpet gala event.

In his earliest days, family patriarch Nigel Lythgoe began as a dancer, eventually advancing the techniques of filming choreography, and creating and producing iconic dance and music shows like "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance." Family matriarch Bonnie Lythgoe also began her career as a dancer and choreographer, and now produces theater in London, Australia and the U.S. She annually directs Panto at The Playhouse each holiday season. Sons Simon and Kris continue the legacy of engaging audiences in the arts - Simon is a world-class television producer, and Kris, along with wife Becky, have made a major impact at The Pasadena Playhouse - producing mainstage Pantos that enrich young audiences and delight families.

The Pasadena Playhouse is renowned for its work creating new plays and musicals, many of which move on to Broadway, London, and beyond. The choreographers and dancers of The Pasadena Playhouse represent some of the greatest talent in the field, and The Playhouse is thrilled to celebrate their work on this magical night featuring scrumptious food, the best party in Pasadena, and a sampling of surprise performances.

Artistic Director Sheldon Epps said, "The entire Lythgoe family has done an incredible job of igniting a passion and love of the performing arts in our audiences of the future. They have done this tremendous work with passion, energy, dedication, and great talent. Without doubt, this is a great service to The Playhouse. Indeed, it a great service to our field. Our cherished and ongoing collaboration, Panto at the Playhouse, has been just one small aspect of this vital mission, but one, which has brought incredible new energy to our theatre. I am grateful for our ongoing partnership and believe that they are all so well deserving of this honor."

Executive Director Elizabeth Doran said, "I am thrilled to celebrate the exciting theatrical element of choreography in this year's gala, and to honor our great friends, the Lythgoes. This family is a pioneer in our art form, crossing boundaries between film, TV, and stage. Through this work, they are deeply successful at reaching multi-generational audiences. In our annual partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions, Panto at the Playhouse, we create mainstage shows that thrill three generations of audiences. This is a deliberate and meaningful statement by The Pasadena Playhouse that we, too, are pioneers in multi-generational programming. This gala, set to be one fantastic evening of delightful entertainment, will raise critical funding for programming that enriches and empowers young people but also takes action to ensure future audiences for our art form."

The Lythgoes stated "We are thrilled to be honored by The Pasadena Playhouse. The Playhouse provides excellent platforms for many talented artists including dancers and choreographers to thrive. It is an organization that champions new diverse talent and is an incredible advocate for bringing in new young audiences to the theatre - Beliefs and values shared in the Panto and The Playhouse collaboration we feel are vital and necessary for the arts to continue to grow and flourish. We are so honored to be a part of this extraordinary evening of dance, and all for a wonderful cause."

Corporate, patron, underwriting and other sponsorship opportunities are available from $1,000 -$25,000. Single ticket prices will be announced at a later date.

For more information about PREMIERE GALA -TAKE THE LEAD AT THE PLAYHOUSE sponsorship or ticket information, contact Julia Fitzgibbons in the Special Events Office at 626-204-7383 or jfitzgibbons@pasadenaplayhouse.org.

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