Pasadena's Hothouse Series Continues with IAGO and DISPLACEMENT 4/16-17, 5/14-15

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) just announced that its 2012 - 2013 HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse series continues with its next two presentations. Iago, by the late James McLure with Creative Consultant Beth Henley (Pulitzer Prize-winning, Tony and Academy Award-nominated author of Crimes of the Heart) and directed by Art Manke (The Playhouse's Fallen Angels and the upcoming production of Noël Coward's A Song at Twilight) will perform April 16 and 17, 2013. Displacement by Shauna Kandilian-Vartanian and directed by Kappy Kilburn will perform May 14 and 15, 2013. All HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse presentations will be performed in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse.

"This season of HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse continues to represent The Pasadena Playhouse's strong commitment to diversity, theatrically onstage and off," said Courtney Harper, Artistic Associate for The Pasadena Playhouse and producer of HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse. "So far this season we have seen both musicals and plays, histories and contemporary pieces, comedies and dramas, readings by seasoned writers and those just starting, all grown, and reaching toward ultimate life beyond HOTHOUSE. It confirms to me the importance of developing work by new writers, and accepting submissions from writers during our open submissions period every June. While producing the work of well-known and award-winning playwrights is a joy, it's an honor to foster the next generation of Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winners!"

Iago is a drama by the late James McLure, inspired by Vivian Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Peter Finch and Noël Coward, about love, betrayal, and slipping away through the guise of a production of Shakespeare's Othello. One of James's friends and colleagues, Beth Henley, has agreed to come aboard as Creative Consultant for the project, and to assist in shepherding Iago in James' absence. Iago is presented by special arrangement with the Trustees of the James McLure Literary Productions, LLC.

"We are thrilled about the upcoming reading of Iago at The Pasadena Playhouse. Jim would be honored to present his play at this beautiful theater with its historic past. We hope you love this glimpse of Shakespeare with a twist as much as Jim loved writing it," stated the family of James McLure.

Displacement is the story of the Russian Armenian displacement in World War II and its lasting effect on the people then, and the greater Armenian community now.

"I am delighted to be back at HOTHOUSE where new plays are so supported and nurtured," said director Kappy Kilburn. "Especially excited to be there with this amazing tale told by such a passionate writer." Playwright Shauna Kandilian-Vartanian added, "I celebrate this opportunity provided by HOTHOUSE to refine my work, a labor of love."

Casting for both Iago and Displacement has yet to be announced. Michael Donovan, CSA, of Michael Donovan Casting serves as Resident Casting Director for the HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse staged reading series at The Pasadena Playhouse. All casing inquiries or submissions should be made directly through his office.

Reservations for HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse staged readings may be made online at www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/outreach-and-education/hothouse.html or by calling The Pasadena Playhouse box office at 626-356-7529.

HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse cultivates writers, actors, and directors of all backgrounds through new play development. HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse leads the way in new play development by helping emerging and established playwrights take their stories from page to stage. Several of The Playhouse's most successful mainstage productions have emerged from the HOTHOUSE program, enjoying long production runs subsequent to Playhouse premieres, such as the following: Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical; One November Yankee; the Tony-nominated Sister Act - The Musical, and Looped. MFA students from nearby universities participate in this program through special sessions with the playwrights. HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse is made possible in part by the support of the Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project.

Visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org for more information.

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