SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE : THE MUSICAL Rescheduled for 2012-2013 Season at Pasadena Playhouse

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director), in association with David Shor announced today that the world premiere of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE – THE MUSICAL will be rescheduled from the closing production of the current 2011 – 2012 season to a slot in the 2012 – 2013 season.  The production which replaces SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE – THE MUSICAL this June will be announced at a later date.    

"Along with our producing partners, all of us at The Playhouse continue to be enormously excited about the long term potential for this new musical, both here at our theatre and beyond.  Our belief in that, and our desire to 'get it right' led us to the wise decision to give this project additional time for further creative development.  We strongly believe that this will serve all involved, including most importantly our audiences.  I look forward to having the show on our stage as a part of the 2012-13 Season and feel confident that it will be a celebratory inclusion in our new theatrical year," said Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of The Pasadena Playhouse.

"Developing a new musical is very intricate, and developing a show based on a movie as iconic as "Sleepless in Seattle" is something we don't take lightly," said producer David Shor. "I feel that it is essential not to rush this progression so that the show that is ultimately seen on stage is something we all can be proud of. I look forward to having the show be part of The Pasadena Playhouse's 2012-2013 season."

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE – THE MUSICAL has a book by Jeff Arch, Shor's longtime business partner, who penned the film's original story and co-wrote the screenplay, sharing 1994 Oscar, BAFTA and WGA nominations with Nora Ephron and David Ward.

The American Film Institute (AFI) lists SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE among the Top 10 Best Romantic Comedies of all time and the film grossed over $227 million dollars worldwide. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four MTV Movie Awards, one Writers Guild of America Award, and won an American Comedy Award and a Casting Society of America Award. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE is based on the 1957 film An Affair To Remember starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.

The Pasadena Playhouse was established in 1917 and was designated the State Theatre of California for bringing national and international renown to the state as a center for dramatic art in 1937.  Built on a tradition of innovation and excellence, The Pasadena Playhouse is committed to continue to be the premiere theatrical experience in Southern California showcasing exciting theatrical entertainment in the state and being an amazing forum for launching new work onto the national stage.  Broadway productions that originated at The Pasadena Playhouse include: Sister Act, Baby It's You!, Looped and Mail. Unchain My Heart, The Ray Charles Musical, which premiered at The Playhouse, is scheduled to open on Broadway in the 2012-13 Season.