The Pasadena Playhouse Announces BLUES FOR AN ALBAMA SKY, Runs 11/1-27

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, by Pearl Cleage, is set as the second production of the 2011 - 2012 season. Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps is also confirmed to direct the production. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY will replace the engagement of Pastoral which was to have starred Angela Bassett this fall. Performances begin November 1, 2011 and the production will play through November 27, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).

"I have long admired Pearl Cleage's beautifully-written and moving play and hoped to have it land on The Playhouse stage," stated Artistic Director Sheldon Epps. "We had great success with Flyin' West several seasons ago. It will be an honor and a privilege to have her wonderfully-drawn characters, her lyrical and musical language, and her unique storytelling in our house once again. This play is both of its time, and incredibly relevant to the present day. It is a wonderful addition to our upcoming season."

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY unfolds in the summer of 1930 in Harlem, NY, just as the harsh realities of the Great Depression have devastated an ebullient decade of the Harlem renaissance. Disease and poverty have overshadowed the creative euphoria that permeated and fueled a surge of African American artists, writers and luminaries. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY introduces a rich cast of characters, scrambling to survive and make some sense of their overlapping personalities, politics and love lives: Angel is a struggling blues singer and nightclub performer who cannot find a job. Her friend Guy, a costume designer, is also out of work but dreams of being hired to design dresses for the famous African-American singer and dancer Josephine Baker. Their neighbor Delia, a social worker, is trying to organize a family planning clinic in Harlem. Their friend Sam, a doctor, works long hours delivering babies at the Harlem Hospital. And Leland, having recently moved to New York from Tuskegee sees in Angel a memory of lost love and a reminder of those "Alabama skies where the stars are so thick it's bright as day."

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY is Cleage's fourth play and was written in 1995. It premiered in 1996 at The ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta starring Phylicia Rashad and was directed by Kenny Leon. In 1996, it was performed during the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games as a part of the Cultural Olympiad. In writing this play, Cleage was interested in portraying the lives of struggling African-American musicians, artists, and social activists in Harlem during the era of the Harlem Renaissance and the depression.

The previously announced productions for the 2011 - 2012 season include:

SOUTH STREET
A New Musical Comedy - Premiere Production
by Craig Carlisle and Richard Addrisi
September 16 - October 16, 2011

ART
The International Tony Award-winning Smash Hit
by Yasmina Reza
Directed by David Lee
January 24 - February 19, 2012

THE HEIRESS
An American Classic
by Ruth and Augustus Goetz
April 24 - May 20, 2012

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL
World Premiere
Book by Jeff Arch
Score by Michelle Citrin, Michael Garin & Josh Nelson
June 12 - July 15, 2012

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY will play at The Pasadena Playhouse from November 1 - 27, 2011, with the official press opening on November 6, 2011. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Regular ticket price range is from $39.00 - $69.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00. All preview performances are $10 off the regular ticket price (except Premium Seating). Rush tickets are available for $20.00 one hour prior to the performance time and are subject to availability. Rush tickets must be purchased at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates and Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on performance dates. The box office is closed on holidays. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1161. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Full casting, creative team and single ticket on-sale information will be announced at later dates.

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