The Pasadena Playhouse

Per playwright Howard L. Craft, the spirit of the human soul has the capacity to return to earth multiple times until it successfully learns…well…whatever it is supposed to learn. Can’t speak for the soul, but the performer J. Alphonse Nicholson needs no do-overs to embody the five incarnations of Abel Green within Craft’s play FREIGHT. Simply put, Nicholson nails each Green ably, in every possible way. Completely.

A re-imagined production of Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s Inherit the Wind is currently playing on the Pasadena Playhouse stage, just extended through December 3, 2023. Michael Michetti directs the cast, led by Alfred Molina & John Douglas Thompson as the battling lawyers in a trial inspired by the Scopes Monkey trials in 1925. Rounding out the talented company: Chris Perfetti, Abubakr Al, David Aaron Baker, Rachel Hilson, Jared, Brian Calì, Marlene Forte, Matt Gomez Hidaka, Thomas Hobson, Michael Kostroff, John W. Lawson, Philip J. Lewis, Gabriella Pizzigoni, Rene Rivera and Pam Trotter. After the whirlwind of opening night and unexpected COVID cancellations, John Douglas graciously found some time to chat with me on the phone.

The National Theatre Conference announces its 2023 award recipients, including Jacob G. Padrón as Person of the Year, Deaf West Theatre for Outstanding Theater, a.k. payne for Stavis Playwriting, Isabel Pask for The Paul Green, and Joshua Castille for Emerging Professional.

Pasadena Playhouse announces the cast for their Holiday Spectacular, including Broadway stars MaryAnn Hu and Lesli Margheita. Get all the details here.

Director Michael Michetti has put thought and heart into his production and peopled it with a strong cast whose characters opt for playing the strength of their convictions over histrionics. A hurricane force this WIND is not, but there’s plenty to enjoy.

Steve Carell is headed to Broadway! The actor, best known for starring in the television series The Office, will make his Broadway debut in Lincoln Center Theater's upcoming production of Anton Chekhov’s classic UNCLE VANYA. Find out more information about the production here!

The independent film DARUMA, directed by Alexander Yellen, makes its East Coast debut at the Dances with Film Festival in New York. Starring Barry Bostwick and Abigail Hawk, the authentically cast drama follows a paraplegic's journey to reunite with his daughter. Don't miss the New York premiere on December 1st at Regal Cinemas in Union Square.

The musical workshop of The Manager world premieres at The Bourbon Room November 13th and 14th. The real-life story of the six degrees of separation between Elvis, Colonel Tom Parker, Ricky Nelson and Louis Jay Pearlman is told through the original songs by Ben Susskind. Steve Josephson directs the cast of Kevin Baily, Ted Barton, Steve Josephson, Payson Lewis, Douglas Nottage, Marguerite MacIntyre, Jesse Corbin, Travis Nesbitt, Jesse JP Johnson, Christopher Messin, Cecily Gish and Melanie Au-Yeung. Kevin, who wears two hats in this production as producer and as Colonel Parker, managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries between his producing and rehearsing obligations for The Manager and his current stint as John Boehner role in 44.

A cast change has been announced for the New York premiere of Madwomen of the West, a new comedy by Sandra Tsing Loh. Brooke Adams will join Caroline Aaron, Marilu Henner, and Melanie Mayron, under the direction of Thomas Caruso.

Brooke Adams is set to join Caroline Aaron, Marilu Henner, and Melanie Mayron in the new comedy 'Madwomen of the West' at Actors Temple Theater. Directed by Thomas Caruso, the Off-Broadway production starts performances on November 11th. Don't miss this hilarious and talented cast!

MUSE/IQUE presents 'Gospel and the King: Elvis' at First Congregational Church LA on October 19 and 21.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phylicia Rashad and more well-known figures in the theatre world will be meeting to discuss the crisis facing nonprofit regional theater with congressional leaders. 

JOB, the world premiere of a new play by Max Wolf Friedlich, starring Peter Friedman and Sydney Lemmon has extended its critically acclaimed run.

Get ready for an enlightening evening of theater talk as Christopher Ashley, the Artistic Director of the acclaimed La Jolla Playhouse, joins host Bob Barth on 'Bob Barth's One Night Stand.'

LDOS Media Lab, with Deco Rose Productions will present the New York premiere of Madwomen of the West, a new comedy by Sandra Tsing Loh. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets!

when you’ve got a guy like Adam Rapp writing a cerebral two-handed dance between a Yale creative writing professor and her enigmatic new student, and you pepper it with scribes ranging from Dostoevsky to  Anne Tyler, and you give the whole shebang to the Pasadena Playhouse and cast Amy Brenneman in the lead role, well, what’s not to like.

Aaron Poser’s Life Sucks. will have its Los Angeles premiere, September 30,2023 at The Broadwater Main Stage (with previews beginning September 24th). Barry Heins directs this reimagining of Anton Chekhov's classic play, Uncle Vanya with the cast of: John Ross Bowie, Anne Gee Byrd, Olivia Castanho, Erin Pineda, Lily Rains, Marc Valera and Steve Vinovich. John found time out of his not sucky life to answer a few of my queries.

Surflight Theatre will be continuing their 2023 Season with the romantic musical comedy, Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, book by Dan Remmes, music by Neil Berg, lyrics Nick Meglin. Performances are already underway, find out more here!

Next up at the Pasadena Playhouse, the Los Angeles premiere of Adam Rapp’s Pulitzer Prize finalist The Sound Inside opens September 10, 2023 (with previews starting September 6th). Cameron Watson directs the cast of Amy Brenneman and Anders Keith, as Bella Lee Baird a Yale professor and her student Christopher, respectively. Amy graciously found time between final rehearsals to answer a few of my inquiries.

Tickets are now on sale for Breathe the Sky, the new musical presentation written and directed by Three-time Tony Award winner and Boulder City, NV resident Kathleen K. Johnson. Featuring a cast of Las Vegas favorites led by The Righteous Brothers' Bucky Heard, the show will play Myron's At The Smith Center on September 11th and 12th for two special performances only.