Sheldon Epps News

Variety reports today that the biographical musical about composer Florence Greenberg by Million Dollar Quartet producer and book writer Floyd Mutrux is being prepped for a 2011 Broadway opening. Entitled Baby, It's You, the musical is aiming to open in the winter of 2011, co- directed by Mutrux and Sheldon Epps. Mutrux and Epps also collaborated on the Pasadena Playhouse production in November of 2009. The show premiered at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles prior to its Pasadena run.

Actress Stephanie Zimbalist certainly needs no introduction. With her star turn on Remington Steele on TV in the 80s, her multiple MOWs and frequent stage appearances all over the country, she is an actor in demand. In this conversation she talks about the challenges of playing Katharine Hepburn in Matthew Lombardo's Tea at Five, which she recently completed for the Rubicon in Ventura and is about to open at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank on October 22.

In a a recent article in the LA Times, Mark Boehm discussed the re-opening of Pasadena Playhouse, in addition to its latest production, FDR, starring Ed Asner. Boehm says, 'Sheldon Epps, the Pasadena Playhouse's artistic director, is touting the 'very sexy story' that's unfolding as his theater returns Tuesday night with its first show since it closed Feb. 7, then reopened in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.'

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), announces that Michael Halberstam of Writers' Theatre is the recipient of the 2010 Zelda Fichandler Award, which recognizes an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through singular creativity and artistry in theatre. The award heralds accomplishment to date and promise for the future, artistic vision, and deep commitment to a region outside of New York. It carries an unrestricted grant of $5000 to the individual recipient.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director), is pleased to announce their upcoming 2010 fall productions.

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director), the State Theatre of California, and Tony-nominated director Sheryl Kaller (Broadway's Next Fall and Off-Broadway's Adrift in Macao) announced today Kaller's creative team for DANGEROUS BEAUTY and that Jenny Powers (Broadway's Grease as Rizzo and Little Women as Meg) will star as Veronica Franco.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director), is pleased to announce their upcoming 2010 fall productions.

The Equal Employment Opportunities Committees of Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced the 8th Annual Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Awards, recognizing performers and arts organizations who, through their work and activism, have fostered diversity within the entertainment and news media industries and their communities.

Variety reports today that the biographical musical about composer Florence Greenberg by Million Dollar Quartet producer and book writer Floyd Mutrux is being prepped for a 2011 Broadway opening. Entitled Baby, It's You, the musical is aiming to open in the winter of 2011, co- directed by Mutrux and Sheldon Epps. Mutrux and Epps also collaborated on the Pasadena Playhouse production in November of 2009. The show premiered at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles prior to its Pasadena run.

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) is pleased to announce the beginnings of its production plans through January 2011.

UNCHAIN MY HEART, the Ray Charles Musical, which was scheduled to open at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway on November 7, will now open in the Spring of 2011 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced. The principal cast is expected to stay with the production. Producer Stuart Benjamin cited logistical reasons for the change in date.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, announced that its Plan of Reorganization was approved yesterday by the United States Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles and emerged from Chapter 11 after nearly two months. The Honorable Thomas B. Donovan presided.

Furious Theatre Company remains in residence in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre for the Los Angeles premiere of boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, writer of Furious Theatre's much acclaimed, award-winning 2009 production of Hunter Gatherers. boom will preview on Wednesday, May 19; Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21 at 8 p.m. with an opening date of Saturday, May 22 at 8 p.m. and run through Sunday, June 20 at the home of Furious Theatre Company, the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

Furious Theatre Company remains in residence in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre for the Los Angeles premiere of boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, writer of Furious Theatre's much acclaimed, award-winning 2009 production of Hunter Gatherers. boom will preview on Wednesday, May 19; Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21 at 8 p.m. with an opening date of Saturday, May 22 at 8 p.m. and run through Sunday, June 20 at the home of Furious Theatre Company, the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

Furious Theatre Company remains in residence in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre for the Los Angeles premiere of boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, writer of Furious Theatre's much acclaimed, award-winning 2009 production of Hunter Gatherers. boom will preview on Wednesday, May 19; Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21 at 8 p.m. with an opening date of Saturday, May 22 at 8 p.m. and run through Sunday, June 20 at the home of Furious Theatre Company, the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

Furious Theatre Company remains in residence in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre for the Los Angeles premiere of boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, writer of Furious Theatre's much acclaimed, award-winning 2009 production of Hunter Gatherers. boom will preview on Wednesday, May 19; Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21 at 8 p.m. with an opening date of Saturday, May 22 at 8 p.m. and run through Sunday, June 20 at the home of Furious Theatre Company, the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

Furious Theatre Company remains in residence in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre for the Los Angeles premiere of boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, writer of Furious Theatre's much acclaimed, award-winning 2009 production of Hunter Gatherers. boom will preview on Wednesday, May 19; Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21 at 8 p.m. with an opening date of Saturday, May 22 at 8 p.m. and run through Sunday, June 20 at the home of Furious Theatre Company, the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

Producer Stuart Benjamin has announced that UNCHAIN MY HEART, The Ray Charles Musical, will open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th St.) on Broadway on November 7, 2010; previews begin October 8. Directed by Sheldon Epps, UNCHAIN MY HEART features the music of Ray Charles and a book by Suzan-Lori Parks.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, announces that last night it filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in Los Angeles. The Playhouse is represented by Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.

The cast of UNCHAIN MY HEART, The Ray Charles Musical, will be lead by Brandon Victor Dixon (2010 Lortel, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle nominee for The Scottsboro Boys, 2006 Tony nominee for The Color Purple) starring as 'Ray Charles' and Nikki Renée Daniels (Promises, Promises, Nine) as 'Della'.