Open Rehearsal of SISTER ACT the Musical on ArtNight

On Friday, October 13th, Pasadena will be celebrating ArtNight, and the Pasadena Playhouse will be participating! Throughout the evening, buses running every 20 minutes or so will provide transportation to all participating cultural sites in town. From 6 to 8 PM, light entertainment will be provided in the Friendship Center on the South side of the Playhouse patio. Starting at 8, small groups will be escorted into the balcony of the Mainstage for a peek at a rehearsal of the Playhouse’s upcoming season finale production, SISTER ACT The Musical.
Stop by for a sneak peek at our blockbuster musical event of the year or to catch some of the fantastic all-new disco music by Broadway legend Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast).

Also, check out the art displayed on the Playhouse patio from 11 AM to 6 PM the following day during ArtWalk, the next event in Pasadena's Art Weekend.
ArtNight is an ongoing partnership among many cultural institutions and the Cultural Affairs Division of the City of Pasadena. The event is sponsored by the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission.

Wells Fargo Student Day at the Playhouse

At 2pm this Wednesday, September the 20th, the youth of Los Angeles will have the privilege of witnessing Pasadena Playhouse’s Sold Out production of Fences, starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Basset. Playhouse staff expects a full house including one hundred students from Compton and approximately three hundred from other school districts as well as several subscribers. The event was conceived by board member David DiCristofaro, who was inspired by Artistic Director Sheldon Epps’ story of his first Playhouse experience as a young man from Compton. The following is one of Sheldon’s reminiscences of that day, written on the Playhouse’s 75th anniversary.

May 5, 2000
I was first asked to direct here at the Playhouse in 1991. I came out from New York to do auditions for “On Borrowed Time,” and on my first day at the theatre I had an intense “deja vu” experience.

As I sat in the beautiful courtyard, feeling strongly that I’d been there before, I suddenly realized (or remembered) that in fact I had. I was suddenly flooded with the memory of making the trip from Compton - from over the hills - as an eight-year-old boy. Coming to a strange and wonderful place that they told me was a legitimate theatre. And in that beautiful building I saw a great STAR named Ethel Waters giving a Star’s performance in a beautiful play called “The Member of the Wedding” by Carson McCullers.

That was the first time that I had the joy and excitement of seeing a professional theatre production. My memory served me well, for I did indeed see that play right here at the Pasadena Playhouse. This theatre introduced that young boy to the magic of the theatre on an afternoon in 1964. For that gift I will always be grateful.

-Sheldon Epps

Before viewing the production, the Compton students will meet with Mr. Epps an hour before the performance, receive copies of the script, and enjoy lunch at the theatre.

If Student Matinees at the Pasadena Playhouse are of interest to you or your youth service organization, please contact Kappy Kilburn at (626) 792-8672 x212.

How to see a "sold out" show

First of all, a hearty congratulations to all involved for making Fences such a huge success in every way a theatrical production can be a success.

As anyone who's called trying to get tickets over the past few days knows the production's single tickets have been sold out for the run of the show. And while this is a testament to Fences' popularity, it also means that many who would like to see this amazing production will be disappointed.

But I have some good news for you. There are two ways you can still get in.

2 ways to see a "sold out" show

1) Subscribe

The Playhouse always makes a point of holding great seats available for sale exclusively to subscribers. In order to make it easier for folks new to the Playhouse to give us a try we're currently offering a 4-play mini-subscription which not only includes seats for Fences, but also for our upcoming productions of SISTER ACT: the Musical, John Patrick Shanley's Defiance, and Charles Randolph Wright's Cuttin' Up.

Subscribers receive great seats, even for sold-out shows, as well as a substantial discount on regular box-office prices and many other benefits beside.

For further information check out our current subscription offer here and email the box office or call (626)356-7529.

2) Stand-by

Are you a gambler by nature? Well here's your chance. It's a fact of life here in the greater LA area that due to any number of reasons, traffic, work, life, whatever, as many as 10% of ticket holders just can't make it to a show and their seats go unfilled.

That being the case we'll be offering "stand-by passes" for most Fences performances.

Stand-by passes (CASH ONLY) are $60. Students may purchase stand-by for $25.

For further information please email the box office or call (626)356-7529.

[Photo credit: the cast of Fences with Director Sheldon Epps. Photo by Craig Schwartz]