Celebrated architect Frank Gehry to redesign Carrie Hamilton Theatre

Terrific news here at the Playhouse as world-renowned architect Frank Gehry has agreed to re-design the interior of the Carrie Hamilton Theatre, as well as a prospective third 300-400 seat performance space.

If you missed the Los Angeles Times story, it's located here.

Pasadena Playhouse press release (PDF) here.

Blogger and Playhouse subscriber, California Highway Guy, has some interesting comments here.

And be sure to check back here for more exciting news on this and other developments.

KITE set to return to the Playhouse

KITE (Kids Interactive Theatre Ensemble) brings unique storytelling with special attention paid to wholesome and entertaining youth-friendly material.

The players, ages 9 - 14, present plays they themselves have created in workshop. It's "Theatre For Kids By Kids".

KITE uses little or no props or sets and asks the audience to use their imagination - performers become the scenery, props, sound effects and music!

With a particular focus on values and education-based productions, KITE promises touching, funny and wholesome performances for kids and adults alike.

Pasadena Playhouse has presented several KITE performances in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre and will be returning for events on Sunday, March 18 and Sunday March 25. Both dates will feature performances beginning at 11am & 2pm.

Contact (626) 356-PLAY or email BoxOffice@PasadenaPlayhouse.org for specific information on the productions and recommended ages.

Watch this space!

Scuttlebutt around the office has it that Playhouse Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps, has some big-time programming announcements coming up.

As part of his tenth anniversary season here at the Playhouse, word has it that Sheldon is planning an end to the 2007 season to rival the fireworks of 2006's back to back hits Fences and SISTER ACT the Musical.

Blogosphere Special: $10 Off DEFIANCE Tickets *

The reviews are in and the Playhouse's LA premiere production of John Patrick Shanley's Defiance is a hit:

“Go! Recommended!...Defiance is an engaging examination of personalities at war!”
- Steven Mikulan, LA Weekly

"Critic’s Pick!...A smart, finely crafted play!”
- Neal Weaver, Back Stage West

“Shares [Doubt’s] passion for moral investigation...with a contemporary urgency!”
- Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times

“A nice twist on the accusations against Father Flynn in Doubt...witty and thought provoking!”
- Bob Verini, Daily Variety

But don't just take their word for it. Come see for yourself. Right now you can get $10 off Defiance, section B seats, through the end of the run. Just call the box office at (626) 356-7529 and mention code IM01 to take advantage of this generous offer and see the first production of Defiance outside of Broadway!

Defiance

January 12 - February 18, 2007

Written by John Patrick Shanley

starring
Kevin Kilner and Jordan Baker
with
Dennis Flanagan Robert Manning Jr. Leo Marks Joel Polis

Directed by Andrew J. Robinson

*Mention code IM01. Section B only. Some restrictions apply, call for details.

Backstage at the Playhouse: Man, We're Tired

So, now that the Playhouse blog is on a black page in honor of all the technicians working in the dark at the theatre (it is, right?), I guess I should do up another Backstage at the Playhouse post for all the loyal readers at home. By the way, I wrote most of this in late December, so pretend it's right after Christmas, ok? Ok.

Sister Act was quite an experience for the Production crew at the Playhouse. We had a huge set, piles of costumes, a hoard of actors, a gaggle of musicians, scads of lights, tons of sound, reams of script changes, and, well, not that many props. The running crew for the show almost equaled the size of the cast onstage. In wardrobe, we had our Production Wardrobe Supervisor (Carol Ann), two dressers (Kyle and Marie), and two wig people (Jessica and Dian). On running crew, we had our Production Rigger (Red), our Prop Master (Fluffy), an Automation Supervisor (Al), and 4 crew members (Matt, Amy, Tony, and Brad). The sound department had our Production Audio Supervisor (Pierre), and either Jake or Ian backstage. The electrics department had 3 spot operators (Daniel, Richard, and Esther), and Frank on the lighting consoles. That's 18 people working backstage and front of house to make the show happen, and they all did a fantastic job. Also, keep in mind that this list does not include all the carpenters and painters (led by Gary, our Technical Director) who built the show, and all the extra labor in all departments to get the show loaded in and ready to go on schedule. It was quite a thing.

The show closed on December 23rd, and we had four 53 foot trailers fully loaded and on the road to Atlanta with the set, costumes, lights, sound gear, motors, and props by the end of the day on December 26th. "But Dan," you're all saying, "that's impossible! Why, that's only 3 days after the show closed, with one of those days being Christmas!" Well, that's why we're all tired. The lighting department worked overnight after the close of the show on the 23rd, stopping at about 7am on the 24th, the sound department worked from 8am to 9pm on the 24th, the carpenters got the set down and packed on the trucks on the 26th, from 8am to around 6pm, and the wardrobe department washed, sorted, and packed all the costumes on the 24th and 26th. It was a busy Christmas for everybody, and the Production Department did a fantastic job working on an incredibly tight schedule.

But, all that's all in the distant past. We've restored the theatre back to it's pre-Sister Act state (it seems so much bigger now), loaded in Defiance (which is a pretty big show, even compared to the mighty Sister Act) and now we're ready to open Defiance tomorrow night. It looks like it will be a great show, so you all had better come see it. Really, you should. It'll be great. (Well, I guess we all know why I don't work in marketing.)

Have a great New Year, everybody.

More Defiance on the web

The word is out on the Playhouse's new production of John Patrick Shanley's Defiance.

Evan Henerson sets Defiance within the context of Shanley's life and writing in the LA Daily News.

Carl Kozlowski focuses on the Playhouse's hot streak in the Pasadena Weekly.

Defiance

January 12 - February 18, 2007

Written by John Patrick Shanley

starring
Kevin Kilner and Jordan Baker
with
Dennis Flanagan Robert Manning Jr. Leo Marks Joel Polis

Directed by Andrew J. Robinson

Purchase tickets here or call the box office at (626) 356-PLAY (7529).

All 2007 Season Tickets Mailed

2007 subscription tickets have been mailed for all announced productions next year. Subscribers received the best seats to all shows next year and were able to purchase tickets before the general public for Can-Can and On Golden Pond. Single tickets for the remainder of the season are on sale now at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

If you subscribed to any portion of the 2007 season and have not yet received your tickets, please call (626) 356-PLAY. Patrons who have not experienced the many benefits of subscribing should also call (626) 356-PLAY for a description of the shows next year, and a special two-play package that is perfect for patrons looking to purchase a smaller subscription to Defiance and Cuttin' Up.

Defiance cast to feature real-life couple

In yet another example of life imitating art, the Playhouse's upcoming production of John Patrick Shanley's Defiance (starts 1/12/07, tickets on sale now) features Kevin Kilner and Jordan Baker who were married in 1998. From TheaterMania.com:

Real-life married couple Kevin Kilner and Jordan Baker will co-star in the Pasadena Playhouse production of John Patrick Shanley's Defiance, January 12-February 18. The production, to be directed by Andrew J. Robinson, will open officially on January 19.

The play is set in 1971 at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune, where the military base is rife with racial unease. Defiance was first produced by Manhattan Theatre Club, where it starred Stephen Lang and Margaret Colin. It is the second part of a trilogy which started with Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Doubt.

The cast also includes Dennis Flanagan, Robert Manning, Jr., Leo Marks, and Joel Polis. The design team features John Iacovelii (scenic designer), Maggie Morgan (costume designer) and Paulie Jenkins (lighting designer).

2006 was an exhilarating year here at the Playhouse and we're very much looking to start off 2007 on the right foot with this terrific production.

Defiance

Written by John Patrick Shanley
starring
Kevin Kilner and Jordan Baker
with
Dennis Flanagan Robert Manning Jr. Leo Marks Joel Polis
Directed by Andrew J. Robinson

Purchase tickets here or call the box office at (626) 356-PLAY (7529).

Last chance to see SISTER ACT the Musical

From the all good things must come to an end file.

Unless you have a trip to Atlanta (and possibly New York) planned for the near future, you have until December 23rd to see the Playhouse's production of SISTER ACT the Musical.

We've already extended the production twice and this time we really mean it.

And to make sure you get in to see this terrific musical comedy we'll even give you a great deal on tickets!

Actually that's two deals.

Deal 1: Family Pack! Get four or more tickets for 10% off and receive a free
concessions voucher! Mention Code PC83 for your discount.

Deal 2: Already seen SISTER ACT? Get 2 for 1 tickets when you see the show again!
Mention code PCSA for your discount!

Just call the box office at (626) 356-7529 to reserve your tickets and celebrate the holidays with your friends and family at musical event of 2006.

SISTER ACT the Musical

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner
Based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act written by Joseph Howard
Choreographed by Marguerite Derricks
Directed by Peter Schneider

October 24th - December 3rd

Buy Tickets

Up Next for Hothouse at the Playhouse: Madagascar

No, not that Madagascar.

The next play to be featured in the Hothouse at the Playhouse reading series is the award-winning 2004 play by up and coming phenom J.T. Rogers.

Directed by Art Manke and starring stage and screen vets Robert Foxworth, Michael Learned and Monette Magrath, Madagascar is the haunting story of a mysterious and unresolved disappearance that changes three lives forever. At three different periods of time, three Americans find themselves, alone, in the same hotel room overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome. Madagascar is about the elusive nature of memory, and how the consequences of the actions we take ripple out in ways unforseen.

Tickets for Madagascar are free, but seating in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre is extremely limited. Please RSVP to the Pasadena Playhouse box office at (626) 356-7529.

Madagascar

By J.T. Rogers
December 12th and 13th, 2006 at 8:00 PM in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre

Directed by Art Manke
Starring:
Robert Foxworth
Michael Learned
Monette Magrath

Web exclusive: Best seats in the house for SISTER ACT the Musical!

Like many theatres, Pasadena Playhouse holds especially reserved seats known as "house seats" for special last minute guests and VIPs.

Right now through Sunday, November 19th as a special offer for visitors to our new blog and MySpace pages, you can purchase the very best house seats for the Playhouse's hit production of SISTER ACT the Musical.

Just call the Playhouse box office at (626)355-PLAY (-7529) and mention code IPBG and you too can get into seats usually reserved for visiting celebrities.

And do be sure to make your reservations now as we only have a very limited number of house seats available per performance.

WHAT: House seats for SISTER ACT the Musical now playing at the Pasadena Playhouse
THROUGH: Sunday November 19th, 2006
MENTION CODE: IPBG
TO ORDER: Call the Playhouse box office at (626) 356-PLAY (-7529). Please no email or fax requests can be honored. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.

Pictured is The SISTER ACT Company in a scene from SISTER ACT the Musical at Pasadena Playhouse. Photo by Ed Krieger.

The reviews are divine for SISTER ACT the Musical

"BROADWAY BLOCKBUSTER written all over it."
- Charles McNulty, LA Times

"Hugely entertaining... explodes across the Pasadena Playhouse footlights...
likely to become a classic."
- Laurence Vittes, The Hollywood Reporter

"Crowd Pleasing!... revel in Alan Menken's talent for melodies!"
- Bob Vernini, Variety

"Menken has great fun capturing the soundtrack of the '70s ... impossible
not to sing along with!"
- Paul Hodgins, The Orange County Register

"This show is heavenly!"
- Jonas Schwartz, TheatreMania

"A Divine Winner"
- Frances Baum Nicholson, Pasadena Star News

Which is all nice to hear, but the opinions we care most about are yours.

If you've already had a chance to see SISTER ACT the Musical we'd love to hear what you think.

And if you haven't we strongly urge you to get your tickets today!

You can order tickets by calling the Playhouse box office at (626) 356-PLAY (7529) or avoid the phone queue by ordering on line here.

SISTER ACT the Musical

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner
Based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act written by Joseph Howard
Choreographed by Marguerite Derricks
Directed by Peter Schneider

October 24th - December 3rd

Buy Tickets



Pictured are (center) Dawnn Lewis and The SISTER ACT Company in a scene from SISTER ACT the Musical at Pasadena Playhouse. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

SISTER ACT the Musical: The making of a hit

If you're intrested in getting a better understanding of all the planning, risk and plain old hard work necessary to create a few hours of theatrical magic be sure read the great feature article up at LA Times' CalendarLive.com taking a look at the development of SISTER ACT the Musical which is now playing on the mainstage at the Playhouse.

While you're there be sure to check out the photo gallery feature for photos of both the play and its development.

And a word to the wise. Tickets for SISTER ACT the Musical have been going fast, but not to worry. We've just extended the show so if you order right now we have plenty of great seats still available.

You can order tickets by calling the Playhouse box office at (626) 356-PLAY (7529) or avoid the phone queue by ordering on line here.

SISTER ACT the Musical

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner
Based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act written by Joseph Howard
Choreographed by Marguerite Derricks
Directed by Peter Schneider

October 24th - December 3rd

Buy Tickets

A Sneak Peek at 2007

Here's a preliminary look at what to expect in the new year:

Honor. Whimsy. Legacy. Wit. Drama. Passion. True theatrical diversity!

These are the words that define the 2007 Mainstage Season at Pasadena Playhouse. From the West Coast premiere of a highly anticipated drama to a revival of a time-honored comedy to two majestic adaptations of beloved musicals, the Playhouse will bring you a taste of all theatrical worlds, cultures, and styles in the coming year.

DEFIANCE
By John Patrick Shanley
January 12 through February 18, 2007

The 2007 Season begins with DEFIANCE, the latest work of award-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley. DEFIANCE follows Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning Doubt. It is 1971 and North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune military base is rife with racial unease. When Colonel Littlefield invites a black officer, Captain Lee King, to his home to discuss the building tensions, unexpected and profound events turn the discourse from race to an even deeper exchange that touches the heart and soul of all involved.

CUTTIN’ UP
Written by Charles Randolph-Wright
Directed by Israel Hicks
Adapted from the book by Craig Marberry
March 9 through April 15, 2007

The second play of the season will be CUTTIN’ UP, the West Coast premiere of writer and director Charles Randolph-Wright’s theatrical exploration of the African-American barbershop. Randolph-Wright weaves a series of profound, yet hilarious, anecdotes, memories and music into a living oral history covering 60 years. Pasadena Playhouse patrons will remember Charles Randolph-Wright’s Blue, the 2004 smash hit that starred Phylicia Rashad and Diahann Carroll.

THE CONSTANT WIFE
By Somerset Maugham
Directed by Art Manke
May 4 though June 10, 2007

Play Three of the 2007 season will be THE CONSTANT WIFE, an intelligent and witty comedy written by Somerset Maugham in 1926. When Constance Middleton learns of her husband’s indiscretion with her best friend, she challenges our perceptions of love and marriage with a surprising course of action. THE CONSTANT WIFE was revived on Broadway in 2006 where it garnered four Tony Award Nominations including Best Revival of a Play.

CAN CAN
Music by Cole Porter
Book by David Lee and Joel Fields.
From the original book by Abe Burrows.
Lyrics by Cole Porter
Directed by David Lee
June 29 through August 5, 2007

The summer musical event of 2007 will be a world premiere re-envisioning of Cole Porter’s musical CAN CAN with a new book by David Lee and Joel Fields. CAN CAN centers on Pistache, the only woman in Paris w ho owns a café that features the sexy and provocative Can-Can. During this dazzling, if not naughty, evening of musical theater, Pistache faces both a fervent attempt to shut down her business as well as her own complications in love.

ON GOLDEN POND
By Ernest Thompson
August 24 through September 30, 2007

Rarely does a script have the distinction of receiving both the Tony Award and Academy Award and rarely does a script attract such legendary talent as ON GOLDEN POND. It’s because Thompson’s tale of family reconciliation speaks to all of us. When an aging couple arrives at their summer place and is visited by their estranged daughter and her family, they confront conflicts that are driven by love but that create deep emotional rifts. A soon-to-be-announced stellar cast joins us for a heartwarming and hilarious celebration of the everyday struggles and ultimate triumphs of life, love and family.

* All dates and artists subject to change.

Found on the Web

Nice little comment on our current production of SISTER ACT the Musical found at TalkingBroadway.com:

I was lucky enough to get invited by a friend--I don't want to spill spoilers, so I'll just say that the show is wonderful. Dawnn Lewis is just terrific in the Whoopi role--sings great and has wonderful comic timing; the whole show is well-cast and all the leads all have great (potentially show-stopping) musical moments. (The song the three thugs sang brought down the house.) Delightful music by Alan Menken. But the true star of the evening was lyricist Glen Slater. Bright, clever lyrics that had the audience bursting into applause! Congrats to all involved!!

Word from all corners is that this production is living up to its truly spectacular potential.

So, word to the wise, with some performances already sold out we're strongly recommending you get your tickets soon.

SISTER ACT the Musical

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner
Based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act written by Joseph Howard
Choreographed by Marguerite Derricks
Directed by Peter Schneider

October 24th - December 3rd

Buy Tickets

Why Subscribe? Unraveling the complexities of theatre patronage

In every single ad, e-mail, program, and postcard that the Pasadena Playhouse creates, we include phrases like "Subscribe today" or "Save money when you subscribe!" yet we often neglect to explain subscriptions. This post will unravel the mysteries of subscription and the benefits to you, and the Playhouse.

What is a Pasadena Playhouse subscription and who is a subscriber?

A Pasadena Playhouse subscriber is a person who purchases tickets to multiple plays at one institution well in advance of the performance dates. Subscribers receive discounts off the single ticket price, the best available seats, the ability to book tickets before the generally public, complimentary exchange privileges, and discounts at local restaurants.

Why should I subscribe? I'm too busy to commit to multiple plays so far in advance!

Price and benefits. Subscriptions at Pasadena Playhouse start as low as $27.50 a ticket (Previews, Section B). That same ticket for this year's production of Fences with Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett would have cost $36, for The Last Five Years would have cost $47 and for SISTER ACT the Musical will cost $66. A subscriber would have paid only $82.50 to see all three plays while a non-subscriber would have paid $144 - nearly twice as much. Over a full six-play season, a subscriber can save hundreds on their tickets, and receive the best seats. Subscribers also can exchange their previously booked subscription tickets throughout the run of a show - giving almost six weeks into which you can select a new date!

This is weird - why would the Pasadena Playhouse give me such a huge discount for buying my tickets early?

The answer to this comes down to the economic realities of producing great theatre. Before a play ever opens, a theatre must hire a director, hold auditions, hire actors for several weeks of rehearsal, design the show and maintain the performance space. If the theatre did not have a constituency of loyal subscribers committing to both the plays on stage and the institution as a whole before the performances started, there would be no way the theatre could produce the quality of work for which Pasadena Playhouse is known.

I get what you're saying, but I still only want to see most of the plays that the Playhouse produced each year, not all six. Why should I pay for plays I have no desire to see? Or that you haven't even announced yet!

There are many answers to this question, but I will give you just two: When you consider the fact that you are saving so much money on your subscription tickets that you are essentially getting 1-2 plays a year for free, why not take a risk on something you may like even if it does not initially appeal to you. I know that some of the most amazing theatrical experiences I have ever had came from productions I did not expect to enjoy. Secondly, we happen to have a special promotion going right now that would give you all the subscriber benefits with only half the commitment...

If you call the box office before SISTER ACT the Musical opens on November 3, you can purchase a subscription that includes just three plays - SISTER ACT the Musical and the first two plays of 2007 - Defiance (by the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Doubt) and Cuttin' Up (from the creator of the Playhouse mega-hit Blue).

For more information on subscribing, SISTER ACT the Musical, the 2007 Season, or anything going on at the Playhouse, go to www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. You may purchase a subscription by calling (626) 356-PLAY.

And oh, subscriptions start at just $87.50 per person for all three shows while a single ticket to SISTER ACT the Musical might cost you as much as $100 – so why not subscribe?

Celia Cruz Book Discussion & Signing

PLAYHOUSE OUTREACH PROGRAM
CELEBRATES THE LEGACY OF CELIA CRUZ

Saturday October 14, 2006

3 PM – On the Patio
DJ Nnamdi of KPFK’s Radio Afrocia will be spinning some of the Salsa Queen’s most popular recordings. Copies of CELIA My Life ($15.10 includes tax) will be available for purchase on-site. Mama’s Tamales will be selling authentic tamales from Latin America and Pasadena Playhouse concessions will be open.

4 PM – Carrie Hamilton Theatre
Join award-winning author Ana Cristina Reymundo (CELIA My Life, by Celia Cruz, Ana Cristina Reymundo – an authorized posthumous autobiography of the diva of Afro-Cuban music) for a book discussion and signing Award-winning journalist Jon Beaupre will moderate.

Based on more than 500 hundred hours of taped interviews recorded just months before her death, Ana Cristina forged a deep bond with Celia Cruz during the interview process. CELIA My Life includes personal photos, notes, mementos, and anecdotes celebrating the soul of an extraordinary life blessed with talent, burdened with heartache, and rewarded with glorious triumphs.

Admittance to the book event is free but RSVP required. Seating is limited. Call 626-356-PLAY.

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]