Archived entries for Pasadena Playhouse

Announcing: Richard M. Sherman, Kerry O’Malley, Bruce Vilanch & More Join ‘One Starry Night’ Benefit 1/13/14

ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER RICHARD M. SHERMAN, BRUCH VILANCH, BROADWAY’S KERRY O’MALLEY
AND MORE JOIN CAST OF

ONE STARRY NIGHT
Hollywood and Broadway Stars Come Together to Fight ALS
at The Pasadena Playhouse

One Night Only Benefit Performance
Monday, January 13, 2014 at 8pm

One Starry Night: Sherman-OMalley-VilanchCo-Producers Juliana Hansen and Jonathan White will present a one night only benefit performance, ONE STARRY NIGHT: Hollywood and Broadway Come Together to Fight ALS, on Monday, January 13, 2014 at 8pm, hosted by The Pasadena Playhouse. The evening will also include a silent auction (beginning at 7pm) and VIP post-show meet-and-greet. Proceeds will provide critical funding for The ALS Association Golden West Chapter’s mission priorities in care services, public policy, and cutting-edge global research toward treatments and cure.

Joining the cast of ONE STARRY NIGHT will be Richard M. Sherman (two-time Academy Award-winner for Best Song and Best Score of Mary Poppins, who is being portrayed by Jason Schwartzman in the just-released Disney film Saving Mr. Banks), Kerry O’Malley, Amy Paffrath, Barry Pearl, Drew Seeley, Daniel Tatar, and Bruce Vilanch. Directed by Grammy Award-nominee Bruce Kimmel, with musical direction and orchestrations by Richard Allen, the evening will also feature performances by the previously announced (in alphabetical order) Obba Babatunde, James Barbour, Kay Cole, Daisy Eagan, Crow Garrett, Ilene Graff, Juliana Hansen, Melora Hardin, Jean Louisa Kelly, Jason and Nolan Livesay, Gary Morgan and The Flying Morgans, James Mulligan, Reagan Pasternak, Jonathan Pendragon, Joan Ryan, Rex Smith, and Terri White. The evening will also feature special appearances by Terri Ivens, Kate Linder, and Charlene Tilton.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. People with ALS eventually lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. For unknown reasons, veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS as the general population. There is no cure, and only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration modestly extends survival.

The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and their families in 31 counties throughout California and in the state of Hawaii. For more information visit www.alsagoldenwest.org.

With generous media sponsorship from the Pasadena Independent, ONE STARRY NIGHT: Hollywood and Broadway Coming Together to Fight ALS will take place on Monday, January 14, 2014 at 8pm at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, in Pasadena, 91101. Tickets prices range from $25—$100, with premium seating available at $250. The VIP post-show meet and greet is available for an additional $75. To purchase online go to www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org/onestarrynight. Tickets are also available via phone at (626) 356-7529 and in person at The Pasadena Playhouse box office (visit website for hours).

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12-19-13

Smokey Joe’s Cafe (LAArtsOnline.com)

Smokey Joe's Cafe (LA Arts Online)

Announcing: Impro Theatre Presents ‘Jane Austen UnScripted: The Cross-Dress Version’ for Two Performances Only

IMPRO THEATRE
PRESENTS
JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED:
THE CROSS-DRESS VERSION

TWO UNIQUE PERFORMANCES
IN WHICH THE BOYS PLAY GIRLS AND THE GIRLS PLAY BOYS
SATURDAY, MARCH 9 AT 10:30PM & SUNDAY, APRIL 7 AT 7PM

Jane Austen UnscriptedImpro Theatre, now mid-way through its return engagement of Jane Austen Unscripted at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre in Pasadena, directed by Dan O’Connor and Paul Rogan, will present The Cross-Dress Version, two unique performances in which the boys play girls and the girls play boys, on Saturday, March 9 at 10:30pm and Sunday, April 7 at 7pm.

“During a previous run of Jane Austen Unscripted, we had the crazy notion of performing our show for one night cross-dressed … girls playing boys, and boys playing girls,” said Dan O’Connor, Impro Theatre Artistic Director. “The result was absolute hilarity, and has been much discussed and requested since. We are delighted to bring back the idea for two shows only in the midst of our regular run in Pasadena.”

Jane Austen Unscripted is a completely improvised comedic play in the style of beloved author Jane Austen. The cast of Impro Theatre creates and performs a never before seen, all new, Jane Austen story right before the audience’s eyes. The entire performance is based on audience suggestion, so every show is totally unique. The essence of Austen’s beloved, timeless romantic comedies and social satires is brought to life by the expert team of funny and gifted actors that are Impro Theatre.

The cast is a rotating ensemble, including (in alphabetical order) Impro company members Tracy Burns, Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Brian Jones, Stephen Kearin, Lauren Lewis, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Jo McGinley, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Paul Rogan, Michele Spears, and Floyd Van Buskirk. The Jane Austen Unscripted cast also features guest artists, including (in alphabetical order) Josh Dean, Kelly Holden, Rebecca Lowman, Mike Rock, and Patty Wortham. Set and costume design are by Sandra Burns, and lighting design is by Leigh Allen.

Impro Theatre is an Unscripted Repertory Company that has brought innovative, unscripted theatre to Los Angeles and the world. The company’s goal is to take core narrative and style elements of great playwrights and writers, and create a new play using no more than the essence of an author’s work and an audience suggestion. Most recently, unscripted explorations of great literary figures has included Shakespeare, Dickens, Stephen Sondheim, and Tennessee Williams. For more, visit www.ImproTheatre.com.

Critical reaction for Impro Theatre’s work has included the following praise: “First rate comedians … breathtaking wit …” (LA Weekly); “Quite unbelievable, actually … an amazing comedy troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes … a stunning feat of performance …” (Los Angeles Times); “Ingenuity, imagination, and hilarity … improv artists at the top of their field … must-see theatre …” (StageSceneLA.com); and “Comic gold … a delectably smart, tasty treat.” (San Diego News Network)

The run of Jane Austen Unscripted continues through April 14 only. The performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Admission is $25 for regular performances, and $30 for the two Cross-Dress performances on March 9 and April 7. Student and senior discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, or by calling (626) 356-7529.

The Carrie Hamilton Theatre is located upstairs at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, in Pasadena, 91101.

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03-04-13