NEWS RELEASE ▪︎ ALEXANDRA BILLINGS SET TO HOST 27th ANNUAL LA STAGE ALLIANCE OVATION AWARDS ▪︎ TUESDAY, JAN. 17 at 7:30pm

ALEXANDRA BILLINGS
SET TO HOST
THE 27th ANNUAL LA STAGE ALLIANCE OVATION AWARDS CEREMONY
AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 AT 7:30PM
PRESENTERS ALSO ANNOUNCED

Alexandra Billings has been set to host the 27th Annual LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, January 17 at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center. Red carpet arrivals begin at 6pm and the ceremony begins at 7:30pm.

Actress, singer, author, teacher, and activist Alexandra Billings stars as Davina on Amazon’s multi-award-winning series Transparent. She played Donna in the ABC film Romy and Michelle: A New Beginning, one of the first times a transgender actress played a transgender character on television. Other TV credits include guest starring appearances on How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, and Nurses (with Lynn Redgrave). She stars in the upcoming feature film Valley of Bones. Billings has been acting since 1968 and has performed in hundreds of plays and musicals across the United States. Her autobiographical solo show Before I Disappear toured from Chicago to Boston to Los Angeles and then off-Broadway where it received rave reviews and ran for over 10 years. She recently performed her newest solo piece, S/He and Me at Cal State Long Beach. Billings’ activism stretches across the continent. In 2016 she moderated a panel during Transgender Awareness Month at the White House. She has won the TPA Award and the Rainbow Spirit Award and was inducted into the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in Chicago. Living with AIDS since the mid-80s, Billings chronicles her life’s journey in her blog Stilettos and Sneakers, and she is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post. From Schoolboy to Showgirl: The Alexandra Billings Story, aired on PBS and received an Emmy Award nomination for Best Documentary.

“The great gift of what we do as artists is to celebrate the human condition,” said Billings. “I am so excited to be in the room with so many humans who believe that what we do is attempt, in the best way we can, to replicate the history of where we’ve been so that where we’re headed can be brighter, more beautiful, and more glorious than we ever dreamed. And then to hand that story to as many other humans as we can. And I’m thrilled to do this with as much hope and as many sequins as possible.”

Los Angeles theatre notables scheduled to be presenters are (in alphabetical order) Luis Alfaro, Michael Arden, Randall Arney, Jon Robin Baitz, EB Brooks, Sara Ryung Clement, Paul Crewes, Dale Dickey, Sheldon Epps, Marilyn Fox, Beth Grant, Elizabeth Harper, Rajiv Joseph, Richard Montoya, Oanh Nguyen, Mitch O’Farrell, Bill Pullman, Diane Rodriguez, Ric Salinas, Del Shores, Herbert Siguenza, Jimmi Simpson, Ali Stroker, and Kitty Swink. All appearances are subject to change. Musical numbers will be presented by DOMA Theatre Company.

Sponsors for this year’s Ovation Awards ceremony are Wells Fargo, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment, F&D Scene Changes Ltd., UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television, Goldstar, USC School of Dramatic Arts, Ken Werther Publicity, Bakers Man Productions, Time Out Los Angeles, TheaterMania | OvationTix, Performances Magazine, Variety, and Peter Konerko Photography. The Ovation Awards are presented in partnership with the New York Drama Desk Awards.

For more information and details on how to attend the Ovation Awards ceremony on January 17, visit www.OvationAwards.com. #OvationAwards

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01-05-17

Curt Hansen is the Prince in “A Snow White Christmas” – Child Performer Auditions for Seven Dwarfs Set for October 5 & 6

SNOW WHITE FINDS HER PRINCE!
BROADWAY STAR CURT HANSEN JOINS ARIANA GRANDE,
CHARLENE TILTON AND NEIL PATRICK HARRIS FOR
THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE AND
LYTHGOE FAMILY PRODUCTIONS’
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS

CHILD PERFORMER AUDITIONS FOR SEVEN DWARFS
TO BE HELD OCTOBER 5 – 6

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT – TWO WEEKS ONLY
DECEMBER 13 – 23, 2012
SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE TODAY

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) and Lythgoe Family Productions, announced today that Curt Hansen (Broadway’s Next to Normal and Hairspray) joins the cast as “Snow White’s Prince” in A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS. The production also features the previously announced Ariana Grande (Nickelodeon’s “Victorious”) as “Snow White,” an on-screen appearance by Neil Patrick Harris as “The Magic Mirror” and Charlene Tilton (“Dallas”) as “The Wicked Queen.” Auditions for child performers to play the “Seven Dwarfs” will be held on October 5 – 6 at the Westfield Santa Anita mall. This inaugural “Panto at The Playhouse” production of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe (“So You Think You Can Dance”) with choreography by Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee “So You Think You Can Dance”) and musical direction by Michael Orland (“American Idol”). Performances will begin December 13 through December 23, with a gala press opening night on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse. Single tickets are also now on sale.

Lythgoe Family Productions produces fun, musical theatre the whole family can enjoy. Known for their creativity and involvement in television hits “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” the Lythgoes are dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across America. Based on the Grimm fairytales, each story has been modernized with topical scripts for parents and well known pop songs for kids. The Lythgoes pride themselves on creating a memorable experience a family can share together.

An updated version of the classic tale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni), a live miniature pony and contemporary music from Katy Perry’s “Firework” to Huey Lewis and the News’ “Power of Love” to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and more. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to everyone from ages 2 – 102! Before every performance, guests and their families are invited to enjoy a “Winter Wonderland” event in The Playhouse’s Engemann Family Courtyard, complete with holiday music, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities.

The cast for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS features:

• Ariana Grande as “Snow White” (Nickelodeon’s “Victorious”)
• Neil Patrick Harris as “The Magic Mirror” (“How I Met Your Mother”)
• Charlene Tilton as “The Wicked Queen” (“Dallas”)
• Curt Hansen as “Snow White’s Prince” (Next to Normal, Hairspray)
• Jonathan Scott Meza as “Muddles” ( “The Jumpitz”)
• David Figoli as “Herman the Huntsman”

Auditions for child performers (ages 5 – 13) to play the “Seven Dwarfs” will be held October 5 – 6 at the Westfield Santa Anita mall (400 S. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA). Celebrity judges, including Lindsay Arnold and Witney Carson from this season’s “So You Think You Can Dance” will be monitoring auditions along with director Bonnie Lythgoe. Past judges have included Neil Patrick Harris, Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy (“So You Think You Can Dance”), Kara Dioguardi (“American Idol”) and Mark Ballas (“Dancing with the Stars”). Kids can also take photos with “Snow White.” For more information visit www.mpient.com.

In addition to director Bonnie Lythgoe, the creative team for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS includes choreography by Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee for “So You Think You Can Dance”), musical direction by Michael Orland (“American Idol”), book by Kris Lythgoe, scenic and costume design by Lythgoe Family Productions creative department with additional costume design by designer Julia Clancy, Donna Maas and Kleev Guessford, additional scenic design by J.J. Wickham (LFP producers include Kris Lythgoe, Bonnie Lythgoe, Becky Baeling and Jason Haigh-Ellery).

Curt Hansen (“Snow White’s Prince”) grew up in Wisconsin and now lives in New York. Broadway credits include Next to Normal (as well as the National Tour) and Hairspray. Regional theatre credits include Parade at the Mark Taper Forum. On television, Curt has appeared on Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush” as Dak Zevon and CBS’ “The Good Wife.” Selected NYC staged readings include: IT’S ON (NYMF), bare, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Flamingo Kid.

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will play from December 13 – 23, 2012 with a gala press opening on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Single ticket prices for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS range from $32.00 – $72.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00. Child single tickets are available for Rear Orchestra and Rear Mezzanine seating ranging from $22.00 – $47.00. Golden Tickets are available for an additional $100.00 each and are limited to 10 Golden Tickets per performance. A Golden Ticket allows the ticketholder (children only) a special on-stage experience during the production. Admission to the “Winter Wonderland” event is complimentary to all ticket holders (select activities require an additional purchase) and begins an hour and a half before every performance. Service and theatre restoration fees apply to all purchases. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1161. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

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10-01-2012

Announcing: The Pasadena Playhouse Announces Full Casting and Creative Team for Intimate Apparel; Begins Nov. 6

THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
ANNOUNCES FULL CASTING AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR
INTIMATE APPAREL
THE PRODUCTION WILL PERFORM
NOVEMBER 6 – DECEMBER 2, 2012
TICKETS ON SALE TODAY

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) announced today the full casting and creative team for INTIMATE APPAREL. Single tickets are also now on sale. Written by Lynn Nottage (Pulitzer Prize-winner, Ruined) and directed by The Playhouse’s Sheldon Epps, performances will begin November 6 through December 2, with an official press opening on Sunday, November 11, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse.

“I am delighted by the casting that has come together for our production of Lynn’s beautiful creation,” said Sheldon Epps, Playhouse Artistic Director and director of INTIMATE APPAREL. “This play has such admirable diversity, beautiful poetry, and vivid characters. I am sure that this fine group of actors will play this music beautifully and give life and drama to these wonderful words.”

The full cast for INTIMATE APPAREL features (in alphabetical order):

• Kristy Johnson (Jitney, The Good Negro) as “Mayme”
• Dawnn Lewis (Dreamgirls, Sister Act-The Musical, “A Different World”) as “Mrs.
  Dickinson”
• Angel Reda (Dangerous Beauty, Follies, Wicked) as “Mrs. Van Buren”
• Adam J. Smith (“As the World Turns,” “Bounty Wars,”) as “Mr. Marks”
• David St. Louis (“Third Watch,” Parade, Rent, Ruined) as “George”
• Vanessa Williams (“Soul Food,” “Lincoln Heights,” “Melrose Place”) as “Esther”

In addition to director Sheldon Epps the creative team for INTIMATE APPAREL includes scenic design by John Iacovelli (The Playhouse’s Under My Skin, The Heiress, Art and Blues for an Alabama Sky), lighting design by Brian Gale (The Playhouse’s The Heiress), sound design by Steven Cahill (The Playhouse’s As Bees in Honey Drown) and costume design by Leah Piehl (The Playhouse’s The Heiress).

In INTIMATE APPAREL, The time is 1905 in New York City and Esther, a middle-aged, black seamstress, has learned to make ends meet by teaching herself to sew beautiful and delicate lingerie for her uptown and downtown clientele. After nearly two decades of loneliness and watching the younger and prettier girls come and go in the boarding house she rents from, Esther finds solace and possible romance in letters from George, a handsome, young Caribbean man working on the Panama Canal. Re-energized by his affectionate words, but hindered by illiteracy, Esther confides in two of her patrons, Mrs. Van Buren, a rich white socialite, and Mayme, a prostitute, to pen her letters back to George. Meanwhile, Esther’s heart also seems to lie with Mr. Marks, the Hasidic shopkeeper who relishes in sharing his exquisite finds of satins and silks and has also grown increasingly fond of Esther. But the impossibility of their match is obvious to them both, so Esther settles for a marriage to George. He subsequently manages to frivolously spend all of her life savings on whores and liquor – dashing all of Esther’s hopes of opening a beauty salon. Once again penniless and alone, Esther reluctantly returns to her sewing machine to refashion her dreams from the cloth of her life’s experiences.

INTIMATE APPAREL is the winner of the 2004 New York Drama Critics Circle Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play. Written by Lynn Nottage, Pulitzer Prize-winner for 2010’s Ruined, critical praise for INTIMATE APPAREL includes: “Nottage’s play has a delicacy and eloquence that seem absolutely right for the time she is depicting…New York has no richer play.” (NY Daily News); “…thoughtful, affecting…The play offers poignant commentary on an era when the cut and color of one’s dress – and of course, skin – determined whom one could and could not marry, sleep with, even talk to in public,” (Variety); “Ms. Nottage has done so much good historical research…I want Ms. Nottage to keep working with this form; we see it so little, and we need it so much.” (New York Times); “a near-perfect balance between content and execution…” (Associated Press).

INTIMATE APPAREL will play from November 6 – December 2, 2012 with the official press opening on Sunday, November 11, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Single show ticket prices for INTIMATE APPAREL range from $22.00 – $62.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00. Service and theatre restoration fees apply to all purchases. Rush tickets are available for $20.00 one hour prior to the performance time and are subject to availability. Rush tickets must be purchased at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1161. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Full bios for the cast and creative team of INTIMATE APPAREL are available upon request.

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09-25-2012