Struggling Playhouse Takes in Boarders
Bill Cunliffe and his trio play Gershwin at Pasadena Playhouse this week-end
Determined that the Pasadena Playhouse’s stage will not stay dark for long, Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and Executive Director Stephen Eich today announced that the main stage will be opened to outside groups during their organization’s reorganization process. The effort, which they hope will keep the focus on performing arts at the State Theater stage, is akin to the strategy Depression-era folks used to stay in their houses: taking in boarders—except these groups will only be “on” a day or so at a time.
The special hosted events will begin over the Memorial Day week-end with the first at 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 28 with the 17-member Pasadena Jazz Orchestra playing some 21 classic film themes from spy movies like “Pink Panther”, “James Bond” and others.
Saturday, May 29 (also at 8:00 p.m.) members of the Pasadena Symphony will join saxophonist Lanny Morgan to reprise “Charlie Parker with Strings”.
Again at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 30 Grammy winner Bill Cunliffe brings in his trio along with a number of vocalists to perform the music of George Gershwin, standards from the Great American Songbook.
The following week-end the Playhouse stage will be packed with students from Blair High School’s International Baccaulaurate Music Department to present its production of “Ovations 2010…and all that jazz”. The show is a compilation of numbers from Tony award winning musicals. “Ovations 2010…” and be seen at 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 4 and June 5; and a matinee performance at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Ticket prices for this week-end’s jazz shows range from $29 to $75 and can be purchased by calling (626) 356-7529.
Tickets for “Ovation” are $10 general admission; $35 VIP ticket to include dinner on the Playhouse Patio, valet parking and preferred seating. For information, please call (626) 396-5820, ext. 80026.
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