Front L to R – Bill Shaw (Director); Rikki Luggo (Choreographer); Brigham Freeth (Music Director); John Campbell (Club Drama Chairman); Jana Cole (Club Benefit Chairman). Photo credit: Shirley Bone
The Shakespeare Club celebrated the beginning of their Benefit Season (68th Annual benefit!) on Wednesday January 4th at the Club’s Villa in Pasadena with their “kick-off” party for the musical production of The Pajama Game (Music Theatre International). This musical is based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell and the book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The production will be held March 24th, 25th, 26th 2017 at the Louise K. Taylor Performing Arts Center, 825 W. Colorado Blvd., Monrovia, CA. For ticket information, contact (800) 838-3006 or go to http://shakespeareclub.BrownPaperTickets.com.
Cast of Pajama Game. Photo credit: Shirley Bone
Keeping with the “Pajama” theme, the evening started off with a dinner of Egg Casserole and Mimosas with many of the guests dressed in their best pajamas. Club President, Pat Huffman welcomed the members and guests and after a brief business meeting turned the evening over to Benefit Chairman, Jana Cole and Drama Chairman, John Campbell. They presented information to the group regarding all aspects of the show, rehearsals, and gala and answered questions. They introduced this year’s Production Staff; Director – Bill Shaw; Choreographer – Rikki Luggo; Music Director – Brigham Freeth; Technical Director – Richard Godinez; Sound Tech – Jay Lee; Lighting Tech – Martyn Tyler and Stage Manager – Annette Arce.
Auditions had been held the earlier in January and the cast was introduced to the group. Several Cast members sang a few favorite numbers from the show; Victoria Strafuss who will be playing Babe Williams, Keith Barletta will be Sid Sorokin, and Christopher Walker – Hines.
As a prelude to the Production, there will also be an elegant Gala featuring a Silent Auction to be held at the Shakespeare Club Villa on February 25th, 2017. “Boudoir Broadway – The Naughtier Side of Broadway” Gala will feature elegant food and entertainment to delight the guests and a few surprises too!
The Shakespeare Club will be donating the net proceeds from the benefit to their Scholarship Fund for graduating seniors in the Pasadena Unified School District and on-going projects of the Shakespeare Club. Each year a check is presented to four carefully selected graduating seniors in preparation for college. The Shakespeare League, which joined its parent organization the Shakespeare Club several years ago, has had a long history (over 60 years!) of presenting full scale Broadway Musicals and donating the net proceeds to many local charities.
The Shakespeare Club, organized in 1888, has the honor of being the oldest Women’s Club in Southern California. They have owned and maintained a lovely Italian Villa on South Grand Avenue in Pasadena since 1972, where meetings and events take place. New members are welcomed year-round.
For more information, please contact the Club at (626) 795-5714, or visit www.shakespeareclub.org.
