The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran Executive Director) announced their 2014-2015 Season today, which includes the critically acclaimed Stop Kiss by Diana Son; William Gibson’s rarely produced Two for the Seesaw; a new production of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion; and an Artistic Director’s Choice to be announced at a later date.

Panto at The Playhouse returns with Lythgoe Family Productions’ special musical twist on the classic tale Sleeping Beauty; which will be the third production of the 2014-2015

In addition to these selections the theatre is in ongoing discussions with the hope of presenting the world premiere of Where We Belong, by esteemed musical and theatre artists BeBe Winans and Charles Randolph-Wright with direction by Mr. Epps. The show is under consideration for either the first or the last slot of the season.

Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of The Playhouse, said, “The truth is that a theatre’s season comes together in ways that are both a bit magical and a bit mystical. I am very pleased that this often elusive process has resulted in these exciting choices for our upcoming season. Our strongly committed celebration of all kinds of diversity is well represented here. I very much believe these choices offer the genuine promise of theatrical excitement and vivacity for our audiences and for the artists that we fortunately will involve in each of these artistic journeys.”

Regarding Where We Belong, Epps said, “While we are eager to have this show on our stage we also want to give this important new musical the development time it deserves which is complicated by the busy schedules of the creative team involved.”

“I hope that the announcement of these upcoming productions will create anticipation for next season. It certainly does for me,” concluded Sheldon Epps.

The Pasadena Playhouse 2014-2015 season features:

Stop Kiss (Production #2)
by Diana Son
Directed by Seema Sueko
November 4 – 30, 2014

Stop Kiss marks The Pasadena Playhouse’s Associate Artistic Director, Seema Sueko’s directorial debut at The Playhouse. Originally produced Off-Broadway at the Public Theatre with a cast including Sandra Oh and Jessica Hect, this critically acclaimed play, which received the GLAAD Media Award for Best New York Production, tells the story of Sara and Callie, who are walking through New York City’s West Village very late at night, when they share their first kiss. This leads to a vicious attack by an angry bystander, in which Sara is horribly injured. Throughout STOP KISS, relationships are explored, formed, and even ended. Diana Son elaborates on the depths of human emotion and compassion.

Sleeping Beauty (Production #3)
Panto at The Playhouse
By Kris Lythgoe
Directed by Bonnie Lythgoe
Produced in association with Lythgoe Family Productions
December 10, 2014 – January 4, 2015

An updated version of the classic story, in the style of the traditional British family Panto, Lythgoe Family Productions will present a new holiday version of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty featuring family-friendly magic, a comedic twist and contemporary music. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to fairytale fans of all ages. “Those who have never been to a panto will have a glorious introduction to the forum.” – Los Angeles Times.

Two for the Seesaw (Production #4)
by William Gibson
Directed by Sheldon Epps
January 27 – February 22, 2015

This rarely produced, classic American romantic comedy by William Gibson (The Miracle Worker, Golda’s Balcony) is bound for London with The Playhouse’s Panto at The Playhouse producing partners, Lythgoe Family Productions. Two for the Seesaw was Gibson’s Broadway debut, and the original critically acclaimed production starred Henry Fonda, and in her own Broadway debut, Anne Bancroft. In Two for the Seesaw Jerry Ryan is a lawyer from Nebraska who has recently separated from his wife. To get away from it all, he has moved to a shabby apartment in New York. At a party he meets Gittel Mosca, a struggling dancer. They instantly get along, and begin to fall in love. But the relationship is hampered by their differences in background and temperament in this unforgettable play.

Pygmalion (Production #5)
by George Bernard Shaw
March 17 – April 12, 2015

Pygmalion was first presented on stage to the public in 1912. Professor of phonetics Henry Higgins makes a bet that he can train a bedraggled Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, to pass for a duchess at an ambassador’s garden party by teaching her to assume a veneer of gentility, the most important element of which, he believes, is impeccable speech. The play is a sharp lampoon of the rigid British class system of the day and continues to be a commentary on women’s independence.

Artistic Director’s Choice (Production #1 or #6)
To Be Announced

Last season’s presentation of the controversial production of Twelve Angry Men, cast with six black men and six white men, created heated debates amongst Playhouse theatregoers and the media. Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, who directed Twelve Angry Men, takes the opportunity to find the last production to add to his season’s mix. Like previous Artistic Director’s Choice’s, such as One Night with Janis Joplin or Baby It’s You!, audiences are delighted by engaging and new theatrical experiences.

Where We Belong (Production #1 or #6)
Music and Lyrics by BeBe Winans
Book by Charles Randolph-Wright
Directed by Sheldon Epps
Under Consideration

This world premiere musical tells the story of BeBe Winans and his sister CeCe Winans’ early involvement with Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s religious television show The PTL Club, which launched their careers. This pulsating production also explores what took place after they moved on from Tammy Faye before the downfall of the evangelical husband-wife duo’s Christian empire.

Please note: Production #1 of the Season will play September 5 – October 5, 2014 and Production #6 of the Season will play June 2-28, 2015.

Full casting and creative teams for each production will be announced at later dates.

Subscription Information:

Subscriptions for the 2014-2015 Season are now available for purchase. All renewing subscribers will receive priority access to their current seat locations and new subscribers will receive the best available seats within requested sections.

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena. To purchase subscriptions, for subscription information, and information about The Pasadena Playhouse and current productions, please visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, call the Box Office at (626) 356-7529 or visit The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. The box office phone lines are open Monday-Friday 12:00-6:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-6:00 on non-performance dates. The windows are open from Tuesday-Sunday 1:00-6:00 on non-performance dates. On performance dates the box office windows are open from Tuesday-Saturday 1:00-8:00, and Sunday from 1:00-7:00. Group subscriptions are also available.