PASADENA, CALIF.: The Pasadena Playhouse has announced its 2018-19 season.
“Our 2018-19 season includes a wide range of experiences including a hilarious new comedy, a classic ghost story, a great American musical, and an incredibly moving new play,” said producing artistic director Danny Feldman in a statement. “It is going to be a season of great nights at the theatre.”
These productions join the previously-announced Bordertown Now (May 30-June 24)—featuring Culture Clash, an L.A.-based Latino performance trio consisting of Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas, and Herbert Siguenza—and Jungle Book (July 17-29), an adaptation of the classic Rudyard Kipling tale by Craig Francis and Rick Miller. Jungle Book will be co-produced by Kidoons/WYRD Productions and the 20K Collective, both Canadian companies.
The fall season will open with Native Gardens (Sept. 4-30) by Karen Zacarias. It is about two neighbors who clash over their gardens. Jason Alexander will direct.
Next will be the U.S. premiere* of the long-running West End production of The Woman in Black (Oct. 17-Nov. 11), adapted from Susan Hill’s ghost novella by Stephen Mallatratt, about a man who believes that his family has been cursed by a woman in black. The production is created by PW Productions and directed by Robin Herford.
Following will be the first major L.A. production of Ragtime: The Musical (Feb. 6-March 3, 2019) in 20 years. Written by Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty, it is a musical based on the E.L. Doctorow novel about three families’ pursuit of the American dream at the turn of the 20th century. David Lee will direct.
The season will conclude with the L.A. premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things (spring 2019), based on the bestselling book by Cheryl Strayed and adapted by Nia Vardalos. It is about the anonymous online advice columnist Sugar, who provides empathy and guidance to a wide variety of people. Thomas Kail (of Hamilton) will direct.
An additional spring production will be announced at a later date.
In addition, Pasadena Playhouse will also host a free Playhouse Block Party on June 9 from noon to 10 p.m. to celebrate its centennial anniversary.
Founded in 1917, Pasadena Playhouse is the official state theatre of California and aims to enrich people’s lives through theatre, community programs, and learning.
*An earlier draft erroneously stated that this is the U.S. premiere of The Woman in Black, which has in fact played elsewhere in the U.S. in other productions.
