Photo Flash: DANGEROUS BEAUTY Opens at the Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, and Tony-nominated director Sheryl Kaller (Broadway's Next Fall and Off-Broadway's Adrift in Macao) present DANGEROUS BEAUTY, starring Jenny Powers (Broadway's Grease as Rizzo and Little Women as Meg) as Veronica Franco. The world premiere musical features book and verse by Jeannine Dominy (Warner Bros' Dangerous Beauty and Fox's The Ghost and Mrs. Muir), lyrics by Amanda McBroom (Pasadena Playhouse's Heartbeats and "The Rose"/Bette Midler) and music by Michele Brourman (TV's The Land Before Time and Universal Studios' The Little Engine that Could) and will be presented in association with Susan Dietz and Tara Smith. The production opens on February 13, 2011, at Pasadena Playhouse (39 South El Molino Avenue). For production photos, see below!

DANGEROUS BEAUTY, based on a true story, tells the tumultuous tale of Veronica Franco, a celebrated courtesan/poet of 16th century Venice. Forced to become a courtesan when her family fortune is lost, preventing her from marrying the man she loves, Veronica ultimately embraces the courtesan life because it affords her extraordinary education and access. It is not long before she is the most influential woman in the cultural and political life of her beloved city. As Veronica's star rises, however, Venice is ravaged by war, plague, and the Inquisition. When Veronica finds herself on trial for witchcraft, she realizes that only her personal integrity can save her. DANGEROUS BEAUTY is adapted from the New Regency screenplay The Honest Courtesan written by Jeannine Dominy, released as the film Dangerous Beauty and inspired by the scholarly book The Honest Courtesan by USC Professor Margaret Rosenthal.

DANGEROUS BEAUTY was selected for the 2004 West Coast ASCAP Workshop. In 2005, it was read at the Rubicon Theatre and had a workshop production at Vassar College's New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theatre Season. In 2006, the production was part of the National Alliance of Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals and in 2007 it was chosen to be part of Northwestern University's American Musical Theatre Project.

For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.