Sheldon Epps to Take Over For Lonny Price as Director for SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE Musical at Pasadena Playhouse

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director), in association with David Shor Productions, announced today that the world premiere of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL will now be directed by Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and is scheduled to perform May 24 - June 23, 2013, with a press opening night on June 2, at 5:00 p.m. Lonny Price was previously announced to helm The Playhouse production, however, other commitments have not allowed him to continue with this engagement. A developmental workshop is also scheduled to take place in early March. Tickets are currently available with a 2012 - 2013 season subscription purchase. Single tickets will go on sale at a later date.

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL has a book by Jeff Arch, music by Ben Toth, lyrics by Sam Forman and is based on the Columbia Pictures film.

"Sometimes it seems that life in the theatre is all about change," said Sheldon Epps, Playhouse Artistic Director and newly announced director of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL. "I am pleased that a recent change in my own schedule allows me to take on the joy and excitement of directing this musical and working even more closely with Jeff, Ben and Sam. The writers have done remarkable work, and I know that this will continue. I eagerly anticipate the birth of this show on our stage, and I am confident it will be an exciting finale to our current season."

Shor commented, "Birthing a new musical is a challenging and complicated process. And we have certainly had our share of challenges during our show's development, not unlike any other musical created from scratch. My partners and I are quite pleased with the creative team we have put together and the quality of the work they have created. We are thrilled to welcome Sheldon Epps to lead that team. As the first performance of SLEEPLESS approaches, our optimism abounds."

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL centers around Sam, a widower and single father. When Sam's son, Jonah calls into a talk radio program looking for a new mother, Sam ends up getting on the phone and laments about his lost love. Thousands of miles away in Baltimore, Annie hears the program and immediately falls in love with Sam, despite the fact that she has never met him and that she is engaged to another man. Believing they are meant to be together, Annie sets out for Seattle to meet Sam, who, meanwhile, contends with an onslaught of letters from available women equally touched by his phone call.

The American Film Institute (AFI) lists SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE among the Top 10 Best Romantic Comedies of all time and the film grossed over $227 million dollars worldwide. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, four MTV Movie Awards, one Writers Guild of America Award, and won an American Comedy Award and a Casting Society of America Award. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE is based on the 1957 film An Affair to Remember starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL will play May 24 - June 23, 2013, with a press opening night on June 2, at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are currently available with a 2012 - 2013 Season purchase. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Subscription packages are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday - Saturday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.