Gehry to Design Hamilton Theatre for Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse announced today that renowned architect, Frank Gehry, will begin a two-phase pro bono design project of the Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Gehry generously volunteered his time and expertise in honor of his long-time friend, Pasadena Playhouse Board Member Carol Burnett and Carol's late daughter Carrie Hamilton.

"Our newest Board Member, Carol Burnett, is responsible for the great honor of initiating our association with Frank Gehry.  This collaboration is a clear validation of where Pasadena Playhouse is at this moment in its long and illustrious history," said Sheldon Epps.  "Frank's generous gift has created a new excitement, recognition, and fresh possibilities for both our current capital campaign and our future plans. I look forward to this project as the beginning of a relationship which will be of great benefit to the Playhouse and to the Los Angeles theatre community."

Frank Gehry's interior designs include the Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena, California) and the DZ Bank Building (Berlin, Germany).  His theatre design work includes Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, California), Bard College Center for the Performing Arts (Annandale-On-Hudson, New York) and the REDCAT Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (Los Angeles, California).

Gehry's design project for the Carrie Hamilton Theatre will involve two phases. The first phase is the imminent redesign of the interior of the existing Carrie Hamilton Theatre located on the second level of Pasadena Playhouse. The second phase features a proposed 300-seat Carrie Hamilton Theatre as part of the Playhouse's long-range strategic plan.  Design plans and details for phases one and two will be available at later dates.

"Frank and I have been friends for close to 25 years. A few months ago, we were out to dinner and Frank brought up the subject of the Carrie Hamilton Theatre, he'd read about it. Out of the blue, he volunteered to donate his talent to these projects -- my jaw dropped," recalled legendary comedienne Burnett ("The Carol Burnett Show," Once Upon a Mattress).

"I got to know Carol Burnett as a very generous, wonderful person.  And while I didn't know her daughter, I knew the anxieties that Carol was experiencing during Carrie's illness.  When I heard that Pasadena wanted to name the small theater the Carrie Hamilton Theatre, I almost spontaneously said I should help Carol realize it and make it something special," added Frank Gehry.

Currently, the Playhouse is raising funds to complete an $8.5 million capital campaign to renovate this beautiful historic landmark theatre and rejuvenate the Carrie Hamilton Theatre, which was dedicated in honor of Carol Burnett's late daughter in July 2006. This performance space was designed to engage diverse audiences, ensure that live theatre is available to new audiences, reduce barriers to the theatre experience, and to sustain the art form through the mentoring of young and emerging artists. Existing programs include the readings series, Hothouse at the Playhouse; the Directors Lab West, which develops emerging playwrights, directors and actors; and artists- in-residence, Furious Theatre Company. With this theatre, Carrie's infinite passion for life and the arts will find a permanent home.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, is committed to cultural and theatrical diversity. This commitment is reflected in featuring Tony and Pulitzer award-winning plays as well as in outreach and artistic programs.  Last season, the Playhouse broke box office records with acclaimed productions of August Wilson's Fences, starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, and the world premiere musical Sister Act, by Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken.

Actor, playwright, screenwriter, singer/songwriter and musician Carrie Louise Hamilton was the daughter of actor Carol Burnett and the late producer Joe Hamilton. The role for which she first began to receive national attention was in the television series "Fame."  Her feature film credits include: Ralph Bakshi's Cool World, Tokyo Pop, and Shag. She also wrote and/or directed the short films, Defying The Stars and Lunchtime Thomas. For the latter, she won The Women In Film Award at the 2001 Latino Film Festival.  Hamilton's theatre career included an acclaimed starring role as Maureen in the first national touring company of Rent.  She conceived the idea of writing a play based on her mother's best-selling memoir, One More Time. Together they wrote Hollywood Arms, directed by Hal Prince, which premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theatre and went to Broadway shortly after Hamilton died of cancer on January 20, 2002, at the age of 38.

Visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org for more information.