A Noise Within Hosts Free Open House 10/23, Gala Opening 10/29

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, launches its milestone 2011-12 Season and 20th Anniversary in its permanent new home, a 33,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art venue in Pasadena, on Saturday, October 29, 2011, 5 p.m., with a glittering "Welcome Home: Inaugural Opening Night Gala" presented by Wells Fargo. Heralding the next chapter in the company's storied history, the festivities unfold with a celebratory cocktail reception toasting the new home followed by the season's first production, a sizzling original treatment of William Shakespeare'S beloved comedy TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL, which begins a six week-run. A special post-performance dinner caps the party, which promises to be one of the hottest tickets in town.

TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL is set in Cuba by director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, ANW Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director. This uproarious, gender-bending bacchanal of merriment, mischief and true love, considered by many to be the Bard's purest comedy, plays out against a backdrop of Caribbean carnival. In the hot Latin breeze, Sir Toby Belch and his incorrigible band of pranksters misbehave, while plucky VIola Sparks confused passions and romance ensues.

The post-show gala celebrating the theatre's debut continues the play's festive theme with Cuban food and music. Individual tickets to the fundraiser, which benefits A Noise Within's 20th Anniversary 2011-12 Season and Classics Live! Education Outreach programs, are $300 per person, with sponsorship opportunities available.

To introduce the community at large to ANW's unique artistry and the new facility, the company also opens its doors to the general public in the days leading up to the Gala with a free Open House on Sunday, October 23, 1 to 4 pm, spotlighting the classical masterworks being performed during the season and featuring tours of the facility, readings and presentations by the company's resident artists, interactive activities for youngsters and much more. The Open House reflects ANW's commitment to bringing the classics to the broadest possible audience and to expanding the deep community roots sown during its 19 years in Glendale.

The new theatre, the result of a $13.5 million capital campaign, features substantially more space than the company's Glendale venue, allowing A Noise Within to meet demand for tickets by allowing annual audience capacity to increase from 25,000 to 50,000 people. The company's highly regarded education program will be able to double to 20,000 the number of students served each year. Together, this allows A Noise Within to expand its role as a leader in the presentation and preservation of classical theatre.

The venue is located in the former Stuart Pharmaceutical building, a historic, mid-century modern masterpiece designed by celebrated architect Edward Durell Stone, known for landmark buildings around the country including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and Radio City Music Hall in New York. Constructed in the mid-1950s, the Stuart Pharmaceutical building was listed on the National Register in 1998 and features a striking landscape garden designed by Thomas Church. The completely new three-story theatre - which retains the building's original façade -- features support facilities, offices, rehearsal space, a classroom, considerable storage for costumes, props and scenery and large restrooms. There is plentiful, convenient, free parking in the adjacent Gold Line's Sierra Madre Villa Metro parking structure.

A Noise Within (ANW) is the only year-round classical repertory company in Southern California and one of only a handful in the entire country dedicated solely to producing classical dramatic literature in the repertory tradition of rotating productions with a resident company of professional artists.

Individual tickets to "Welcome Home: Inaugural Opening Night Gala" on October 29 are $300, with sponsorship opportunities available. Beginning with the Sunday, October 30 performance through closing on December 16, single tickets for TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL are $46 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday matinees); $42 (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and Saturday matinees); and $34 (previews). Groups (10 or more) are $27 (weekdays and Saturday matinees), and $32 (Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees); School Groups (10 or more) are $16 (weekdays and matinees), or $20 (Saturday evenings).

A NOISE WITHIN is located on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue at 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Free self parking is located in the Sierra Madre Villa Metro parking structure, with entrances on northbound Sierra Madre Villa Avenue or North Halsted Street. For details about the Open House or to purchase tickets for the production or gala, call (626) 356-3100 or visit www.ANoiseWithin.org.

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