BABY ITS YOU! Gets Extended Through 12/20 At Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that the new hit musical BABY IT'S YOU! has been extended by popular demand through December 20th only. Presented by Pasadena Playhouse, by special arrangement with American Pop Anthology, Jonathan Sanger, Jerry Katell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Joan Stein, in association with Universal Music Group, BABY IT'S YOU! is written by Colin Escott (Broadway-bound Million Dollar Quartet) and Floyd Mutrux (Broadway-bound Million Dollar Quartet and the award-winning film American Hot Wax). Directed by Mutrux, the world premiere musical is about the passion and determination of New Jersey housewife Florence Greenberg, who in the early 1960's, discovered The Shirelles and built one of the most successful independent record companies with African-American song-writer Luther Dixon.

"I am delighted that this very special ‘Baby...' has turned into a crowd-pleasing success, and now a terrific holiday treat for our theatre. The show has been greeted with tremendous enthusiasm by our audiences at each performance, which has led to the incredibly strong word of mouth that encourages us to keep the party going for one more week," said Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps. "We know that many who have already seen the show will be grateful to have a bit more time to get back to see it again. The additional performances give us the opportunity to introduce newcomers to this fascinating story and the wonderful music of this era which has had audiences dancing in the aisles since previews began."

"BABY IT'S YOU! had me from the very start! Extraordinary book, performances and a great live band...tons of soul," raved the Pasadena Star-News. "There's a deeply human story behind the image of rock ‘n roll, and if you like early 60s music, you will love BABY IT'S YOU!," said Mike Sakellarides, Retro1260 KGIL-AM Radio. "This is the ticket for you," wrote the Los Angeles Times and "Go!" proclaimed the LA Weekly.

Wrapped in the sensational songs of the 60s, BABY IT'S YOU! is the new musical about the groundbreaking girl group, The Shirelles and Florence Greenberg, the New Jersey housewife who discovered them. With the help of African-American songwriter, producer Luther Dixon, Florence took on a male dominated industry and revolutionized pop music. Her company, Scepter Records, created the most important songs in the golden era of rock 'n' roll, from artists including The Isley Brothers, The Kingsmen, Chuck Jackson and Dionne Warwick.

Mutrux directs a cast of twelve featuring Erica Ash as Micki/Shirelle (MAD TV, The Lion King), Berlando Drake as Shirley/Shirelle (Raelette in the Ray Charles Orchestra), Geno Henderson as Jocko /Ron Isley/Chuck Jackson/Gene Chandler (Performed with The Gap Band, Sly Stone, The Pointer Sisters, The 5th Dimension), Meeghan Holaway as Florence Greenberg (Off-Broadway's Dinner with Friends), Adam Irizarry as Stanley/Mr. Bass Man/Burt Bacharach, Co-Musical Director ("The Piano Man" in Broadway's Movin Out), Paulette Ivory as Beverly/Shirelle/Dionne Warwick (Pasadena Playhouse's Purlie, National Tour of Aida, West End's The Lion King), Crystal Starr Knighton as Doris/Shirelle/Millie (Background Singer for Jessica Simpson, Kanye West, Smokey Robinson), Allan Louis as Luther Dixon (Ragtime, Stomp the Yard, Marco Giordani in CW's Privileged), Matt McKenzie as Marvin Schlacter (Broadway's Monday After the Miracle, Academy Award-winning film Gods and Monsters), Barry Pearl as Bernie Greenberg/Milt Gabler (Broadway's Bye Bye Birdie, Oliver!), and Suzanne Petrela as Mary Jane/Lesley Gore (Pasadena Playhouse's Mask, Center Theatre Group's Post Office)

Joining the creative team with Escott and Mutrux are Birgitte Mutrux (choreography), Richard Perry (music supervisor/arrangements), Anna Louizos (scenic design), Lizz Wolf (costume design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Martin Carrillo (sound design), Carol Doran (wig and hair design), Jason H. Thompson (projection design), Adam Irizarry (musical director/additional arrangements), Michael Donovan (casting), Joan Stein (general manager), Ronn Goswick (production stage manager), Lea Chazin (assistant stage manager), and Bari Newport (Assistant Director).
BABY IT'S YOU! is presented by Pasadena Playhouse, by special arrangement with American Pop Anthology, Jonathan Sanger, Jerry Katell, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Joan Stein, in association with Universal Music Group. BABY IT'S YOU! officially opened at Pasadena Playhouse on November 13, 2009.

BABY IT'S YOU! plays at Pasadena Playhouse, 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, through December 20 (Closing Performance: Sunday, December 20 at 2:00 p.m.). 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. Ticket prices are $62.00 - $78.00. and are available by calling the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office at 626-356-7529, visiting the Box Office, open from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. daily excluding holidays, and online at www.Pasadenaplayhouse.org. Group Sales (15 or more) are available by calling 626-737-2851.

 

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