TV: New Musical 'Mask' Premieres at Pasadena Playhouse

The new musical Mask, based on the 1985 Universal motion picture, is having its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse, under the direction of Tony Award-winner Richard Maltby, Jr. and with music and lyrics by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Writer Anna Hamilton Phelan, who penned the original screenplay, returns to the true story having contributed the musical's book.

Mask is "based on the true story of an unusual looking boy and his unconventional biker mother," according to press notes. "She shows him how to embrace life. He shows her how to choose it."

Leading the cast is Michelle Duffy (2007 Ovation Award-winner for Pasadena Playhouse's Can-Can), Greg Evigan (Broadway's Jesus Christ Superstar and NBC's "My Two Dads"), Michael Lanning and Allen E. Read (appeared at Playwrights Horizons and Yale Repertory Theatre). The feature film "Mask" starred Cher and Eric Stoltz.

BroadwayWorld's own James Sims stopped by the Pasadena Playhouse during Mask's last minute rehearsals and talked with cast members Duffy, Evigan and Read along with director Maltby, discovering how this heartbreaking story of family and love made its way onto the stage, in musical form, more than 20 years after debuting on the big screen.

Mask runs through April 20th at the Pasadena Playhouse, located at 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. Tickets are available by calling the Playhouse at 626-356-PLAY, by visiting the box office and online at www.Pasadenaplayhouse.org. Group sales (15 or more) are available by calling 800-378-7021. And for more from James Sims visit www.simsscoop.com.