Pasadena Playhouse Announces Before- & After-Show Activities for PYGMALION, Running thru 4/12

The Pasadena Playhouse announces before and after-show activities to be offered during the run of George Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION, performing March 17 - April 12, 2015 with the official press night on Sunday, March 22, 2015. Directed by Jessica Kubzansky, PYGMALION remains Shaw's most popular play, which is most widely known for being the inspiration behind the highly romanticized Broadway musical and film My Fair Lady.

PYGMALION audiences at The Playhouse can experience the following:

LitFest (http://litfestpasadena.org/) Artistic Director and Public Editor of the Pasadena Star-News, Larry Wilson, will be discussing the dialect in literature and its affect on the societies and cultures we create. Guests are invited into the Makineni Library of The Pasadena Playhouse for an engaging conversation on Wednesday, March 25 and Wednesday, April 1 from 7:00-8:00pm. Lecture admission is free and space is limited.

High Tea at The Playhouse, provided by T -Neer (http://www.tneer.com) Enjoy a cocktail-style high tea in the luxurious Makineni Library featuring finger sandwiches, scones and dessert with select members of the cast and crew and learn about the history of tea throughout the ages and the world from T -Neer's founder Aruna Kumar. High Tea dates are on Sundays between the matinee and evening performances March 29, April 5, and April 12, at 5:00 pm. Price: $20 per person and space is limited. Advance purchase on the PYGMALION ticketing page on The Playhouse website is suggested.

A Floral Arrangement Workshop hosted by Flower Duet (http://flowerduet.com/ ) will be offered from 2:30-3:30pm in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre on Saturday, April 4, before the 4:00pm performance of PYGMALION. Playhouse guests may participate in a lecture on how to identify the freshest cut flowers, where to buy fresh flowers in Los Angeles, and how to condition them to last as long as possible. Learn all about how to create your own beautiful bouquet and take it home after the show! Price: $15 per person and space is limited. Advance purchase on The Playhouse website is suggested.

A special Victorian Dance Demonstration will be provided by The Victorian Tea and Dance Society (http://www.victorianteaanddance.org/) on Saturday, April 11 at 3:00pm in The Playhouse's Engemann Family Courtyard. The Victorian Tea and Dance Society will provide a fun and engaging introduction to the world of Victorian Dance. They will introduce Playhouse guests to Victorian era music, dances, and etiquette, complete with traditional costumes and audience participation! Free of charge for all patrons.

TALKBACK TUESDAYS at The Playhouse is a post-show series in which a panel of community experts and esteemed guests discuss and explore selected themes of the show with the audience. Topics for PYGMALION will include:

March 24, 2015 - THE HIGGINS & PICKERING EFFECTS -- Talkback Tuesday series considers Professor Higgins & Colonel Pickering's roles as teachers and mentors. Hear a panel of local leaders who manage opportunity-development programs and whether PYGMALION resonates and reflects their experiences today.

March 31, 2015 - REFLECTIONS ON ELIZA -- Liberated woman? Caged bird? What's to become of Eliza? Join our panel of women leaders reflecting on Eliza, her allies, feminism and access to more resources.

April 7, 2015 - ARE THE POOR REALLY DO-LITTLES? -- Explore how Alfred Doolittle and Eliza Doolittle give a picture of the urban English poor of a hundred years ago. The panel also explores current challenges with the rising wealth gaps in the United States - and hopes of Los Angeles County's poor and working class residents.

The Georgia T. McClay Friendship Center at The Pasadena Playhouse hosts interactive exhibits, dramaturgical material and conversation surrounding the Main Stage productions. Running March 17 - April 12, 2015, artist and spatial designer Ellen L. Sandor invites guests to come explore the Pygmalion myth and the era of George Bernard Shaw's play through photos, archival material and other visual images (Fans of Downton Abbey may recognize the era where the play is set.) Sandor uses Shaw's words and contemporary questions to provide patrons with an opportunity to explore how language impacts access today. This is a free exhibit that is open to all patrons free of charge one hour before performance time and 30 minutes after the show.

Post-Show at The Playhouse on Sunday, March 29 following the 2:00pm performance of PYGMALION features members of the cast, crew and artistic team and breaks down the barrier between the audience and the artists. Participation of the artists is completely voluntary. The Playhouse thanks them for sharing their time, talents and providing audience members with a glimpse into the theatermaking process. This event is free to patrons who have purchased tickets to the performance preceding the talk-back.

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. Tickets, priced from $30.00 to $75.00, plus premium seats at $125.00, are available online at PasadenaPlayhouse.org; by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529; or visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday - Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. Tickets for the High Tea at The Playhouse and the Floral Arrangement Workshop may also be purchased online, by phone, or in person at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday - Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Pictured: Sarah Hollis, Carolyn Ratteray, Lynn Milgrim, Paige Lindsey White, Alex Knox, Mary Anne McGarry, Stan Egi and Bruce Turk. Photo by Jim Cox.

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