Universal Film 'Mask' Turns Musical in Pasadena 2008

The Pasadena Playhouse will world premiere a new musical next season with Mask, an adaptation of the Universal motion picture, beginning March 7, 2008, which will follow the already announced Ray Charles Live! - A New Musical set to open in November 2007.  Orson's Shadow, a play by Austin Pendleton, is also scheduled to take the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse beginning January 11, 2008.  

"I have long been a fan of Orson's Shadow, Austin Pendleton's delicious and ambiguous love letter to some of the giants of the English speaking theatre," said Sheldon Epps, Playhouse Artistic Director.  "I am also thrilled that the Playhouse is continuing to be the launching ground of valuable new plays and musicals with the world premiere adaptation of Mask, whose score is written by two of the most successful writers in the history of contemporary music."  He added, "These two productions continue this theatre's valuable exploration of theatrically diverse and eclectic theatrical experiences on our stage."

The world premiere of Mask, based on the 1985 motion picture "Mask," begins performances March 7, 2008 through April 13, 2008.

Mask teams Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, On Broadway) who will join playwright and screenwriter Anna Hamilton Phelan (the popular, award-winning film, "Mask," "Gorillas in the Mist," among others).  Mask "is a musical based on a true story of an unusual looking boy and his unconventional biker mother.  She shows him how to embrace life.  He shows her how to choose it."  The original film starred Cher and Eric Stoltz.

Austin Pendleton's Orson's Shadow "is an ingenious tale of two Hollywood giants – Orson Wells and Laurence Olivier.  The time is 1960; the place is a West End theatre.  Legendary critic Kenneth Tynan has made a startling proposal: Wells should direct Olivier and the young Joan Plowright in Rhinoceros, Ionesco's absurdist masterpiece.  But it is the rehearsal process that brims with absurdity as titanic personalities, including Vivien Leigh, wrestle the muse.  Based on an actual event, Orson's Shadow is a witty and incisive depiction of the drama of theatre."

2+2 subscriptions are now available and include the first two plays in the 2008 season as well as the final two productions of the 2007 season: Matter of Honor, a drama by Michael J. Chepiga and directed by Scott Schwartz about the second black cadet in history to attend West Point and the mysterious circumstances around his failure to graduate; and the much anticipated Ray Charles Live! – A New Musical with a book by acclaimed playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog Underdog, 365 Plays, 365 Days) and directed by Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps.

Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. Tickets are available by calling the Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-PLAY, by visiting the Pasadena Playhouse 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 800-378-7021.

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