Well, it’s that time again. The time when the Pasadena Playhouse announces its 2008 season without announcing its season. In other words… yup… it’s season renewal time. I am pleased to note that the Playhouse didn’t go up much this year: about $40 for our two subscriptions (i.e., over 12 shows).
So, what are the 2008 possibilities?
- “Mask” [Pre-Broadway Musical]. Book by Anna Hamilton Phelan, Music and Lyrics by Barry Mann, Lyrics by Cynthia Weil. A deeply touching story of a mother’s love for her child.
- “Prairie” [Pre-Broadway Musical]. Book by Beth Henley, Music by Rachel Portman. Lyrics by Donna DiNovelli. A new musical based on the Little House on the Prairie books, adapted by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Beth Henley.
- An August Wilson Play [Contemporary Plays from Winning Playwrights] Another play in the Wilson ten-year chronology of 20th-century African American life.
- A New Play [World Premier New Plays] A play developed by Hothouse at the Playhouse.
- “The Little Foxes” By Lillian Hellman. [Reinvented Classics]
- “Fallen Angels” by Noel Coward [Reinvented Classics]
- “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck [Reinvented Classics]
- “The Philadelphia Story” by Philip Barry [Reinvented Classics]
- “Pygmalion” or “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” by George Bernard Shaw [Reinvented Classics]
Supposedly, they will pick six of these. My predictions? First, there will be at least one play that is not on this list, probably African-American themed. That just seems to be how Sheldon works, although they might use all of these possibilities depending on the Hothouse play. Of course, the Wilson and the Hothouse play are in. They might just do both musicals, one in the summer (Mask), one as their last show (Prairie). For the reinvented classics… Philadelphia Story, because they don’t have a good comedy, and Mrs. Warren’s Profession, because it was controversial and shunned by critics, and thus a challenge to restage. I guess we’ll see if I’m right when the official announcement comes out.
