Back in May, I attempted to predict the Pasadena Playhouse season, based on what they sent out. I got an update today. So how did I do? I’ve bolded shows that are confirmed, and struckout shows that are off the consideration list. New shows on the list are underlined.
- “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.
- “Orson’s Shadow” by Austin Pendleton, a play about Orson Wells and Laurence Olivier.
- “The Scene” by Theresa Rebeck
- An August Wilson Play [Contemporary Plays from Winning Playwrights] Another play in the Wilson ten-year chronology of 20th-century African American life.
- “The Little Foxes” By Lillian Hellman. [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]
“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.A New Play [World Premier New Plays] A play developed by Hothouse at the Playhouse.-
“Fallen Angels” by Noel Coward[Reinvented Classics]
Back then I predicted:
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.
This is still to be seen
Of course, the Wilson and the Hothouse play are in.
No Hothouse play, at least so far.
They might just do both musicals, one in the summer (Mask), one as their last show (Prairie).
Mask is in. They often do a summer and a winter musical, so things may change.
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 still think these will be in, and they will likely put in “The Scene”
