Pasadena Playhouse Readies for Saturday Gala, Martin Sheen to Present Award To Jane Fonda and Richard Perry

Preparations are in high gear at the Pasadena Playhouse as Saturday evening’s gala draws closer by the minute.

Martin Sheen is scheduled to honor two-time Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda and celebrated record producer Richard Perry Saturday at the event, which kicks off at 6 p.m.   The Pasadena Playhouse will also announce and celebrate Community Honoree Sheila Grether-Marion for her dedicated work and contributions for the organization.

The elegant night — scripted as “A Night in the Catskills,” with guests costumed in keeping — will shine with live musical performances, delicious food, auctions and celebrity mingling, just a few of the fun things happening at this year’s gala. The audience will surely be in for a treat with a stacked night of celebrity guests and top notch talent.

According to Gala Co-Chair Art Silveri, “The guests will be looking out from the stage and having the view our actors have so they’ll get the perspective of being in the theater and on stage.”

Silveri should know. Besides being the Co-Chair, his restaurant, redwhite+bluezz, is serving the food Saturday night. The restaurant is literally steps from the stage.

“All of the ovens are fired up and we are ready to start cooking the main courses. The crew is going to be very, very busy for the next two days. It is going to look so festive. We are so excited about this.” explained Silveri.

Silveri said the gala will feature special host, Sandra Tsing Loh, remarking that guests might recognize the award-winning writer, comedian and star of upcoming Playhouse show, “The Madwoman in the Volvo,” from her roles as a commentator for NPR’s “Morning Edition” and PRI’s “This American Life” among other ventures.

According to the Pasadena Playhouse, “This evening takes its setting and locale from its latest production, “Casa Valentina,” by Harvey Fierstein and directed by David Lee, which is set in the Catskills of 1962 and was long considered a favorite destination for urban vacationers from New York City in mid twentieth century.”

In addition to all of the wonder and preparation going into the event, this gala in particular holds an extra special space in the history of the Pasadena Playhouse. The organization is nearing its hundredth year in existence in which excitement and celebration is present in every corner of the theater.

“All of the people involved are very excited about this especially in light of entering our centennial season and seeing the Playhouse reach one hundred years,” said Silveri.

Attendees are surely in store for a wonderful night that will provide the memories and relationships that Pasadena seems to always provide to its fullest.

For more information about attending “A Night in the Catskills” please call (626) 356-7529 or visit http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.