Sierra Madre Playhouse, the intimate Southern California cultural hub, is gearing up for an exhilarating spring in 2024, celebrating its 100th anniversary since its transformation from a silent movie theater in 1924 to a leading local performing arts venue.
Matthew Cook, Sierra Madre Playhouse Artistic and Executive Director, said the Sierra Madre Playhouse is a Southern California gem and one of the region’s oldest cultural venues.
“This spring, we are honored and excited to commemorate the milestone 100th Anniversary of its evolution from a silent movie house to a leading performing arts venue with an array of diverse programming that reflects the Playhouse’s unique trajectory and the community it serves,” Cook said.
A Grammy Award-winning percussionist, Cook began his tenure at Sierra Madre Playhouse in September following a range of leadership experience with such noted organizations as Blue13 Dance Company, WildUp, and Pacific Opera Project.
This spring, Sierra Madre Playhouse is set to dazzle Southern California with a spectacular lineup of events spanning Drama @ The Playhouse, Film @ The Playhouse, Music @ The Playhouse, Jazz @ The Playhouse, Comedy @ The Playhouse, and Family @ The Playhouse.
The lineup boasts two compelling theatrical productions for Drama @ The Playhouse: “Confessions of a Prairie B*tch,” Alison Arngrim’s riotous one-woman show recounting her iconic role in “Little House on the Prairie,” on Jan. 19-28; and “The Last Five Years,” Jason Robert Brown’s emotionally charged musical journey exploring the dynamics of love, dreams, and time, on May 17 – June 16.
Film @ The Playhouse pays homage to the venue’s cinematic roots with a silent film festival, “Celebrating 100 Years,” Feb. 3 and 4, featuring classics like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton’s comedy shorts and screenings of timeless films accompanied by pianist Frederick Hodges. Five remarkable films and a selection of comedy shorts are accompanied by Hodges’ enchanting melodies. Film historian Lara Gabrielle introduces each cinematic gem and shares insights into the era.
Music @ The Playhouse takes center stage on Feb. 17 with performances by Hindustani classical musicians Kamaljeet and Jas Ahluwalia, tabla virtuoso Neelamjit Dhillon, cellist Chris Votek, and acclaimed drummer Matt Johnson.
The Tesserae Baroque Ensemble showcases the depth of the Baroque era on period instruments in four performances starting Feb. 25, while the New Jet Set Swingin’ the Disney Songbook promises a delightful journey through Disney’s timeless hits March 22-24.
The Playhouse also hosts eight genre-expanding jazz programs on Jazz @ The Playhouse featuring top artists like jazz/funk/soul guitarist Greg Porée on Feb. 11, drummer Michael Carvin on Feb. 18, Cuban-born Latin jazz and salsa violin sensation Dayren Santamaria on March 3, keyboard wizard Joey Navarro on March 10, Smooth jazz trumpeter Nolan Shaheed on March 16, trailblazing multi-keyboardist Kait Dunton on Apr. 7, and vibraphone sensation Nick Mancini on Apr. 14.
Comedy @ The Playhouse brings unfiltered hilarity with comedians Subhah Agarwal on Feb. 24, Armando Anto on March 2, and Chris Garcia on Apr. 13, each bringing their unique comedic flair to the stage.
On Family @ The Playhouse, families are in for a treat with enchanting performances by TAIKOPROJECT on Feb. 10, Percussive Storytelling on March 9, the whimsical magic of Arty Loon on Apr. 6, and the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre: A Morning at the Theatre, Saturdays from April 13 through May 11.
Sierra Madre Playhouse, with its 99 seats, is one of San Gabriel Valley’s few performing arts centers that present a broad spectrum of performance genres including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions. It’s located at 87 West Sierra Madre Blvd. in Sierra Madre.
To secure your tickets and explore the full lineup, visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.
