Frou-Frou: A Menagerie of Sorts" by John Anthony Loffredo runs until MAR 30, 2025 at Boston Court Pasadena. Photo Courtesy of Boston Court of Pasadena.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: The Musical by Timothy Allen McDonald, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Ari Afsar, Emily Xu Hall, Joriah Kwamé, and Mark Sonnenblick runs until March 16, 2025 at The Colony Theatre. Photo Courtesy of Pasadena Playhouse.
For the theater-goer with a discerning eye, this week’s offerings in Pasadena promise a varied assortment of performances—from the daringly new to the comfortably familiar. Whether your tastes lean towards the weighty or the whimsical, the stages are set and the players are poised. Below, a selection of what the local theaters have in store, each worth a curtain call in its own right.
If you want your theatrical performance listed in our weekly directory, please contact David Cross, Theater Section Manager at (626) 737-8486 extension 8 and david.cross@pasadenanowmagazine.com
The Week on Stage
FROU-FROU: A MENAGERIE OF SORTS — In this audacious world première (2025), playwright John Anthony Loffredo reimagines Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie through a contemporary queer lens. A socially anxious stoner and their ballet-aspiring brother navigate familial expectations and self-discovery under the watchful eye of their tradition-bound mother, whose desperate matchmaking schemes set off an unexpectedly transformative chain of events when a mysterious traveler appears at their door. This bold deconstruction of a theatrical classic explores gender identity, familial bonds, and the courage to live authentically. Directed by Zi Alikhan. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 683-6801. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org/events/froufrou
LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE: THE MUSICAL — A world premiere musical adaptation presented by Pasadena Playhouse as part of their Youth and Family productions, bringing Bernard Waber’s beloved children’s books to theatrical life through the collaborative talents of EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land) along with emerging voices Ari Afsar, Emily Xu Hall, Joriah Kwamé, and Mark Sonnenblick. This family-friendly production, with book by Timothy Allen McDonald and Sara Wordsworth, follows the adventures of a charming crocodile as he and his human companions learn to face their fears and find their voices. Features songs from the 2022 film adaptation alongside new musical numbers created specifically for the stage. Directed by Nina Meehan, whose previous success includes the sold-out run of Grumpy Monkey, The Musical. At The Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd Street, Burbank. (626) 356-7529. Runs from February 15 to March 16, 2025. Performances Saturdays and Sundays at 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. Tickets from $34 (required for ages 2 and up), members receive 20% off. Visit pasadenaplayhouse.org
COMING UP ON STAGE
“A Feast from the East” — Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 11:00 AM. A charming anthology of interactive folktales drawn from the rich storytelling traditions of Japan, China, and India brings young audiences into the heart of Asian folklore. Three enchanting stories unfold: a contemplative Japanese tale of a stonecutter’s journey to self-acceptance, a spirited Chinese fable chronicling the origins of the rabbit’s distinctive ears, and an ethereal Indian narrative following neighbors on their celestial expedition atop a mystical elephant. This participatory theatre experience invites children to become part of these timeless narratives, weaving together wisdom and whimsy in equal measure. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre. Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 11:00 AM. Tickets: $12. Visit app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=260006
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE — Runs from May 4 to June 1, 2025. This tender musical adaptation of the 1994 film, with book by Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by the Tony Award-winning team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, delves into the transformative power of art and self-acceptance. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Dublin, the story follows an amateur theatre director and bus conductor who finds himself at odds with both his conservative parish and his own identity as he attempts to mount a production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome. Directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. Visit anoisewithin.org
FRACTURED FAIRYTALES — August 30 at 11 A.M. Alison Kalmus upends traditional folklore in this family-friendly romp through reimagined fairy tales, where Snow White’s dimness becomes endearing, Hansel and Gretel’s sweet tooth drives the action, and supposedly crafty witches find themselves outmaneuvered at every turn. The interactive production promises dragons and unexpected plot twists that deliberately veer from the familiar paths through the fairy-tale forest. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre. August 30 at 11 A.M. $12. Visit sierramadreplayhouse.org
FLASHES OF LIGHT — Runs from May 23 to June 9, 2025. A new musical by Billy Larkin and Ron Boustead that reimagines the life of Nikola Tesla through a mythological lens, set against the backdrop of New York’s industrial revolution in the late 1800s. The story interweaves Tesla’s historical rivalry with Thomas Edison during the “War of the Currents” with a fantastical romance between the inventor and Electra, goddess of storm clouds, who sends divine inspiration through lightning strikes. The score blends jazz, pop, and rock elements to create a genre-crossing exploration of the intersection between scientific innovation and supernatural intervention. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre. Phone number 626-355-4318. Runs from May 23 to June 9, 2025. Tickets $12-$45. Visit https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=259998
JANE EYRE — March 23 to April 20, 2025. Charlotte Brontë’s seminal 1847 novel of female empowerment and psychological depth finds new life in Elizabeth Williamson’s theatrical adaptation. The story follows the determined orphan Jane through her evolution from maltreated child to independent woman, set against a backdrop of Victorian social constraints and Gothic romance. The production promises a “bold and dynamic” interpretation of this classic tale of self-determination, featuring elements of mystery and passion centered around Jane’s complex relationship with the brooding Mr. Rochester. Director: Geoff Elliott. At A Noise Within Theatre, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. Runs from Visit anoisewithin.org
MARIOLOGY — Runs from November 5 to December 7, 2025. Nancy Keystone’s probing new work (2025), developed with Critical Mass Performance Group, explores the complex iconography of the Virgin Mary through the lens of a fifth-grade classroom, where religious instruction morphs into a theatrical examination of faith, control, and feminine power. In this West Coast premiere, Keystone weaves together questions of gender dynamics, institutional authority, and personal autonomy, creating what promises to be a form-defying theatrical experience. Written and directed by Nancy Keystone for Critical Mass Performance Group, who also serves as scenic designer and artistic director, in collaboration with Critical Mass Performance Group. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 683-6801. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org
THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA — Runs from September 12 to October 19, 2025. Tennessee Williams’s drama follows Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon, a defrocked minister turned tour guide in Mexico, as he grapples with spiritual crisis and human connection on the edge of breakdown. Set against the backdrop of impending world war at the Costa Verde hotel, this rarely staged work explores themes of salvation, human imperfection, and the eternal struggle between flesh and spirit as two women offer him contrasting paths to redemption – one through sensuality, the other through spirituality. Directed by Jessica Kubzansky. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 683-6801. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org
