A Going Away Party by Keyanna Khatiblou and starring Mehrnaz Mohammadi, Kodi Jackman, Nathan Mohebbi, Giovanny Camarena, and Cindy Nguyen runs until October 27 at Boston Court Pasadena. Courtesy photo of Boston Court Pasadena
AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION! curated by Lance Davis and starring various performers runs until October 21, 2024, at Parson's Nose Theater. Courtesy photo of Parson's Nose Productions.
Guys and Dolls by Damon Runyon and starring James Byous, Elizabeth Eden, Justin Anthony Long, Margaret Spirito, and Jalen Friday runs until October 20, 2024, at Altadena Music Theatre, Charles Farnsworth Amphitheater. Courtesy photo of Altadena Music Theatre.
Healing Blue by Hilary Thomas and starring Michelle Kolb and Teya Wolvington runs until October 6 at Lineage Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo of Lineage Performing Arts Center.
La Cage aux Folles by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein, starring Cheyenne Jackson and Kevin Cahoon, runs until December 15 at Pasadena Playhouse. Photo Courtesy of Pasadena PlayHouse.
¡PASAJE! by J. Quiroz and starring Seth Keller and Ixchel Valiente runs until November 3 at Sierra Madre Playhouse. Courtesy photo of Sierra Madre Playhouse
Seussical Jr. by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, starring Harrison Tang, Paul Zenas, Sorsha Khitikian, Jack Wisinski, and Brayden Nguyen, runs until October 20 at Fremont Centre Theatre. Courtesy photo of Young Stars Theatre.
Tesla: A Radio Play for the Stage by Dan Duling and starring Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, and Vanessa Claire Stewart runs until October 6 at Ramo Auditorium, Donald E. Baxter, M.D. Hall of the Humanities, Caltech. Photo Courtesy of Caltech.
The Piano Lesson by August Wilson and starring Alex Morris, Kai A. Ealy, Nija Okoro, Gerald C. Rivers, and Evan Lewis Smith runs until November 10 at A Noise Within. In this photo: Kai A. Ealy, and Nija Okoro. Photo Courtesy by Daniel Reichert.
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
A GOING AWAY PARTY — In this intimate exploration of multicultural identity and displacement, playwright Keyanna Khatiblou invites audiences to join Mina’s farewell gathering, where games and revelations intertwine with reflections on the American socio-political landscape and echoes of the Iranian Revolution. Mehrnaz Mohammadi (Mina/Niloofar), Kodi Jackman (Kate/Caroline), Nathan Mohebbi (Ryan/Basir), Giovanny Camarena (Mateo/Security Officer), and Cindy Nguyen (Debbie/Maman Bozorg) bring to life this poignant celebration of heritage and home. Directed by James Fowler. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 683-6801. Runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 27. Performance schedule varies; call for details. Tickets from $30; TeenTix members $5, with companion tickets available for an additional $5 on Friday evenings. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org
AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION! — This literary revue, curated by Lance Davis, offers a spirited journey through the landscape of American poetry, prose, and humor. Drawing from the works of Walt Whitman, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, and Gracie Allen, the production promises a kaleidoscopic view of the nation’s cultural heritage. Grab a glass of wine or cider and some Judy Graunke cookies, take a seat and celebrate The American Idea in “under 90 minutes!” Four performances only. At Parson’s Nose Theater, 95 North Marengo Avenue, Pasadena (Entrance on Holly). (626) 345-5116. Runs from October 12 to October 21, 2024. Oct. 12 and 19 at 7, Oct. 13 and 21 at 3. $20-$35. Visit https://www.parsonsnose.com/live-events-1/americancelebration
GUYS AND DOLLS — Theatre under the stars in Altadena returns to Farnsworth Park this October. Damon Runyon’s colorful tales of New York City’s underground gambling world spring to life in this beloved musical comedy. First staged in 1950 and winner of multiple Tony Awards, the show follows the intertwining romances of high-rolling Sky Masterson, straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown, perpetual fiancé Nathan Detroit, and his long-suffering sweetheart Miss Adelaide. James Byous, Elizabeth Eden, Justin Anthony Long, Margaret Spirito, and Jalen Friday lead the cast in this timeless story of love, luck, and redemption. Directed by Doug Kreeger, produced by Sarah Azcarate, with choreography by Nico O’Connor and music direction by Chris Wade. At Altadena Music Theatre, Charles Farnsworth Amphitheater, 568 E Mount Curve Ave, Altadena. (626) 794-3988. Runs from October 10 to October 20, 2024. Performance schedule at 7:30 P.M. Tickets: $35-75 with child/student tickets at $15. Visit https://www.altadenamusictheatre.com/
HEALING BLUE — This multimedia dance performance, conceived by Hilary Thomas, weaves together the poignant stories of seven breast cancer survivors. Through a blend of projected interviews and interpretive dance, the piece aims to educate, inspire, and raise awareness for breast cancer causes. Michelle Kolb and Teya Wolvington lead the cast in this emotionally charged exploration of resilience and hope. Directed by Hilary Thomas. At Lineage Performing Arts Center, 920 E. Mountain Street, Pasadena. (626) 844-7008. Performs Oct. 6 at 5:00 P.M. Tickets $15-$25. Visit lineagepac.org
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES — Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking 1983 musical comedy, which won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, brings glitter and heart to the Pasadena Playhouse this Fall. Set in a drag club in St. Tropez, this beloved show explores themes of love, family, and self-acceptance with both hilarity and poignancy. Cheyenne Jackson and Kevin Cahoon lead the cast in this “funny, heartwarming, and terrific” (Variety) production. Directed by Sam Pinkleton. At Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. On stage Nov 12 – Dec 15. Performance schedule: Tues, Wed, Fri at 8PM, Thur 7PM, Sat 2PM and 8PM, Sun 2PM and 7PM. Tickets start at $44. Visit pasadenaplayhouse.org
¡PASAJE! — J. Quiroz’s coming-of-age drama with music, set against the backdrop of Southern California, follows 18-year-old Andy on a journey of self-discovery as he searches for his estranged father and uncovers family secrets. With original music by Grammy Award winner Asdru Sierra, the play explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, and community. The 12-person cast features Seth Keller starring as Andy Martin, alongside Ixchel Valiente as Marcelina. Directed by Benjamin Perez. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre. (626) 355-4318. Runs from Oct. 4 to Nov. 3. Fri. at 8, Sat. at 8, Sun. at 4. $12-$45. Visit sierramadreplayhouse.org
SEUSSICAL JR. — This whimsical musical adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s beloved stories, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty in 2000, weaves together characters and plotlines from various Seuss books, centering on Horton the Elephant’s adventures. The show, which has become a staple in youth theatre, blends colorful imagination with themes of friendship and perseverance. Harrison Tang, Paul Zenas, Sorsha Khitikian, Jack Wisinski, and Brayden Nguyen lead the young cast. Directed by Gloria Bennett. At Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., Ste 100, South Pasadena. (626) 269-3609. Runs from October 4 to October 20. Fri. at 7, Sat. at 7 (except Oct. 19 at 2), Sun. at 2 and 6. $25-$30. Visit youngstarstheatre.org
Tesla: A Radio Play for the Stage — Dan Duling’s electrifying dramatization of the life and times of Nikola Tesla, the brilliant but controversial Serbian-American inventor who envisioned wireless power and pocket-sized global communication long before they became realities. This innovative production, staged as a radio drama with live sound effects by Tony Palermo, crackles with the energy of Tesla’s volatile relationships with Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, while illuminating the visionary’s confrontations with American business tycoons. Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, and Vanessa Claire Stewart portray nearly fifty characters in this wildly entertaining exploration of genius and eccentricity. Directed by Michael Arabian, produced by Conwell S. Worthington II. Part of the Caltech Opening Doors Series and the Getty-led PST ART: Art & Science Collide Festival. At Ramo Auditorium, Donald E. Baxter, M.D. Hall of the Humanities, Caltech, 1200 East California Street, Pasadena. (626) 395-4652. Runs from October 4 to October 6 for five performances only. Fri. at 8, Sat. at 2 and 8, Sun. at 2 and 8. $40; students with ID $10. Visit https://pst.caltech.edu/events/opening-doors
THE PIANO LESSON — August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1987 play, the fourth in his “American Century Cycle,” weaves a haunting tale of family legacy and racial identity in 1936 Pittsburgh. As siblings Berniece and Boy Willie clash over the fate of their ancestral piano, Wilson’s enthralling prose explores the weight of history and the struggle for a brighter future. Nija Okoro (Berniece), Kai A. Ealy (Boy Willie), Alex Morris, LeShay Tomlinson Boyce, and Jernard Burks lead the cast. Directed by Gregg T. Daniel, with music direction by Maritri Garrett. At A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. Runs from October 19 to November 10. Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30, Sat. and Sun. at 2. Tickets from $51.50. Visit https://www.anoisewithin.org/play/the-piano-lesson/
