Farm Hall” by Katherine Moar and starring Edward Giron, Andy Spring, Ben Birmingham, Patrick Skelton, Tom Waters, and Mark Irvingsen runs until January 26 at the Promenade Playhouse. Photo Courtesy of Onstage411.
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
FARM HALL — Katherine Moar’s 2023 wartime drama delves into the moral complexities faced by six German nuclear scientists detained in England after WWII, as they grapple with the news of Hiroshima and their own theoretical contributions to atomic science. Edward Giron (Heisenberg), Andy Spring (Weisacker), Ben Birmingham (Bagge), Patrick Skelton (von Laue), Tom Waters (Hahn), and Mark Irvingsen (Diebner) bring to life the tense atmosphere of their captivity. Directed by Judith Hendra of Topanga Actors Company. At Promenade Playhouse, 10931 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Runs from January 10 to January 26. Fri.-Sat. at 7:30, Sun. Jan. 12 at 6, Sun. Jan. 19 and 26 at 2. Students/seniors $24, groups of six or more $23, general admission $27. Parking available in theater lot. Visit www.onstage411.com/farmhall or email topangaactorscompany@theatercompany.org.
PATSY — A new play that intertwines past and present, following Kailani, an anxious high school athlete awaiting college acceptance who receives guidance from the spirit of Patsy Mink, the first Asian American congresswoman and Maui High School valedictorian. This story of intergenerational mentorship and perseverance is produced by East West Players, the nation’s longest-running Asian American theatre company (founded 1965). At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre. (626) 355-4318. Opening Saturday, January 25, at 11 am; additional performance dates to be announced. $12. Visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org
THE CURSE OF QUON GWON — A rare screening of Marion E. Wong’s 1916 silent film, the earliest known Chinese American feature and one of the first American films directed by a woman. This recently rediscovered cultural artifact, added to the National Film Registry in 2005, explores the tensions between tradition and Westernization in a Chinese American family. The surviving two reels of this groundbreaking work will be accompanied by live piano, offering audiences a glimpse into early Asian American cinema. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre. (626) 355-4318. Jan. 31 at 8. $20. Visit sierramadreplayhouse.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
FOLLIES IN CONCERT — AN IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
Pasadena Playhouse is heartbroken by the devastation that this week’s fires have inflicted on so many within our community, and we continue to be grateful for the outpouring of concern and support. We are fortunate that our historic building has not sustained any significant damage. However, many in our community including our artists, staff, members, and supporters have been impacted by the tragic loss of their homes, widespread evacuations, and the ongoing risks of wildfire and smoke.
Given the extensive impact of the fires on Playhouse staff, artists, and audiences, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming In Concert productions of Anything Goes and Follies at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
If you are a current ticket holder for one or both of these productions, please hang tight and we will be in touch with you soon regarding your ticket options. If you have immediate questions you can email boxoffice@pasadenaplayhouse.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please be patient with us as our Box Office is currently closed and our team will be working hard to answer all of your questions.
Runs January 31 through February 1, 2025. Wed.-Thurs. at 8, Sat. at 2 and 8. Note: The February 1 matinee features open captioning and audio description services for hearing and visually impaired patrons. Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s haunting meditation on nostalgia and regret (1971, winner of seven Tony Awards) receives an orchestral staging, featuring the musical’s celebrated score performed by a twenty-five-piece orchestra. Set in a crumbling theatre on the eve of its demolition, the show follows a reunion of former Weismann Follies showgirls, where the ghosts of their younger selves dance amid the ruins as marriages unravel and past decisions cast long shadows. This concert presentation spotlights beloved numbers including “Broadway Baby,” “Losing My Mind,” and “I’m Still Here.” At Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena. Visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/event/follies-in-concert
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
FROU-FROU: A MENAGERIE OF SORTS — Runs from February 20 to March 30, 2025. 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
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
LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE: THE MUSICAL — Runs from February 15 to March 16, 2025. 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. 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
MACBETH — Runs from February 9 to March 9, 2025. Shakespeare’s haunting meditation on ambition and moral corruption, written circa 1606, remains one of theatre’s most penetrating studies of power’s psychological toll. This timely production places the Scottish play’s political intrigue and supernatural elements against the backdrop of a nation on the brink of self-destruction, as the titular general’s unchecked ambition spirals into paranoid tyranny. Directed by Andi Chapman, who brings fresh urgency to this tale of conscience and consequences. At A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. 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
MASTER CLASS — Runs from February 14 to March 9, 2025. Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning 1995 drama offers an intimate portrait of opera legend Maria Callas as she conducts a series of masterclasses at Juilliard. Through sharp-tongued critiques and personal revelations, the play explores the intersection of artistic excellence and personal sacrifice, examining what it truly costs to pursue greatness. The piece, which won the 1996 Tony for Best Play, weaves together Callas’s instruction of aspiring singers with poignant flashbacks of her own triumphs and heartbreaks. Joan Almedilla stars as Maria Callas, with Joanna Kim (Sophie), Francesca Ling (Sharon), and Kurt Kanazawa (Tony). Directed by Tim Dang, former Artistic Director of East West Players, with Josh Foy serving as Music Director. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre. Runs from February 14 to March 9, 2025. Tickets: $12-45. Visit sierramadreplayhouse.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
