Ib ijonkbojats: {alltv} Angela Bassett Will Star in World Premiere of 'Pastoral' at Pasadena Playhouse; Season Revealed

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

{alltv} Angela Bassett Will Star in World Premiere of 'Pastoral' at Pasadena Playhouse; Season Revealed

Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett is to star as a conflicted pastor in the world premiere of Pastoral, a play by Frank Tangredi, as part of Pasadena Playhouse's 2011-12, the company announced March 15.

Performances begin November 2011. In the drama, according to Pasadena Playhouse, "Pastor Emily has a dark secret, hidden from even her own son. When a terrible crisis ensues, she must set her pain aside and look within to discover the true capacity of her forgiveness."

The play was developed in The Playhouse Hothouse reading series. Bassett ("Malcolm X," "How Stella Got Her Groove Back") played Tina Turner in the film "What's Love Got to Do With It" (earning an Oscar nom) and starred in Fences at Pasadena Playhouse.

Casting and additional creative personnel for the season will be announced at a later date.

Also in the 2011-12 Pasadena season are:

South Street
A Song-and-Dance-Filled All New Musical
By Craig Carlisle and Richard Addrisi
Performances Begin September 2011
"On Philadelphia's legendary South Street, Sammy's Place has long been the hottest joint around. Now the club's family and its eclectic regulars gather to celebrate the club's namesake at the annual Full Moon Festival. Get ready for an evening full of love, laughter and friendship with a score by the legendary songwriter Richard Addrisi [known for] his hit song 'Never My Love'…"

Art
By Yasmina Reza
Directed by David Lee
Performances Begin January 2012
"Serge, Marc and Yvan are the best of friends. But when Serge spends a fortune on a controversial painting, all three will experience the dire consequences of adhering to one's taste in art."

The Heiress
By Ruth and Augustus Goetz
Performances Begin April 2012
"Catherine is gilded, rich, plain, and emotionally neglected by her bitter father. Then she meets Morris, and knows at last that all her dreams will come true. But is her fantasy just a façade? A moving tale of romance and revenge with a startling conclusion."

A Musical To Be Announced
Performances Begin June 2012
"Playhouse audiences have had the joy of being the first to experience the premieres of new musicals on our stage before they've moved on to Broadway and London's West End (Sister Act, Baby It's You!, Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Musical). Once again, The Playhouse will premiere a promising new work that may have a long and successful future."

Titles under consideration include Peggy Sue Got Married (the American premiere of a new version of the London West End success) and The Nutty Professor (the musical based on the popular Jerry Lewis film, with a score by Marvin Hamlish and Rupert Holmes).

For more information about the Pasadena, CA, institution, visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.