Category: Alumni

22nd Annual Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead Event, Art Exhibition and Celebration

10/22/2016

On Saturday, October 22nd, the Pasadena Playhouse and Zona Rosa Caffe presented the 22nd Annual Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead Event Art Exhibition and Celebration.

El Molino Avenue was transformed into a festive Dia De Los Muertos evening of fun that’s both free and family-friendly! The Friends of The Pasadena Playhouse have made flowers for decorating a patio and a story board honoring Gilmor Brown and famous actors-alumni of the Playhouse College of Theatre Arts. The Friends had Bake and Crafts Bazaar from 9 am to 3 pm and joined the festivities around the courtyard, in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre, and Playhouse Plaza later.

Events and activities included mini-tours at the Playhouse, children’s calaca face painting and crafts by Little June Bugs, sounds from Gonzophonic and Friends with special guests along with visual projections by Julian Felix from Culture Remixed, fresh marigolds from Jacob Maarse, Quetzal Folklorico Dancers, Calavera screen printing by Pasadena City College Graphic students, Bob Baker Marionettes, candle-making with artists from L.A.’s iconic Olvera Street, and polaroid photos from Walt Girdner Photo Studio & Gallery.

The Playhouse neighbors at Zona Rosa Caffe, TLT Foods, redwhite+bluezz, and Monopole Wine had offered delicious coffee, wine tasting, and food.

Art exhibition featuring works of Jose Ramirez, Cathy Ashworth, and Kalli Arte can be viewed at Zona Rosa Caffe until November 13th.

Photos and a story board by Patti La Marr.

Our story board paid special tribute to the stars, who walked the Halls of the Pasadena Playhouse with Gilmor Brown:

James Arness/Gunsmoke;
Raymond Burr/Perry Mason, Ironside;
Carolyn Jones/The Addams Family;
Victor Jory/Gone with the Wind, The Miracle Worker, The Green Hornet;
Rue McClanahan/Golden Girls; Leonard Nimoy/Star Trek;
Gloria Stuart /Titanic, and ... Siki, Gilmor Brown's cat/Pyewacket in the Playhouse production of Book, Bell, and Candle.

The Alumni Reunion and Exhibition

9/25/2016

On September 24, 2016, the Friends of the Pasadena Playhouse hosted a reception for the Alumni of the School of the Theatre Arts. Cast members of The Fantasticks (1969) had joined an ensemble of current production for a cast call and a sing-along of "Try To Remember".

Patti La Marr, Ross Clark, and Valerie Amidon had created a special display dedicated to Alumni productions of The Fantasticks. Stop by at the Georgia McClay Friendship Center and see a journey of The Fantasticks from Off-Broadway to Pasadena and beyond ...
The current show and the exhibit close on October 2nd.

Photo Album of the Alumni Reunion (via The Pasadena Playhouse Facebook).

The Fantasticks: two stories

9/3/2016

Do you know that the longest running Broadway musical was produced by the Pasadena Playhouse before 2016?

The Pasadena Playhouse at Catalina: The Fantasticks Summer of 1965.
By Larry Fazio and Patti La Marr.

The Pasadena Playhouse at Catalina was a wonderful summer program to promote the Pasadena Playhouse and to entertain the Catalina residents and tourists alike. For the Playhouse students it was time to hone their craft.

The troupe composed mostly of 2nd year students who were attending the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts. The acting troupe consisted of 14 players plus Playhouse staff directors Dr. Gail Shoup, David Willie, Ellen Bailey, and technical support from the Playhouse Staff.

There were 4 productions one of which was The Fantasticks. Larry Fazio remembers that for young fledgling students this was an experience of a lifetime. The cast stayed at the famous Holly Hill House, and the theater was a tent down in the main part of the island. The plays were performed in the round and on Mondays they had the Shoestring Theatre where they performed songs from musicals and showcased their individual talents. Larry, who played the Mute in the Fantasticks, was performing as a mime. His wife Toby Kaye, a singer and all around character-comic, also performed pantomimes.

Members of the troupe Larry Fazio, Toby Kaye, William Mueller, Kenneth Fix, William Reynolds, and Gail Shoup are still live in CA. Ree Cady and Maryann French have moved. Caroline McWilliams, starred in the sit-com “Benson” and was married to the Actor Michael Keaton. Some of the other cast members, have moved to parts unknown.
This production of The Fantasticks was directed by Gail Leo Shoup, who wrote an extensive dissertation The Pasadena Community Playhouse: Its Origins and History from 1917 to 1942.

The musical director and pianist, Val-Jean Johns was known for his piano renditions of the television series Ben Casey, scored the Big Cube with Lana Turner and performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra.

Larry Fazio is currently a tour docent at the Playhouse and has just completed the 2nd edition to his book on Stage Managing titled "Stage Manager-The Professional Experience Refreshed”. Larry and Toby Kaye met at the Playhouse and next year will celebrate 50 years of marriage. For six years Toby volunteered in The Playhouse Archives under the tutelage and guidance of Mrs. Ellen Bailey.

Images: Courtesy of the Pasadena Playhouse Archives.

Try to remember when life was so tender
that no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember and if you remember, then follow...
- Tom Jones

The Fantasticks of 1969.
By Valerie Amidon,
the President of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates.

In the spring of 1969, the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts presented a production of The Fantasticks in the Patio Theatre (presently redwhite+bluezz restaurant). The student production was directed by Pete Parkin as part of his Master's degree program. That show received such positive reviews by the theatre critics in Los Angeles and Pasadena publications that the show was a sellout and held over for two additional weeks. That was a highly unusual event for a production performed and directed solely by students.

Flash forward 47 years... The director of the current production of The Fantasticks, Seema Sueko, invited Pete Parkin and his cast and crew of the 1969 production to attend a performance during this run. Seema's invitation has since grown into the 61st meeting and reunion of the Alumni and Associates of the Pasadena College of Theatre Arts, which is scheduled on September 24, 2016. At that time, 60+ former students will once again come together to celebrate their amazing school.

Images: Courtesy of the Pasadena Playhouse Archives.

Friends News

22nd Annual Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead Event, Art Exhibition and Celebration

The Alumni Reunion and Exhibition

The Fantasticks: two stories

The Pasadena Playhouse at Catalina: The Fantasticks Summer of 1965.
By Larry Fazio and Patti La Marr.

The Fantasticks of 1969.
By Valerie Amidon,
the President of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates.

Author

Archives

Categories

Friends News

22nd Annual Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead Event, Art Exhibition and Celebration

The Alumni Reunion and Exhibition

The Fantasticks: two stories

​The Pasadena Playhouse at Catalina: The Fantasticks Summer of 1965.​By Larry Fazio and Patti La Marr.

​ The Fantasticks of 1969.By Valerie Amidon, the President of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates.

Author

Archives

Categories

The Pasadena Playhouse at Catalina: The Fantasticks Summer of 1965.
By Larry Fazio and Patti La Marr.

The Fantasticks of 1969.
By Valerie Amidon,
the President of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates.