Pasadena Playhouse to close due to financial woes

Pasadena Playhouse to close due to financial woes Image

In a statement, theater administrators said they’re starting a financial reorganization and possibly a bankruptcy filing. That’s because the theater hasn’t attracted a big donor to name the auditorium, corporate donations have dwindled, and the economy’s soured.

The Pasadena Playhouse has tightened its belt before through staff and budget cuts. It’s staging the usually opulent “Camelot” in a stripped-down version with eight actors.

The Playhouse building is a historic landmark. Many notable actors, including Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman, trod the boards there early in their careers.

(Audio: KPCC's Alex Cohen spoke with Stephen Eich, executive director of the Pasadena Playhouse)

This is hearbreaking- a jewel in the world of regional theatres and a jewel in Pasadena's crown.
As an audience member I'll miss its offerings. As an actor I am dismayed that this sacred space doesn't have the support it deserves.

Camelot? Who the hell wants to watch Camelot? that's the problem with theatres today. They keep producing old, un-relevant plays that no one want to watch– it'd be better to produce new, original, fresh plays.

my condolences to Pasadena Playhouse and to everyone involved with it.

Look at their recent production before you blast them. They're spent a lot of money on BRAND NEW, RELEVANT shows in the last few years. Keep your bitterness to yourself before flaming. Shame on you!

Those who would ask "Why Camelot?" are the same people who would not spend the money to see a play they are unfamiliar with. Folks just don't go to a large live theater to see unknown material unless it has the cache of a known personality attached to it.

I am saddened to hear about the closing of this classic icon of Los Angeles and am angered that more folks would not go to see the shows.

With all of the money in that area and all of the MILLION $$ star salaries, I'm really surprised that there isn't a movement or a group of Hollywood benefactors stepping up to save this wonderful theatre. Life still amazes me and not always in a good way.

Mismanagement.

That's why it closed years ago. Someone will resurrect it. Again.

All of these regional theatres that are closing have only themselves to blame. Horribly planned seasons, sky high ticket prices, and poor management. The theatres that are thriving (ATL, Cin playhouse in the Park & many others) have listened to what their subscribers wanted, and changed their model to stay alive. You must evolve or you become extinct! Survival of the fittest folks. A better theatre will open in it's place, IF the community calls for it.

As a 15 year season subscriber I am dismayed at the closing of the Playhouse and even more so at the way management treated season subscribers. Tickets were only sent out for the first show of the season though management took subscribers money for the whole year in advance. It would appear that management knowingly ripped off subscribers knowing all along they could not deliver a full season of plays, SHAMEFUL!!

Steve: I am sorry that you feel cheated out of your subscription. It was no one's intention to willfully rip you off. I know for a fact that the Playhouse is working very hard to provide some value for the investments people made in their subscriptions, just as they worked very hard to keep the doors open for show after show. If you have been a subscriber for 15 years (kudos!), you must have some faith in the institution. Think of the 37 full time employees who lost their livelihood, the hundreds of part-time employees who counted on their paycheck, the countless numbers of volunteers who've given so much of themselves to support the Playhouse over the years, and the many businesses in the area that will undoubtedly suffer as a direct result of the closing of the Playhouse. No one wished for this to happen. Unfortunately, your support, and the support of the rest of subscribers just wasn't enough.

Very sad, a venerable institution falling victim to the times. Is there any way someone could buy it out?

We frequent Washington, D.C.and NYC theaters.. Recently we had the pleasure of seeing Camelot at The Pasadena Playhouse. We thought the production was original , well performed and very enjoyable. The ambiance of such a historic playhouse added to a memorable evening of great theater. We are saddened by the news of the closing. We are hopeful that the entertainment industry will rally and save The Pasadena Theater!

As someone mentioned earlier, unless its bad management, uninteresting plays, a basic lack of interest in the playhouse, or its just run its course, I too am surprised/dismayed that no one in the entertainment industry with their multi-million dollar salaries has stepped up to save the playhouse. I guess it's not the chic cause to be associated with.

We attended our first program at Pasadena Playhouse right before this past Christmas. We bought tickets and saw "Baby It's You". We were so impressed and pleasantly surprised as to the quality of the show and of the Actors. We were also surprised as to the lack of publicity for this great show. Maybe there just wasn't funds to do that. We are truly sorry to hear this bad news,particularly when we just discovered it.

Heres a prayer for the theater,try another fundraiser perhaps.I'm sure the community is much better because of the theater.sincerely, TLB

Pasadena Playhouse to close due to financial woes