Pasadena Playhouse Announces 'Pasadena Day' Offer to JITNEY, 7/12

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, Interim Executive Director) today announced a special "Pasadena Day" offer to all persons who either reside or work in Pasadena.  Any available tickets to the Thursday, July 12, 8:00 p.m. performance of South Coast Repertory's production of August Wilson's JITNEY, directed by Ron OJ Parson, will be offered for $15.00 each.  Tickets are available for purchase only at the box office and require proof of Pasadena residency or employment. The offer is subject to availability, not valid on previous purchases and cannot be combined with any other offer. JITNEY is performing through July 15, 2012 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

JITNEY is the first play August Wilson wrote in his renowned "Pittsburgh Cycle" which chronicles the African-American experience in his childhood neighborhood, decade by decade, over the course of the 20th century. Of the ten plays in the "Cycle," JITNEY is the seventh in the series and is the winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Olivier Award for Best New Play.  It is 1977 in Pittsburgh's Hill District – a neighborhood that legitimate cabs will not travel to. Out of these circumstances, unlicensed gypsy cabs – jitneys – emerge to drive the locals around town.  The story unfolds in Becker's storefront jitney station where a motley crew shares stories and meddle in each other's lives.  But urban renewal now threatens to tear down the station and Becker's son Booster returns home after a 20-year stint in prison.  Old cronies drop in, fights break out and lovers make up – and just as we get to know them, Wilson asks us to look again. The New York Times calls JITNEY "vibrant…velvety smooth," The Wall Street Journal raves that "JITNEY is a perfect piece of theatrical carpentry that may well be the best thing Mr. Wilson ever wrote" and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says JITNEY is a "vivid mix of comedy and passion backed by a solid sociology of men struggling to survive…Wilson excels in the casual, expressive revelation of emotion under the drone of day-to-day."

In addition to director Ron OJ Parson (St. Louis Rep's Jitney), the creative team for JITNEY includes Shaun Motley as scenic designer, Brian Lilenthal as lighting designer, Vincent Olivieri as sound designer and Dana Woods as costumer designer.

August Wilson's JITNEY is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French.

JITNEY will play through July 15, 2012.  The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena.  The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Single show ticket prices for JITNEY range from $29.00 - $59.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00.  Rush tickets are available for $15.00 one hour prior to the performance time and are subject to availability.  Rush tickets must be purchased at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. Tickets are available by calling the Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates.  On performance dates the box office is open Tuesday- Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.  Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling626-921-1161. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.