Pasadena Playhouse Hosts 2nd Annual High School Theatre Festival, 5/12

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director) announced that the theatre will host the SECOND ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL on Saturday, May 12, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  The event will feature thirteen local high schools, each performing a theatrical piece of their selection.  Admission to the Festival is $5.00 and all proceeds will go towards funding next year's High School Theatre Festival.  This special, non-competitive, event was created so that all friends, family and supporters of the surrounding communities and the local schools may enjoy the talent of the participating students.  This year's event will be hosted by Bradley Whitford (Pasadena resident and star of The Playhouse's recent production of Art) and Dominic Barnes (Fox's "Glee"), along with additional surprise celebrity guest appearances.  Outlook Newspapers is the official media sponsor for the festival.

"We had a hugely successful launch of this valuable event last year and I am very happy that the Festival will once again be on our stage in May," said Artistic Director Sheldon Epps.  "This is a tremendously valuable opportunity for the students, for our audiences, and for the fulfillment of one of the most important parts of The Playhouse's mission.  Not to mention the fact that it is great fun and full of exciting energy before, during, and after the event!"

"Every person, no matter who, ought to be in a play sometime in their life and preferably in high school," stated Mary Lea Carroll, producer of the High School Theatre Festival.

"I fell in love with acting in high school," said festival co-host Bradley Whitford.  "Nothing asks more of a young person – their bodies, their minds, their imaginations, and their hearts. I am thrilled to celebrate these young people as they begin this wonderful journey."  "Growing up singing and dancing at all of my family events I always knew I would be in theater," added co-host Dominic Barnes.  "But it wasn't until I became a drama kid in high school that I met the most amazing people and really came out of my shell! Lucky for me it led to amazing things. high school theater taught me to be myself and that was an invaluable lesson."
Participating high schools include:  Alverno High School, Blair High School, Flintridge Preparatory School, John Muir High School, La Salle High School, Maranatha High School, Marshall Fundamental High School, Mayfield Senior School, Pasadena High School, Polytechnic School, Rosemead High School, St. Francis High School and Westridge School.

The High School Theatre Festival is a part of The Pasadena Playhouse's Outreach and Education Program and is made possible in part by the support of the Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project.  Media sponsorship for the Festival is provided by Outlook Newspapers.

The Second Annual High School Theatre Festival is on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).  The event is from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and the doors open at 8:30 a.m.  All tickets are $5.00 general admission, and are available for purchase online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, by phone at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office.  Concessions will be on sale at the event and all proceeds will go towards next year's High School Theatre Festival event.  Donations for this year's festival as well as next year's High School Theatre Festival are also gladly accepted and may be made at the time of your ticket purchase or on the day of the event.  For more information, contact The Pasadena Playhouse Development Office at HSTF@pasadenaplayhouse.org or 626-921-1156. Information on all current Outreach and Development events is available by visiting www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.