The Tony Award-nominated A Class Act, billed on Broadway as a musical about people who make musicals, will get its West Coast premiere June 28-Aug. 11, 2002, under the direction of co-librettist Lonny Price, at The Pasadena Playhouse. Along with Linda Kline, Price penned the book of the show, a quirky biographical musical about lyricist Edward Kleban, whose major success was A Chorus Line. Felled by cancer before he had another success, Kleban was also a composer who penned many songs that the public at large didn't get to hear until A Class Act was constructed (using trunk songs) and staged at Off-Broadway's Manhattan Theatre Club in fall 2000. It moved to Broadway in early 2001 and was Tony nominated for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book of a Musical and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman), as well as Best Actress, Randy Graff.

Playing triple duty, Price also starred as Kleban in the musical, offering the world such songs as "Paris Through the Window," "Say Something Funny," "Self Portrait," "Next Best Thing to Love," "Better," "Under Separate Cover," "Mona," "Light On My Feet" and more.

The Broadway set will be seen in Pasadena. The California staging anticipates a Tokyo staging later in 2002, said the show's Broadway producer, Marty Bell. The Japan staging is presented by Tokyo Broadcasting System, one of the Broadway partners. Bell told Playbill On-Line that the Japan staging may continue on to other venues in the U.S. in 2002-2003. Opening night in Pasadena is July 7. Bell had hoped to send a tour out sooner, but those plans have be put aside due to the economic climate.