Marsha Mason, Matthew Lillard, Jane Kaczmarek Plus New Lee Blessing Play Set for Pasadena Playhouse's "Hothouse" Series

By Michael Gioia
October 17, 2012

The world-premiere reading of A View of the Mountains, a new work by A Walk in the Woods author Lee Blessing, is among the projects featured in the Pasadena Playhouse's 2012-13 season of its "Hothouse at the Playhouse" new play development, staged reading series.

"It is a pleasure and privilege to look forward to this season of 'Hothouse at The Playhouse' and see authors and actors returning to us having had rewarding prior experiences — work that has started at 'Hothouse,' had life on our mainstage, going on tour after successful Tony-nominated Broadway productions and the brand new authors that are just starting out," said Courtney Harper, "Hothouse" producer and outreach and education manager, in a statement.

Here is a look at the 2012-13 "Hothouse" lineup:

A View of the Mountains
By Lee Blessing
Directed by Brian Shnipper

Oct. 30-31 at 8 PM in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre
With Betsy Brandt, John Getz (M. Butterfly), Jane Kaczmarek (Lost in Yonkers), Josey Montana McCoy and Chris McGarry (Doubt).
"As enormous forces close in around them, a prominent family is split down the middle in America's liberal-conservative dogfight. 'For keeps' politics dominates in this unsparing look at what we're willing to do for our beliefs."

Aunt Stossie's Coming for Five Days
By Ellen Simon

Directed by Jonathan Moscone
Jan. 8-9 at 8 PM in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre
With Marsha Mason as Aunt Stossie.
"A comedic drama about what happens when the uninvited enters your life. Set in a Central California beach town, three generations of women and two surfer boys navigate the entanglements of sex, health and family after a tsunami warning sign goes up in their neighborhood."

Title-TBA
Directed by Michael Arabian
Feb. 12-13 at 8 PM in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre
"An exciting new play supported by the Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance."

Dear Galileo
By Claire Willett

Directed by Courtney Harper

March 12-13 at 8 PM in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre
With Matthew Lillard (The 24 Hour Plays) and Danielle Soibelman.
"Three women wrestle with their identity, the conflict between science and religion, and their fathers' legacies. As their stories move towards a point of convergence, the destinies of each become inextricably bound with the others, linked through time by love, family, grief, faith, the search for identity and the wonder of the stars."

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The Pasadena Playhouse, under the artistic direction of Sheldon Epps and executive direction of Elizabeth Doran, was established in 1917 and is committed to "showcasing the most exciting theatrical entertainment in the state and being an amazing forum for launching new work onto the national stage."

Admission is free, but a reservation is required. For more information and to RSVP, call (626) 356-7529 or visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org.