The event will be held at Pasadena Playhouse March 13 and will feature a performance of Cuttin' Up — the new Randolph-Wright work which plays that theatre starting March 9.

The West Coast premiere production of Cuttin' Up is billed as a "theatrical exploration of the African-American barbershop" based on the Craig Marberry book of the same name.  Israel Hicks directs a cast that includes Dorian Logan, Darryl Alan Reed, Adolphus Ward, Harvy Blanks, Bill Grimmette, Iona Morris, Maceo Oliver and Jacques C. Smith.

Randolph-Wright penned the play Blue, which played Off-Broadway (starring Phylicia Rashad) and also had runs at Arena Stage and Pasadena Playhouse. He recently directed the world premiere of Oni Faida Lampley Tough Titty at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Brian Stokes Mitchell in the solo show Love/Life at Lincoln Center and the world premiere of Senor Discretion Himself (Arena Stage).

The Playhouse's Sheldon Epps Theatrical Diversity Project was created in 2005 to "support the Playhouse artistic director's vision to build a legacy of artistic and theatrical diversity [and] will ensure eclectic and dynamic productions that might not otherwise be possible within the given resources of the theatre." The 2006 Inaugural Event featured a production of August Wilson's Fences with Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, raising more than $150,000.

Tickets to the celebration ($500 and $250 for premiere packages including a cocktail reception, dinner at Twin Palms Restaurant and priority seating for the performance or $100 for the performance and pre-reception at the Playhouse), are available by calling Jackie Kopcsak at (626) 792-8672 ext. 221 or by emailing [email protected].