Facing daunting financial obstacles, Pasadena Playhouse set to close Feb. 7

The Pasadena Playhouse -- one of the most respected theater institutions in the country -- will close its doors on Feb. 7 as leaders attempt to solve the company's financial problems.

Stephen Eich, the executive director hired last June to run the theater, said the company is out of cash to continue running and faces more than $500,000 in immediate bills. On Thursday, the company notified 37 staff workers that they would be out of a job.

"Camelot," which began its run at the playhouse this month, will be the final production at least until the company finds a way out of its financial predicament.

Eich also stated that he doesn't know if current ticket subscribers will be reimbursed for the remainder of the season.

Other productions that were announced for the current season include "Havana," a new musical by Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz; Frank Tangredi's "Pastoral"; Noel Coward's "Fallen Angels"; and Donald Margulies' "Sight Unseen."

The playhouse owes more than $1.5 million in bank loans and other debts that have dogged the nonprofit company since the mid-1990s.

Founded in 1917, the playhouse is recognized as one of the most prominent regional theaters in the country and boasts alumni including Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman.

Read the full story here.

-- Mike Boehm and David Ng

Photo: Pasadena Playhouse. Credit: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Cahwyguy - Daniel]

I'm a long-time subscriber, and I'm disappointed that the subscribers get to learn about this in the paper, as opposed to hearing from the theatre itself. It also looks like we may not get reimbursed for our subscriptions (I'm not happy about that)... and if we don't (less, of course, for the cost of the first production), we would need charitable contribution letters ASAP for our 2009 tax returns.

I'm not confident, right now, of any of this happening. At least I can take solace in the excellent small theatres I support (we're also subscribers at Repertory East Playhouse in Newhall -- they have an excellent program and are going strong).

[Lindsey Nelson]

This is quite sad and profoundly stupid. Epps and Eich seemed to have imagined that the tooth fairy was a sustainable financial plan. Now subscribers, staff members, and creditors are left holding the bag designed by arrogant and incompetent leadership.

[Terry Amdur]

As a subscriber to the Pasadena Playhouse, I find it interesting that the e-mail letter I received today over the signature of Sheldon Epps and Stephen Eich makes no mention of the closing of the Playhouse, but rather makes a rambling apology for the Playhouse's financial problems and indicates that they are "taking some necessary steps toward financial reorganization that will affect our production calendar of upcoming events."
I suppose that it is no coincidence that I received three calls from the Playhouse approximately two weeks ago encouraging me to renew my subscription (which I did) and offering glowing accounts of the upcoming productions. It appears that the Playhouse's integrity is as much in need of repair as its finances.

[Dean Mancina]

I'm also a long-time subscriber to the Pasadena Playhouse. I am unaware of the details surrounding their financial problems, but it's no secret that nationwide the arts have been suffering for years and the current financial crisis has surely added to such issues. I have never been so consistently entertained by a theater's subscription offerings as I have at the Playhouse. Under Epps' artistic direction, the quality of shows always amazes me. Usually when I subscribe to a theater, I occasionally see a show I regret having paid for. Never so with the Playhouse. I'm cheering for you all at the Playhouse and hope you can climb out of this mess so you can bring us more of the productions we so dearly love.