Centennial Season Launches at The Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse celebrates its centennial year by staging Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Topdog/Underdog.” The official opening night is on March 5.

This production, directed by Gregg T. Daniel and starring Brandon Gill and Brandon Micheal Hall, continues the Playhouse’s mission of making theater accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.

The play, which runs through March 23 at 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena represents the Playhouse’s commitment to elevating diverse voices as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. By including Parks’ play, the first Pulitzer Prize winner by an African American woman in 2002, the Playhouse is making a statement about which works deserve recognition.

“‘Topdog/Underdog’ is a play that is one of my favorite plays. It’s thrilling. It’s as much of a language play as a Shakespeare play or Cyrano de Bergerac or some of the great plays,” Feldman said. “I don’t think most folks in our community necessarily acknowledge or recognize that ‘Topdog/Underdog’ is just as important of a play as ‘Angels in America’ or ‘Death of a Salesman.’”

The production addresses themes of economic inequality and systemic barriers particularly relevant to Southern California audiences.

“It’s really about chasing the American dream and about what are the obstacles that some people have to achieve that,” Feldman explained. “I think it’s a long overdue conversation in America that the narrative of you just have to work hard and you can succeed. There are many obstacles to many people.”

“Topdog/Underdog” tells the story of two African American brothers, Lincoln and Booth, named with tragic irony after President Abraham Lincoln and his assassin. The characters struggle with poverty, abandonment, and limited opportunities available to them, exploring themes of racial identity and the complex bonds of brotherhood.

The Playhouse has launched a “Pay It Forward” initiative in response to recent wildfires, allowing patrons to purchase tickets for wildfire survivors and low-income community members. This effort aligns with the theater’s nonprofit mission, which Feldman distinguishes from commercial entertainment venues.

“When you think about other businesses or other commercial forms of entertainment, their goal is to entertain you and make money,” he said. “Our goal as a nonprofit is to serve our community first and foremost. It’s in our DNA to be responsive to our community. Why? Because those are our friends and family. That’s our audience.”

Founded in 1917 and designated the official State Theatre of California in 1937, Pasadena Playhouse has a rich history of premiering works by literary giants. The current building, completed in 1925, is an architectural landmark in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It was the first U.S. theater to produce all of Shakespeare’s works.

“We believe very firmly at Pasadena Playhouse that our role is to make theater for everyone,” said Feldman.

Despite its century-long history, the Playhouse maintains a commitment to contemporary relevance.

“The very first play that opened in 1925 on the stage was a world premier play. This has always been a place that has engaged through theater, through art, with the contemporary world of its time,” Feldman noted. “Everything we do here, we always look at it with a lens of how this is connecting to our world and our community today.”

Director Gregg T. Daniel emphasized the play’s emotional resonance, saying, “This play is about love, loss, and the lengths we go to prove ourselves. These brothers are not characters—they’re reflections of real pain, real hope.”

The Playhouse is celebrating its centennial over two seasons (2024-2025 and 2025-2026), positioning this production as a key component of their season.

Tickets for “Topdog/Underdog” are available at https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/event/topdog-underdog/.