Comedian Maz Jobrani to Headline Playhouse Village Fundraiser Wednesday

The Playhouse Village Foundation will host a fundraiser featuring comedian and cultural and political observer Maz Jobrani at The Ice House Comedy Club on Wednesday after postponing the event due to the devastating Eaton Fire earlier this year.

“A Night Out in Playhouse Village,” scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on April 30, will raise money for free public events and community space enhancements in the vibrant Village district. The event was originally scheduled for February 12, before being postponed due to the Eaton Fire.

“The priority for the funds raised at the event on April 30th would be used to support free concerts and events at Playhouse Village Park at the corner of El Molino and Union Street,” said Phil Hawkey, Chair of the Playhouse Village Foundation. “We have a jazz series that happens every Sunday through the month of June and July. And we have movies in the park during August and other events.”

The Foundation plans to fund the summer jazz series, movies in the park, children’s activities and Halloween events.

Additional initiatives include maintaining outdoor dining pavilions on Colorado Boulevard, installing public art and planting shade trees.

Hawkey said the Playhouse Village differs from Old Pasadena through its concentration of major institutions and entertainment venues, including The Pasadena Playhouse, Ice House Comedy Club, Academy Theater, Landmark Theater and Pacific Asian Museum.

The area’s walkable character features “a number of comfortable walkways, alleys, interesting things to see. And of course, a wide variety of nice restaurants,” Hawkey noted.

Current development priorities include streetscape renovation of Colorado Boulevard and North Lake, and developing an entertainment and dining district around Mentor Avenue, which contains more than a dozen venues between Lake Avenue and Catalina Street.

Notable establishments include Artisanal Goods by Car, which has been rated as having the best chocolate croissants in Southern California, according to Hawkey, along with the Academy Theater LA and a new French restaurant.

The Foundation points out the residential character of Playhouse Village, home to over 3,000 residents.

“Part of our goal is to create and reinforce this sense of community, of being a home for many people as well as a [place] for businesses to thrive,” Hawkey said.

The January 2025 Eaton Fire prompted the event’s postponement from its original February date.

Headliner Jobrani is a dynamic Iranian-American comedian whose sharp wit and hilarious takes on culture, politics, and everyday life have captivated audiences worldwide. His energetic performances blend humor and insight, making every show both thought-provoking and unforgettable.

The venue will be the Ice House, one of Pasadena’s most durable entertainment venues since 1960. It is reportedly the longest-running comedy club in the United States. It reopened in 2023 after a $4 million renovation led by owner Johnny Buss. The club is located at 24 N. Mentor Ave.

For more information, visit playhousevillagefoundation.org, call (626) 744-0340.