Playhouse Village Foundation Hosts Renovated Ice House Comedy Club Sneak Preview

Over 100 thrilled Playhouse Village Foundation supporters were the first guests at a Sneak Preview of the newly renovated Ice House, the nation’s oldest Comedy Club.  New Ice House owner and Playhouse Village Foundation Board member Johnny Buss gave Foundation guests the exclusive chance to explore the two stages, VIP Lounge, and Green Room before the Ice House official Grand Opening on February 16th.   Guests enjoyed drinks in the Ice House Bar and patio with small bites provided by sponsor Settebello. 

The Legendary Room main stage was standing-room-only as comedian Jimmy Burns warmed up the crowd.  

Mayor Victor Gordo took the stage to cheer the re-opening of the Ice House and the Foundation on its new fundraising role in Playhouse Village.

Playhouse Village Foundation Chair Phil Hawkey remarked on the Foundation’s charitable fundraising to enhance and activate the 34 square blocks in the heart of downtown Pasadena that make up Playhouse Village.  Hawkey highlighted the Foundation’s goals to support a vibrant entertainment corridor on Mentor anchored by the Ice House and Boston Court Pasadena, to elevate the streetscape and al fresco dining experience on Colorado Boulevard, to enhance the appearance and vitality of Lake Avenue, and to activate Playhouse Village Park, Pasadena’s first new urban park in decades. 

“We are excited about building on the great assets of Playhouse Village, with its charm, history and walkability. It has beautiful buildings, a famous stage theatre, a great bookstore, a new movie theatre,  terrific restaurants, a newly arriving fancy hotel, a world class medical school, seminary and culinary school, and a wonderful new Playhouse Village Park.  Thousands of people live in the Village, including growing residential corridors on Union and Walnut Streets,” Hawkey said.

Headliner Johnny Buss shared his 40-year passion for comedy clubs, beginning as a pledge with his father, the late Dr. Jerry Buss, to whom the reborn Ice House is now dedicated.  Johnny hopes the Ice House will invigorate Playhouse Village’s entertainment scene, and will spill over into activation and fun at Playhouse Village Park as well.  The Ice House sponsored the hugely successful Summer 2022 Jazz at the Park concert series in the newly opened Park.  Johnny Buss capped the evening with an auction of exclusive items for the benefit of Playhouse Village Foundation.

Playhouse Village Foundation Board members played an active role in carrying out the event — Chair Phil Hawkey, Johnny Buss, Arash Danialifar, Marjorie Lindbeck, Brian Wallace and Carla Walecka. Sponsors Settebello, Lyd & Mo Photography, Landmark Theaters, and Boston Court Pasadena played an indispensable role in the event.

Mayor Gordo was joined by Vice Mayor Felicia Williams and Councilmembers Jason Lyon and Justin Jones, plus City Manager Miguel Márquez and Director of Economic Development David Klug.  Former Mayor Bill Bogaard also attended..

Attendees were diverse and enthusiastic, including local business, philanthropic and cultural leaders Eileen T’Kaye and David Bischoff, David Minassian, Jennifer and Matthew DeVoll, David Luo, Jeannine Bogaard, and Rick Gould.   Playhouse Village and Pasadena residents included Donna Gale, Andy Wilson, Jane Wallace, David Chaing and Elizabeth DeJong, Lance Ito and Christina Hurn, and Marilyn and Gene Buchanan.