A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and starring Frederick "Freddy" Stuart and Geoff Elliott as Ebenezer Scrooge runs until December 24, 2024 at A Noise Within. Photo Courtesy of A Noise Within.
"Annie Jr." runs until December 22 at Theatre 360. Photo Courtesy of Theatre 360 .
The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky and starring guest artists Aaron Smyth and Matisse Love, runs until December 22, 2024 at San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. Photo Courtesy of Mission Playhouse.
For the theater-goer with a discerning eye, this week’s offerings in Pasadena promise a varied assortment of performances—from the daringly new to the comfortably familiar. Whether your tastes lean towards the weighty or the whimsical, the stages are set and the players are poised. Below, a selection of what the local theaters have in store, each worth a curtain call in its own right.
If you want your theatrical performance listed in our weekly directory, please contact David Cross, Theater Section Manager at (626) 737-8486 extension 8 and david.cross@pasadenanowmagazine.com
A CHRISTMAS CAROL — Charles Dickens’s beloved 1843 novella of yuletide redemption comes to life in this annual holiday spectacle. Watch as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a transformative journey through past, present, and future, guided by a trio of spirits intent on melting his frozen heart. Frederick Stuart and Geoff Elliott alternate as Scrooge, with Mildred Marie Langford narrating, Trisha Miller as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Anthony Adu embodying Christmas Present. Adapted and co-directed by Geoff Elliott with Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. At A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. Runs from November 30 to December 24. Performance schedule varies. Ticket prices range from $25 to $99. Visit anoisewithin.org
ANNIE JR. — A musical adapted for young performers. At Theatre 360, an award-winning children’s theatre company celebrating 22 years in Pasadena with five Pasadena Weekly “Best Production” awards and the Pasadena Arts Council’s Gold Crown Award for Excellence in the Performance Arts.2623 E Foothill Blvd Ste 104 Pasadena, CA 91107. Phone Number (626) 577-5922. Reserved seating $28 (service fee applies); tickets available online for all performances until 8:00 a.m. day of show. Box office opens 30 minutes before showtime – cash, Visa, and MasterCard accepted. Over 22,000 audience members have enjoyed Theatre 360 productions. Runs from December 20 to December 22. Performances scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket Link. Visit theatre360.org/productions/
THE NUTCRACKER — This beloved holiday ballet, a perennial winter favorite since its 1892 première, with music by Tchaikovsky, follows young Clara’s enchanted Christmas Eve journey to the Land of Sweets with her Nutcracker Prince. In this reimagined production, traditional elements merge with contemporary flair, featuring the High Notes of the Pasadena Chorale and authentic Chinese Dragons celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Aaron Smyth and Matisse Love lead the cast as guest artists, alongside Pasadena Dance Theatre Alumni and conservatory dancers. Co-directed by Jean Michelle Sayeg and Eric Shah, with lighting design by Jared Sayeg, choreography by Arturo Fernandez, and special coaching by Kin Lam. At San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel. Phone number 626 308 2865. Runs December 20-22, 2024. Performances: Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2 and 7:30, Sunday at 2. VIP packages available, including backstage tours and meet-and-greet opportunities with dancers; ticket prices not provided. Visit missionplayhouse.org
COMING UP ON STAGE
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE — Runs from May 4 to June 1, 2025. This tender musical adaptation of the 1994 film, with book by Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by the Tony Award-winning team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, delves into the transformative power of art and self-acceptance. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Dublin, the story follows an amateur theatre director and bus conductor who finds himself at odds with both his conservative parish and his own identity as he attempts to mount a production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome. Directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. Visit anoisewithin.org
FROU-FROU: A MENAGERIE OF SORTS — Runs from February 20 to March 30, 2025. In this audacious world première (2025), playwright John Anthony Loffredo reimagines Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie through a contemporary queer lens. A socially anxious stoner and their ballet-aspiring brother navigate familial expectations and self-discovery under the watchful eye of their tradition-bound mother, whose desperate matchmaking schemes set off an unexpectedly transformative chain of events when a mysterious traveler appears at their door. This bold deconstruction of a theatrical classic explores gender identity, familial bonds, and the courage to live authentically. Directed by Zi Alikhan. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 683-6801. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org/events/froufrou
JANE EYRE — March 23 to April 20, 2025. Charlotte Brontë’s seminal 1847 novel of female empowerment and psychological depth finds new life in Elizabeth Williamson’s theatrical adaptation. The story follows the determined orphan Jane through her evolution from maltreated child to independent woman, set against a backdrop of Victorian social constraints and Gothic romance. The production promises a “bold and dynamic” interpretation of this classic tale of self-determination, featuring elements of mystery and passion centered around Jane’s complex relationship with the brooding Mr. Rochester. Director: Geoff Elliott. At A Noise Within Theatre, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. Runs from Visit anoisewithin.org
LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE: THE MUSICAL — Runs from February 15 to March 16, 2025. A world premiere musical adaptation presented by Pasadena Playhouse as part of their Youth and Family productions, bringing Bernard Waber’s beloved children’s books to theatrical life through the collaborative talents of EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land) along with emerging voices Ari Afsar, Emily Xu Hall, Joriah Kwamé, and Mark Sonnenblick. This family-friendly production, with book by Timothy Allen McDonald and Sara Wordsworth, follows the adventures of a charming crocodile as he and his human companions learn to face their fears and find their voices. Features songs from the 2022 film adaptation alongside new musical numbers created specifically for the stage. Directed by Nina Meehan, whose previous success includes the sold-out run of Grumpy Monkey, The Musical. At The Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd Street, Burbank. (626) 356-7529. Performances Saturdays and Sundays at 10 A.M. and 1 P.M. Tickets from $34 (required for ages 2 and up), members receive 20% off. Visit pasadenaplayhouse.org
MACBETH — Runs from February 9 to March 9, 2025. Shakespeare’s haunting meditation on ambition and moral corruption, written circa 1606, remains one of theatre’s most penetrating studies of power’s psychological toll. This timely production places the Scottish play’s political intrigue and supernatural elements against the backdrop of a nation on the brink of self-destruction, as the titular general’s unchecked ambition spirals into paranoid tyranny. Directed by Andi Chapman, who brings fresh urgency to this tale of conscience and consequences. At A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-3100. Visit anoisewithin.org
MARIOLOGY — Runs from November 5 to December 7, 2025. Nancy Keystone’s probing new work (2025), developed with Critical Mass Performance Group, explores the complex iconography of the Virgin Mary through the lens of a fifth-grade classroom, where religious instruction morphs into a theatrical examination of faith, control, and feminine power. In this West Coast premiere, Keystone weaves together questions of gender dynamics, institutional authority, and personal autonomy, creating what promises to be a form-defying theatrical experience. Written and directed by Nancy Keystone for Critical Mass Performance Group, who also serves as scenic designer and artistic director, in collaboration with Critical Mass Performance Group. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 683-6801. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org
THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA — Runs from September 12 to October 19, 2025. Tennessee Williams’s drama follows Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon, a defrocked minister turned tour guide in Mexico, as he grapples with spiritual crisis and human connection on the edge of breakdown. Set against the backdrop of impending world war at the Costa Verde hotel, this rarely staged work explores themes of salvation, human imperfection, and the eternal struggle between flesh and spirit as two women offer him contrasting paths to redemption – one through sensuality, the other through spirituality. Directed by Jessica Kubzansky. At Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. (626) 683-6801. Visit bostoncourtpasadena.org
