Pasadena Playhouse locks in Al Pacino for new production about Tennessee Williams
Al Pacino will star in a production of Dotson Rader’s “God Looked Away” at the Pasadena Playhouse in February, the theater said Friday.
The Oscar winner is no stranger to theater, having performed in numerous Broadway and off-Broadway shows and earning two Tony Awards, but it’s rare for the actor, 76, to bring his stage talents west.
Pacino starred in a 2006 L.A. run of “Salome” at the Wadsworth Theatre, but “God Looked Away” marks the first time he will be part of a production developed and staged entirely in the Los Angeles area. Robert Allan Ackerman, who directed Pacino in “Salome,” will again work with the actor for this new production.
Pacino’s costar will be Judith Light of the streaming series “Transparent” and a frequent stage actor.
“God Looked Away” looks into the life and career of playwright, screenwriter and novelist Tennessee Williams. The production is apt for Pasadena, as Williams premiered two works at the playhouse early in his career. The play will be the first production in the Pasadena theater’s PlayWorks play development program.
“The playhouse is about to enter its 100th year, and I can’t think of a better way to kick off the celebration than with the expansion of our new works program beginning with this new development production and these extraordinary artists,” Danny Feldman, the playhouse’s producing artistic director, said in a statement.
This summer the Playhouse announced that Feldman would succeed Sheldon Epps, who led the playhouse for two decades. Feldman comes to Los Angeles from New York, where he was the executive director of the Labryinth Theater Company, whose members have included Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz.
Performances begin Feb. 8 and run until March 19.
Follow me on Twitter @makedaeaster
ALSO
2016 was a stellar year for women in theater, and yet …
‘Cinderella’ hits the stage with pop songs, Morgan Fairchild, Disney stars and a bit of ‘Glee’
Misty Copeland and American Ballet Theatre deliver a dazzling ‘Nutcracker’ in Costa Mesa
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
