Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Can Porter's Can-Can-Do Spirit Fill Pasadena Playhouse's National Ambitions?

Can Porter's Can-Can-Do Spirit Fill Pasadena Playhouse's National Ambitions?

According to Phil Gallo of Variety, the Left Coast's Pasadena Playhouse is feverishly trying to cement a national reputation as the perfect home for gestating Broadway shows.

While it already counts John Patrick Shanley's Doubt as one of its own -- and it's looking to Sister Act to make it a habit -- Gallo is reporting that the Pasadena Playhouse's Artistic Director Sheldon Epps now has his eyes set on reviving Cole Porter's Can-Can for the Rose Bowl's hometown and beyond.

It's been 53 years since Can-Can made its Broadway debut. The Parisian-themed musical was a rousing success in 1953 through 1955, winning Tonys for the legendary Gwen Verdon and choreographer Michael Kidd. The production lasted 892 regular performances at the Shubert Theatre (the only Broadway revival in 1981 lasted a scant five performances).

Not only has Epps already secured the rights, along with necessary cash, to move forward with his "re-envisioning" of Can-Can, but he's also engaged David Lee to write its new libretto (Lee wrote 41 episodes of television's "Frasier"). Apparently, the only thing left for Epps to do is find a second theatre willing to help launch this revival to national prominence -- something his Sister Act production has already achieved. That current Pasadena Playhouse production, which has extended performances through December 17, is slated to transfer this January to Atlanta's Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff, the theatre that launched The Color Purple last year.

Rest assured I'll be following the progression of Can-Can, along with Sheldon Epps' can-do spirit.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Sister Act tickets at Pasadena Playhouse.
Click here for Sister Act tickets at Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff.
Related Stories:
Did Critics Think This Sister Had Its Act Together? (November 6, 2006)

Labels: California, Can-Can, Cole Porter, First Word On New Show, Los Angeles, Musical, Revival, Sister Act

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Tuesday, November 21, 2006