By Austin Pendleton
Conceived by Judith Auberjonois
Directed by Associate Artistic Director, Dámaso Rodriguez

January 11 - February 17, 2008

An ingenious tale of two Hollywood giants – Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier. The time is 1960; the place is a London theatre. Legendary critic Kenneth Tynan has made a startling proposal: Welles should direct Olivier and the young Joan Plowright in Rhinoceros, Ionesco’s absurdist masterpiece. But it is the rehearsal process that brims with absurdity as titanic personalities, including Vivien Leigh, wrestle the muse. Based on an actual event, Orson’s Shadow is a witty and incisive depiction of the drama of theatre.

Click here for a printable version of the Orson’s Shadow show program!

Starring (in alphabetical order):

Nick Cernoch as Sean
Sharon Lawrence as Vivien Leigh
Scott Lowell as Kenneth Tynan
Bruce McGill as Orson Welles
Charles Shaughnessy as Laurence Olivier
Libby West as Joan Plowright

Quotes and Reviews
Related Links
More about the creative team:

      Austin Pendleton

      Dámaso Rodriguez

Quotes and Reviews

“Absolutely smashing!”
- Bob Verini, Variety

“Critic’s Pick! … an irresistible valentine to the theater!”
- Les Spindle, Back Stage West

“GO!...Superb direction… a terrific cast!”
- Lovell Estell III, LA Weekly

“As Touching as it is amusing”
- Jay Reiner, The Hollywood Reporter

“A gift to the stage!”
- James Sims, BroadwayWorld.com


Related Links*
Sharon Lawrence’s Official Website
Charles Shaughnessy’s Official Website
Scott Lowell’s Official Website
The Official Website of Laurence Olivier
The Official Website of Vivien Leigh
The Orson Welles Resource
Kenneth Tynan on Wikipedia
Joan Plowright on Wikipedia

Blog

Facebook Page
MySpace Page

Austin Pendleton (Playwright) has written three plays: Orson’s Shadow, Uncle Bob (both published by Dramatists’ Play Service) and Booth (published by Samuel French). All of them have been produced in New York, Chicago, and around the country and, in the case of Uncle Bob, internationally. Mr. Pendleton is also an actor, director and teacher of acting and directing in New York, at HB Studio and The New School respectively.

Dámaso Rodriguez (Director/Associate Artistic Director) Pasadena Playhouse: Private Lives (assistant director), Star Quality (assistant director). Carrie Hamilton Theatre: Canned Peaches in Syrup (world premiere), An Impending Rupture of the Belly (world premiere), Grace (Los Angeles premiere, three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards including Production & Direction), Back of the Throat (Los Angeles premiere), The Fair Maid of the West Parts I & II (world premiere adaptation), The God Botherers (west coast premiere), The Shape of Things (Los Angeles premiere), Scenes from the Big Picture (U.S. premiere), Chimps (U.S. premiere), The Playboy of the Western World, Saturday Night at the Palace (U.S. premiere, two NAACP Theatre Awards including Best Director) all with Furious Theatre Company; Festen, Another Part of the Forest with Hothouse Reading Series. As a co-founder of Furious Theatre Company, Dámaso received the Pasadena Arts Council’s Gold Crown Award and the Debut Award from Back Stage West.

Click here for information about subscriber benefits or purchase your subscription today!

* Note that the links found on this part of the website take you to pages not monitored in anyway by Pasadena Playhouse. The views and opinions expressed on this websites do not reflect that of our theatre in any way.