About Us

Sheldon Epps

Sheldon Epps (Artistic Director) has been Artistic Director of the renowned Pasadena Playhouse since 1997. Before beginning his tenure at The Playhouse, he served as Associate Artistic Director of the Old Globe Theatre for four years. He was also a co-founder of the off-Broadway theatre, The Production Company.

Mr. Epps has directed both plays and musicals at many of the country’s major theatres including the Roundabout, Manhattan Theatre Club, the Guthrie, Playwrights Horizons, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, and the Goodman Theatre. He conceived the highly acclaimed musicals Play On! and Blues In the Night, which both received Tony Award nominations. He directed productions of both of those shows on Broadway, in London, and at theatres around the world.

Mr. Epps has also had a busy career as a television director, helming episodes of shows such as “Frasier,” “Friends,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Girlfriends” and many others. For more than a decade, he served as a member of the Executive Board of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Mr. Epps received the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award for his efforts and accomplishments at The Pasadena Playhouse. Under his leadership, The Playhouse has earned distinction for productions of artistic excellence, critical and box office success, and highly praised theatrical diversity.

Elizabeth Doran

Elizabeth Doran (Executive Director) Elizabeth Doran Hailing from Patchogue, NY, Elizabeth Doran began her career in theatre as a writer and performer. After earning a BA in theatre arts at SUNY Fredonia, Elizabeth became interested in building and sustaining great theatre companies. She earned her MBA in Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Rensselaer in Troy, NY. After working as a market strategist for the international fashion company Alviero Martini in Milan, she returned to the US as the Director of Finance and Planning at La Jolla Playhouse. After subsequently serving as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' interim General Manager as it completed its major capital campaign and construction of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Elizabeth returned to the east coast to take on the Managing Director position at Capital Repertory Theatre, an established LORT regional theatre in Albany, NY. Most recently, Elizabeth has been the Managing Director of Los Angeles' own The Actors' Gang since October 2008, where, in partnership with Oscar-winner, Tim Robbins, she has expanded international touring, outreach programming, and has raised major gifts in support of artistic development. Elizabeth is married to Kwinn Doran, a college instructor and historian, and lives in South Pasadena with her two young sons, Giacomo and Ely.