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Arts & Entertainment

20th Century at the Playhouse

Press Release:

Playwright Ken Ludwig's 21st century adaptation of "Twentieth Century," the 1932 Broadway hit by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, is in previews at the on January 27 and 28.

The play originally debuted on Broadway in 2004. Ludwig's work is no stranger to Sierra Madre Playhouse audiences. His shows there have included "Leading Ladies," "Moon Over Buffalo" and "Lend Me A Tenor."

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Tickets are available now and run from $15-$20. They can be purchased online or by calling the box office at (626) 355-4318.

The show officially debuts February 3, with performances are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 17.

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About the Show

The glamorous passenger train Twentieth Century Limited, which ran between New York and Chicago between 1902 and 1967, is the main setting of this screwball comedy’s action.

Oscar Jaffe, an egomaniacal Broadway producer who has sustained a string of recent flops and is now dodging creditors, boards the train heading to New York. On the train, he spots his former Broadway leading lady and muse, Lily Garland, now a Hollywood movie star, and schemes to have her signed to star in his new play and thereby save his career and stay out of jail. But she’s on her way to meet with his competitor, Max Jacobs, to sign up for his play.

Jaffe believes he’s found an investor in a fellow passenger and heiress,  Miss Clark, who could write a check big enough to entice Lily to renew her working relationship with Oscar and save his show. Little does Oscar know that Miss Clark has just escaped from a mental asylum.

There’s action, a little romance, fast-paced dialogue and a dash of slapstick.

About the Production

The Sierra Madre Playhouse production is directed by Michael Lorre and features in its cast (in alphabetical order) Grant Baciocco, Matte Bolte, Alan Brooks, Dorothy Brooks, Stephanie Erb, Douglas Gabrielle, Arthur Hanket, Beth Leckbee, Kimberly Lewis, Jill Maglione, Joseph Murray and Barry Saltzman.

Set design: Adam Smith. Costume design: Shon Le Blanc/Valentino’s. Lighting design: Sammy Ross/PRG. Sound design: Michael Lorre. Properties: Anne Marie Atwan.

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