JoBeth Williams in
THE NIGHT IS A CHILD
By Charles Randolph-Wright
Directed by Sheldon Epps

August 28 - September 27, 2009

Escape. Samba. Let Go.

Playhouse favorite Charles Randolph-Wright's (Blue and Cuttin' Up) new play is the tale of one mother's search for understanding as she follows her heart to Brazil, finding healing and hope in the freeing rhythm of Samba.

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Charles Randolph-Wright
Sheldon Epps

Quotes and Reviews coming soon!

Related Links*
Charles Randolph-Wright’s Official Website
Charles Randolph-Wright in the news
Sheldon Epps on the Internet Movie Database
Brazil on Wikipedia
About Samba Music

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Charles Randolph-Wright (Playwright): Charles wrote and directed Cuttin’ Up, a play based on the new book by Craig Marberry (author of the bestseller Crowns), which premiered at Arena Stage. Charles also recently directed the world premiere of Tough Titty by Oni Faida Lampley at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Brian Stokes Mitchell in his acclaimed solo show Love/Life at Lincoln Center, and the world premiere of Senor Discretion Himself, also at Arena Stage.

Charles' play Blue, starring Phylicia Rashad, broke box office records at Arena Stage, the Roundabout Theatre in New York City, and in Los Angeles (also starring Diahann Carroll and Clifton Davis). Charles directed the smash hit revival of Guys and Dolls (starring Maurice Hines also at Arena Stage), which was the most successful production in the theatre's fifty-year history. That award winning production was selected by the Loesser estate to become a national tour celebrating the musical's 50th anniversary, and its cast album was nominated for a 2003 Grammy.

Also for the stage, Charles directed and co-wrote Me and Mrs. Jones, a musical starring Lou Rawls, and featuring the classic R&B music of the Sound of Philadelphia. He also directed and co-wrote The Diva is Dismissed (starring Jenifer Lewis) at the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater and the Hudson Theatre (LA), Homework (starring Kim Coles) in NYC, Crossroads (NJ), and LA, and Agency, also in NYC and LA. Charles' future stage productions include Skindiver, a rock cyber musical with Nona Hendryx, based on her acclaimed album of the same title, A Waiter, a new play with the Campo Santo Theatre in San Francisco, and Deadlines, a new musical with Kirsten Childs.

Sheldon Epps (Director): Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of the Pasadena Playhouse, conceived and directed the Duke Ellington musical Play On! which received three Tony Award nominations and was produced at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, where it received four Jefferson Awards including Best Musical. The Pasadena Playhouse production was taped by PBS for broadcast as part of the "Great Performances" series.

Epps also conceived and directed the highly acclaimed musical revue, Blues in the Night. The Broadway production was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Musical of the Year, and the London production, which he also directed, was nominated for two Laurence Olivier Awards, and ran for over a year on the West End before being broadcast in Europe by Thames Television.

Epps was a co-founder of the off-Broadway theater, The Production Company, where he staged the world premiere of Scenes and Revelations, which he also directed on Broadway at the Circle In The Square Theatre. Epps has directed plays and musicals for many of the country's major theatres including the Guthrie, the Old Globe Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Crossroads Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Arizona Theatre Company, and Coconut Grove Playhouse.

For television he has directed episodes of "Frasier," "Friends," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Joey," "Out Of Practice," "My Wife and Kids," "In Laws," "Veronica's Closet," "What I Like About You", "Evening Shade," and "Sister, Sister," and several pilots among others. For five seasons he was also producer/director for the hit series "Girlfriends."

He is currently a member of the Executive Board of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. Epps is a two-time recipient of the Theatre Communications Group/Pew Charitable Trust National Theatre Artists Residency Grant, which supported his four-year tenure at the Old Globe Theatre as Associate Artistic Director.

He was pleased to join the Pasadena Playhouse as Artistic Director in 1997. His directing credits at the Playhouse include As Bees In Honey Drown, Blue, Play On!, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Old Settler, The Real Thing, On Borrowed Time, Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting, Blues in the Night, Purlie, a co-production with the Goodman Theatre, and Fences.

Epps’ vision is to keep expanding the theatrical diversity the Playhouse embodies, provide venues for young artistic talent to flourish, and increase outreach programs for kids, at-risk youth and the community.

**Biographical Information courtesy of the Internet Movie Database.


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