'The Unauthorized Afterlife of Eugene O'Neill' in Pasadena Sept. 15-25

The Los Angeles premiere of THE UNAUTHORIZED AFTERLIFE OF EUGENE O’NEILL, written by and starring James Cady, will perform as a guest production at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse. This limited engagement will be directed by Brian Hansen and produced by Donna Marie Barra, who collaborated on the project with Cady for the production’s world premiere run at the North 4th Art Center in Albuquerque, NM . Performances begin on September 15, 2011, and will perform through September 25, 2011, at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre (39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena).

“Life is an amazing thing,” Cady recalls, “A surprising adventure, a moving, living work of art. Performing this show at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse, the place of my artistic birth some 45 years ago, brings me full circle, and makes me feel like I am home again.”

THE UNAUTHORIZED AFTERLIFE OF EUGENE O’NEILL is a fictional exploration by James Cady of how O’Neill tried to come to terms with the treatment of his family in his literary works as he journeys through the afterlife searching for the meaning in his own life – and maybe to settle a few scores. Cady gives us a view into the renowned playwright’s life and afterlife with his portrayal of O’Neill as a “theatrical Flying Dutchman” sailing from theatre to theatre, searching for that one second of meaning, the one moment that would make everything in the world make sense.

THE UNAUTHORIZED AFTERLIFE OF EUGENE O’NEILL production team also includes associate producer Marcelle Garfield Cady, original music by Thomas DiMele, lighting design by Michael Miller, sound design by Linda Lopez McAllister and dramaturgy by John Meade.

About James Cady:
James Cady began his life as an actor after winning a full scholarship to The Pasadena Playhouse in 1962. After graduation in 1964 he travelled to New York where he studied with Lee Strasberg. After a year he returned to California and took up his studies again, receiving his BA at Cal State Hayward, his MFA in Dramatic Art at Berkeley, and his MFA in directing at UCLA. From there he went on to teach acting and directing at the University of Cincinnati and the MFA program in acting at UCLA. In 1975 he moved behind the camera as a producer/director and spent 25 years in the motion picture business. In 2005 he returned to his first love, acting and directing in the theatre. He has appeared in over 50 plays and has directed 60. His fascination with O’Neill started at Berkeley where he studied with the great O’Neill scholar Travis Bogard. He used to complain to Travis that he had nothing in common with O’Neill. Travis told him to “wait a few years, it would all make sense.” Travis was right. Tragedy is easy to understand if you live long enough. As Jerry says in Albee’s play The Zoo Story, “Sometimes you have to go a long way out of your way to come a short distance back - correctly.”

About Brian Hansen:
Brian Hansen, while a member of Actors Equity and experienced on the festival circuit, comes chiefly from academic theatre. He received his B.A. (1960) from UCLA., his M.A. (1961) from Cornell, and his Ph.D. (1966) from the University of Minnesota. He has taught at Oberlin College, the University of Delaware, and the University New Mexico. Since his retirement from UNM in 1996, he has stayed busy teaching (at UCSB and UNM as a Visiting Professor) and directing. He has remained active as a director in the vital Albuquerque theatre scene. Brian has worked with James Cady on this project since its inception. Numerous drafts have come and gone as Cady continues the demanding task of digging deeper into the character of Eugene O'Neill.

THE UNAUTHORIZED AFTERLIFE OF EUGENE O’NEILL is a guest production playing at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse from September 15 - 25, 2011, with the official press opening on Friday, September 16, 2011. The Carrie Hamilton Theatre is located above The Pasadena Playhouse at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Thursday at 8:00 p.m. (September 15 preview performance only); Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 p.m. (September 24 only) and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Regular ticket prices are $30.00 each (General Admission). Student priced tickets are available for $15.00 each (General Admission, student I.D. required for purchase). Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates and Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on performance dates. The box office is closed on holidays. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.