Impro Theatre's Jane Austen Unscripted in Pasadena beginning March 1

Impro Theatre (Dan O’Connor, Artistic Director) announced a limited five-week engagement of their highly-acclaimed production of JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED which will make its Pasadena premiere in the Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse. JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED will be directed by Dan O’Connor and Paul Rogan and is produced by Dan O’Connor and Impro Theatre. Performances begin on March 2, 2012, and will perform through April 1, 2012 at The Carrie Hamilton Theatre (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

“We are thrilled to bring JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED to the Carrie Hamilton and to Pasadena’s huge Austen fan base! JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED is a delightful entertainment that attracts theatre goers, devotees of Austen, improv fans as well as those folks who enjoy a good regency era romantic comedy.”

JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED is a completely improvised play in the style of beloved author Jane Austen. The cast of Impro Theatre creates and performs a never before seen, all-new Jane Austen story right before your eyes. They have no idea what the story will be or who they will play. The whole show is based upon audience suggestion, and every show is totally unique and different. Passionate, willful women flirt and verbally joust with handsome, brooding young noblemen. Hearts are broken, secrets are revealed and true love wins out in the end. Or does it? The essence of Austen’s beloved, brilliant and timeless romantic comedies and social satires is brought faithfully to life by this expert team of funny and gifted actors, whose recent explorations of great literary figures include Shakespeare, Dickens, Sondheim, and Tennessee Williams.

Impro Theatre lies somewhere between the Royal Shakespeare Company and “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” The company consists of classically trained actors who are also masters of improvisation. Impro Theatre has grown into a theatre company that has performed their unique productions on some of the most prestigious stages in the Los Angeles theatre scene including The Broad Theatre, The Odyssey Theatre, Theatre Asylum and their debut at The Pasadena Playhouse’s Carrie Hamilton Theatre this past fall with a three-show repertory, including the Los Angeles premiere of their production of Twilight Zone UnScripted. Their productions are rooted in the great classics of literature and theatre which act as a springboard for their unique improvisational twists with a 21st century appeal. True narrative daredevils, Impro Theatre is bent on writing and performing in the moment to create a unique theatrical experience at every performance.

The cast is a rotating ensemble including Impro Theatre company members Dan O’Connor, Paul Rogan, Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Stephen Kearin, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Jo McGinley, Edi Patterson, Michele Spears, Floyd Van Buskirk and guest artists.

Critical praise for Impro Theatre’s production of JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED includes: “first-rate comedians…BREATHTAKING WIT!” (LA Weekly); “HILARIOUS…one of the funniest evenings in town…quite unbelievable, actually…an amazing comedy troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes…a stunning feat of performance and literary wizardry…magic… you gotta go” (Los Angeles Times Magazine); “4 Stars” (Los Angeles Times readers poll); “Impro Theatre’s gift lies in far more than improv’s expected one-liners and zingers – rather, their gift is the more subtle and complex art of storytelling…Austen would be pleased indeed.” (LAist.com); “Jane Austen UnScripted is a delicious combination of humorous wordplay and stiff upper lip mannerisms.” (Entertainment Today); “SENSATIONAL…smash hit…ingenuity, imagination, and hilarity… improv artists at the top of their field… MUST SEE THEATER that many will want to see more than once, if only to witness these gifted improv actors create an entirely different story, all the while remaining faithful to the style and values of Jane Austen. The novelist would be pleased indeed.” (Stage Scene LA); “TOUR DE FORCE… long form improvisation at its finest… marvelous and gifted group of actors… there will be laughter…oodles of it. This is a show you can easily see a second time.” (WeHoNews.com); “COMIC GOLD…a delectably smart, tasty treat…mega talented” (San Diego News Network); “outstanding – absolutely not to be missed!” (SoCal.com); “I LOVED Jane Austen improve!” (CoolGrrrls.com); Impro Theatre is also the recipient of five 2010 L.A. Stage Scene Awards.

JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED will play in The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse from March 2 – April 1, 2012. The Carrie Hamilton Theatre is located above The Pasadena Playhouse at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.

The performance schedule is Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

Regular ticket prices are $25.00 each (General Admission). Student and senior (55+) priced tickets are available for $20.00 each (General Admission, student/photo 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. On performance dates, the box office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. The box office is closed on holidays. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

For additional information about Impro Theatre visit www.ImproTheatre.com.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Improtheatre
Twitter: www.twitter.com/improtheatre