Sad day for SoCal theater: The Pasadena Playhouse to close

The theatre's website ominously features a donation link labeled "Now is the time..." This appears to be more than mere melodramatic hat-passing.
According to an Associated Press article that was featured in the LA Times and msn.com today, The Pasadena Playhouse is closing on February 7th. According to Stephen Eich, leaders are still trying to find a way to save the historic theatre (it opened in 1917) - but it is in a large amount of debt and has filed for bankruptcy several times in the past.

They do not currently have a plan to reimburse subscribers for what's left of this season and 37 theatre employees will soon be out of work. "Camelot" is currently in production there, having opened January 8th. It appears to be the Playhouse's swan song unless something miraculous happens fairly quickly. If you would like to attend "Camelot" and give the Playhouse a proper good-bye, you can purchase tickets here:
http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=3188&event_val=PLY1&schedule=list

The loss of The Pasadena Playhouse will be a tremendous blow to SoCal culture at large, not just the theater community (who will be feeling the aftershocks for some time). It is a shame and a tragedy but while the pessimist in me is already in mourning, the hidden optimist in me is hoping for a financial windfall from any one of the successful entertainers that have called the Playhouse home.
If you would like to make a donation to The Pasadena Playhouse, you can do so here:
http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/

Read the AP article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35149816/ns/entertainment-arts_books_more/