Theater News

Pasadena Playhouse Cancels Upcoming Production of David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly

A replacement production will be added later in the season.

Pasadena Playhouse Artistic director Sheldon Epps.
Pasadena Playhouse artistic director Sheldon Epps.
(courtesy of the Pasadena Playhouse)

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cancellation of the previously scheduled production of David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly, which was set to run October 25-November 20. The cancellation is due to a decision by the Playhouse to move the production to later in the season, after which the company was unable to secure rights because of a planned Broadway revival in spring 2017. Bart DeLorenzo was scheduled to direct the Pasadena Playhouse run.

Inspired by Puccini's Madam Butterfly, the Tony-winning play offers a fictionalized account of an actual French diplomat who carried on an affair with a Peking opera star for 20 years, only to discover she was actually a man.

A replacement production will be added later in the season and announced in the coming weeks.

"The Pasadena Playhouse is committed to bringing the best theatrical experience to its stages for our audiences. While we are disappointed that we could not present M. Butterfly. we are working to find another production to add to our 2016-2017 Season," said artistic director Sheldon Epps and executive/artistic director Danny Feldman in a joint statement.