For release on Friday, October 1, 2004

Furious returns to production with a cast of 21 - Hosts acclaimed Northern Irish playwright

Furious Theatre Company debuts in residence at the Pasadena Playhouse Balcony Theatre with the U.S. Premiere of Scenes from the Big Picture by Owen McCafferty. The production opens the company’s 2004/2005 Season on October 22 and runs through November 21 (Previews: October 19-21 at 7:30 p.m.). Performances will be Thursdays - Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. at the Pasadena Playhouse Balcony Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, California 91101.

Scenes from the Big Picture received its world premiere only last year at London's National Theatre. Set in an imagined area of present-day Belfast, McCafferty's critically-acclaimed play examines the lives of 21 characters over the course of 24 hours as their stories interweave and collide. BBC News declared, "Scenes from the Big Picture is a superb piece of work." London's Daily Telegraph wrote that "McCafferty is a writer of depth and subtlety, as well as palpable humanity" and the Daily Mail echoed, "His is a quietly dramatic magic: no tricks, just human nature revealed with infinite humanity. Not to be missed."

The company has been working closely with McCafferty throughout the rehearsal processes and is honored to host the acclaimed playwright for final dress rehearsals, previews and opening weekend performances. McCafferty will participate in a free, post-play discussion on Saturday, October 23, at the Pasadena Playhouse Balcony Theatre. McCafferty will be traveling to Pasadena from his home in Belfast where he is currently writing a new play for London’s National Theatre and a new stage version of Days of Wine & Roses for Academy Award Winner Sam Mendes’ production company, Scamp Film& Theatre Ltd.
Tickets are currently on sale and may be purchased online at www.furioustheatre.org, at the Pasadena Playhouse Customer Service Center (open from 10 a.m. until curtain on performance days, and 10a.m. – 6 p.m. on Mondays) or by calling the box office at 626-356-PLAY. Single ticket prices range from $15-$24. Students $5.

Furious Theatre Company will continue its season in residence at the Pasadena Playhouse Balcony Theatre with the Los Angeles Premiere of The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute January 18-February 20, 2005, the U.S. Premiere of The God Botherers by Richard Bean March 22-April 24, 2005 and the U.S. Premiere of Tearing the Loom by Gary Mitchell May 24-June 26, 2005.

Furious Theatre Company debuted in April 2002 and rapidly produced five critically-acclaimed plays in 12 months. These productions earned 6 NAACP Theatre Award nominations (winner Best Supporting Actor, Best Director), two LA Weekly Award nominations, and numerous critic's picks from the Los Angeles media. The company also received the Pasadena Arts Councils' Gold Crown Award and a special “Debut” award from Back Stage West. In May 2003, the company lost the use of its performance space, a 9,000 sq. ft. section of a former plastics factory owned by the City of Pasadena. After a 13 month search, Furious Theatre Company was invited by the Pasadena Playhouse to become a producer “in residence” at its 99-seat second stage, The Balcony Theatre.