Theatre Americana, the golden era’s community theater troupe, is presenting a Mother’s Day program, An Oscar For Mom on Sat., May 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at historic Farnsworth Park’s Davies Hall in Altadena.
Hosted by Theatre Americana and Show of
Support Productions, two non-profit organizations, in collaboration with
the
County of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation, “An
Oscar For Mom,” includes a special lunch and musical
performances to
songs with heartfelt meaning such as “Thank Heaven For Little Girls,”
“Through
My Daughter’s Eyes,” and “Sunrise/Sunset,” among others. Interspersed
within “An
Oscar For Mom” program are acknowledgements to our
loved
ones in categories such as Best Sound (singing to your child), Best
Special Effects (parents hanging balloons or decorating birthday
cakes)
Best Actress (words of wisdom) and Best Costume (from
sewing
Halloween costumes to making angel wings), among other categories. The
program
will make every parent feel like an Oscar winner as they reflect on what
they’ve
done to nurture their families.
Tickets are $15 per person and proceeds from the event benefit Farnsworth Afterschool Program.
An Oscar For Mom is Theatre Americana’s second performance in 2010 at Davies Hall. Playing to a full-house on Saturday, February 13, Theatre Americana revived its playbill after a 10 year absence with an original comedy, Polterheist: A Valentine’s Day Play. Proceeds generated from the performance also benefited Farnsworth Afterschool Program.
With its rich history and great legacy, Theatre Americana played host to numerous indoor and outdoor performances dating back to the 1930s at the historical Farnsworth Park amphitheater and Davies Hall.
Peter the Great was the first play to premiere at this venue on April 22, 1934. Zane Gray provided the money for the lighting of this very first production. Theatre Americana’s last play, So Long Sir Walt ran May 5 – 20, 2000 at the Altadena Community Church.
During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to set aside funds to build theaters to assist in creating employment for writers, directors and actors — thus fulfilling the President’s and Eleanor Roosevelt’s desire to provide support and opportunities in the theatrical company. Davies Hall was one of two theatres built at the end of the Works Progress Administration program.
Under a new board leadership, Theatre Americana Board President Donna Scarantino looks to leverage its rich history and culture, restore their place in the community, and expand their activities to include writing workshops, staged readings of original plays, director’s workshops, acting workshops for children and adults, and possibly provide an after-school theatre program at Farnsworth Park.
Farnsworth Park is located at 568 E. Mount Curve Avenue in Altadena. Tickets are $15.00 per person, which includes lunch catered by Scarantino’s Italian Inn in Glendale and a musical program. For more information or reservations call (626) 840-3551 or email donna8461@sbcglobal.net. Tickets can be purchased online at www.theatreamericana.com.
About Theatre Americana
Throughout Theatre Americana’s golden years, activities included the production of hundreds of plays and oversight of playwriting contests. One of the plays staged at Theatre Americana, Pelican Cove, by William Dorsey Blake, was Broadway bound. Hollywood celebrity, Buddy Ebsen appeared in a production at Farnsworth Park as he wrote and starred in The Champagne General, which ran March – April 1965.
Show of Support Productions
Show of Support Productions is a Pasadena non-profit organization established in 1992 to raise money for local charities. They are recognized and respected in the Pasadena/Altadena community for bringing professional shows to audiences. Their mission is to raise money for those less fortunate through the performing arts. For more information visit www.showofsupporthelp.info.
