Sierra Madre Playhouse Caps Lunar New Year Celebration with Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-Winning Play “Master Class”

Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse

Broadway star Joan Almedilla

Sierra Madre Playhouse wraps its captivating multi-week Lunar New Year celebration with Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play Master Class, a gripping theatrical production inspired by the legendary masterclasses presented by iconic opera diva Maria Callas at Juilliard at the end of her career. Directed by Tim Dang and featuring Philippine-born Broadway star Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserable, The King and I) as Maria Callas, the show runs for 16 performances from February 14 through March 9, 2025, at the historic Sierra Madre Playhouse.

Callas, in the play, commands the stage in a Juilliard masterclass where she offers cutting, humorous, and deeply insightful critiques to her eager-to-please students. While guiding her pupils – each with their own hopes and flaws – Callas reflects on her triumphs and tragedies, from her metamorphosis as a star to her volatile relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Through sharp wit and raw vulnerability, Callas reveals the personal and professional sacrifices required to pursue greatness. Her impassioned teachings and poignant reflections, remind us of the profound impact that art can have on individuals and society.

In addition to Almedilla, the cast includes Korean American soprano Joanna Kim (Sophie; 1st Soprano); actress Francesca Ling (Sharon; 2nd Soprano); opera singer Kurt Kanazawa (Tony; Tenor); composer/conductor/pianist Joshua Foy (Music Director/Manny, The Accompanist); Mexican American singer/actor Ricardo Mota (Stagehand/Tony understudy); Filipina-American vocalist Mariah Rae (Sophie & Sharon understudy); Kit DeZolt (Stagehand understudy).

The show times are Fridays, at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm; and Sundays at 4 pm. (Full schedule: Friday, February 14, 8 pm; Saturday, February 15, 2 pm and 8 pm; Sunday, February 16, 4 pm; Friday, February 21, 8 pm; Saturday, February 22, 2 pm and 8 pm; Sunday, February 23, 4 pm; Friday, February 28, 8 pm; Saturday, March 1, 2 pm and 8 pm; Sunday, March 2, 4 pm; Friday, March 7, 8 pm; Saturday, March 8, 2 pm and 8 pm; Sunday, March 9, 4 pm.)

Tickets ($12 - $45) are on sale now. For tickets and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Date:
Venue:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Organization:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Genres:
Opera
Musical Theater
Categories:
Live Event
City: Sierra Madre
Price Range:
$12 - $45
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
626-355-4318
Buy Tickets
Visit Website

Performers

Joan Almedilla Maria Callas
Joanna Kim 1st Soprano
Francesca Ling 2nd Soprano
Kurt Kanazawa Tenor
Joshua Foy Music Director

Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
United States

Get Directions

Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating live performances. 

 

Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los Angeles), it has garnered tremendous accolades for its varied repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing arts center presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. 

 

The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. In 2023, Rep. Judy Chu named the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a leading ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in the San Gabriel Valley. The playhouse was given the honor during the 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards, which recognizes the leadership and volunteerism in the cities making up California’s 28th Congressional District. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

 

Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie theatre to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.