Ernest Figueroa – Artistic Director

admin on 09 29, 2009

Pasadena Resident Ernest A. Figueroa New Artistic Director of The Group Rep at Lonny Chapman Theatre Offers Season Rep at Group Rep

August 20, 2009 – North Hollywood, CA – The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre recently appointed Pasadena resident Ernest A. Figueroa as their new Artistic Director.  Figueroa, who also recently joined The Broad Stage as Associate Producer, assisting on the programming and production at the newly opened 541-seat state-of-the-art presenting house in Santa Monica, brings more than 20 years of event and theater producing and directing experience to the 36 year-old North Hollywood institution.

“With his vast theater experience as a producer, director, playwright and actor, Ernest has both a strong artistic sensibility and solid business savvy.  He epitomizes an exciting energy and direction for our theater,” remarked Board President Janet Wood.

In addition to his theatrical experience, Mr. Figueroa served five years as the Grants and Programs Manager with the City of Pasadena leading the way on the bi-annual city-wide event called “ArtNight Pasadena” that grew in attendance from 4,000 to 14,000 people in attendance in less than five years.

“It is beyond a privilege to be asked to head up this theatre.  Its legacy and history of excellence for more than three decades under the leadership of Lonny Chapman, is a wonderful foundation from which to continue to serve the greater Los Angeles community,” said Mr. Figueroa.  “I am excited that everyone with the company is passionate and supportive of setting out a new path for the future.  I feel at home here and have been welcomed with open arms.”

A native Angeleno (Temple City), Figueroa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Theatre Education from McPherson College in Kansas and a Masters of Fine Arts in Directing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Mr. Figueroa has chosen to open his first season with an ambitious rotating repertory of four distinguished plays. “This is the best way to show off our talented membership of multi-generational actors,” said Figueroa.  “Each role is a gem and each play, a powerhouse.”

Giving us a Sneak Peek into the new season is the four play collection which includes two comedies, two dramas and one Pulitzer Prize winner. The REP at the Group Rep opens September 17 and runs every Thursday through Sunday, through November 8, which allows patrons to see all four shows in a single weekend. The plays in repertory are: Heroes, brilliantly adapted by Tom Stoppard from an original work by Gerald Sibleyras, is a poignant, hilarious comedy that chronicles the great escape of three veterans from their retirement home; The comic drama Painting Churches by Tina Howe is a moving family affair, a theatrical portrait of the complex relationship between aging parents and their artist daughter as she struggles to come to terms with them and they with her;  Boston Marriage by David Mamet provides a wonderful play of language set in a Victorian world, and could adopt the slogan “what happens in Boston stays in Boston;” Finally, the family drama and Pulitzer Prize winner – - The Subject was Roses by Frank Gilroy, with the story of a soldier who, returns from war only to be caught in the emotional crossfire between his parents; a play about familial love and co-dependency.

The holiday season brings the gift of music, stylized puppetry, masks and the holiday classic,
A Christmas Carol.   The Los Angeles Premiere of Richard Hellesen and David De Barry’s musical adaptation is a truly unique, mystical take on the Dickens’ tale.

The remainder of the season includes works by established playwrights; and the World Premiere of a play that was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Eugene O’Neil Festival, The Redemption of Mrs. Satan, written by Julie Daniels.  The Redemption of Mrs. Satan tells the story of the first woman to run for president, Victoria Woodhull, who was forced into obscurity by the more controlling personalities of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

In addition, a newly launched Annual Membership to The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre will offer shows at half price and other perks. For more information about the upcoming season or the new membership program please call 818.700-4878 or visit http://www.thegrouprep.com .