Ty Taylor, Britton Smith, and Saycon Sengbloh to Star in Passing Strange at Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for its production of Passing Strange, the Tony Award-winning rock musical by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. The production will run November 4-29, with a press opening November 8. Zhailon Levingston directs.

The production will star Ty Taylor, lead singer of Vintage Trouble, as the Narrator, Britton Smith as Youth, and Saycon Sengbloh as Mother. Joining them are Brittany Campbell, Johnny Laveie, Devere Rogers, and Tanerélle.

Passing Strange follows a young artist from South Central Los Angeles who leaves home on a cross-continental journey of self-discovery, pursuing a life of sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and artistic freedom. With a book and lyrics by Stew and music by Stew and Rodewald, Passing Strange is inspired by Stew’s own life. The musical premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2006 before transferring to the Public Theater and then to Broadway, where it won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. The Pasadena production marks the show’s Los Angeles premiere and coincides with its 20th anniversary.

Greg Nabours serves as music director, with Tislarm Bouie as choreographer. The creative team also includes Lawrence Moten (scenic design), Devario Simmons (costume design), Jared Sayeg (lighting design), Andrea Allmond (sound design), and Sasha Nicolle Smith (intimacy coordination).

Dria Brown is associate director, Audrey Casteris is associate scenic designer, and Andrew Tarr is associate sound designer. The stage management team includes lark hacksaw and David S. Franklin.