The Pasadena Playhouse, one of the oldest regional theaters in the nation, may shutter its doors, according to the Los Angeles Times. The venerable company was founded in 1917, two years after the Cleveland Playhouse, and designated California's state theater in 1937.
In recent years it has been dogged by money troubles -- troubles exacerbated by the terrible economy. It is now apparently out of cash.
If it closes as announced on Feb. 7, it will follow Minneapolis' Theatre de La Jeune Lune, which went dark in 2008.
The company's many distinguished actors who have either taught or been students there include Angela Bassett, Charles Bronson, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman.