Mission

Boston Court creates and nurtures innovative, boundary-pushing art that invokes the power of collective imagination to illuminate our common humanity.

Vision

Expanding our capacity for empathy and change.

Artistic Ethos

We’re passionate about the heightened, the lyrical, the never-seen-before, the boundary-breaking. We’re drawn to art that excavates the depth of human existence or dances in and out of ineffable wonder. We fall for the imaginative, the impossible, the incandescent. We love the absurd. We swoon for the cerebral. We bow down to heartbreak and humor, especially when we don’t see them coming. Show us the magic of what’s real and the tangibility of what’s ethereal.

HISTORY

We opened our doors in 2003 after philanthropist Z. Clark Branson decided to give back to the Pasadena community that fostered his love of the arts from a young age. Mr. Branson built a state-of-the-art facility that includes a 99-seat Main Stage and an 80-seat flexible space. A non-profit entity (The Theatre at Boston Court d/b/a Boston Court Pasadena) was created and charged with maintaining the facility as well as programming and funding its operations.

Each year, we produce a season of more than 100 exciting performances in theatre and music, including an Emerging Artists Series and a New Play Reading Festival. We also showcase rotating visual art exhibits that complement the themes of our music and theatre programming.

VIRTUAL BUILDING TOUR

Join Managing Director Cheryl Rizzo for a hysterical tour through the building we miss so much.

The Theatre at Boston Court (d/b/a Boston Court Pasadena) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation, volunteering time, or would simply like further information, call 626.683.6801 or click below.

DONATE

VALUES

Where we Stand

Land Acknowledgement

Boston Court Pasadena is located on the unceded lands of the Tongva, Gabrielino, and Kizh peoples, specifically the lands of the Hahamog’na band of the Tongva tribe. We honor and uplift these still-enduring communities and we are grateful for their stewardship of these lands.

Kuuyam nahwá’a is a Tongva peoples concept that means guest exchange, a belief that when given a chance to affect history in a positive way that a human being would make the just move. One action people and institutions can take is to make a voluntary recurring contribution to support Tongva-led Land Back efforts, acknowledging both relationship and reciprocity to the lands and Native Peoples of Tovaangar, this place many of us now call home.

You can learn more about kuuyam nahwá’a and make your contribution on the Tongva Taraxat Paaxavxa Conservancy website: https://tongva.land/donate-personal/

Anti-Racist Ethos

We acknowledge that Boston Court Pasadena specifically, and our institutions in general, have taken their rules and practices from a country founded, built, and nurtured on white supremacy and that these rules and practices have caused harm. Since systemic racism and oppression are a part of the fabric of our history and our culture, dismantling and re-envisioning our institution and our systemic practices through an anti-racist lens will be constant and ongoing work, that must be woven through our organizational culture, artistic practices, and through all the spaces and places of our institution.

BCP is committed to uprooting and changing all systems of oppression, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender, ability, age, class, appearance, and religion. This work is ongoing, and we will continue to address additional areas as we continue our review of practices that need to change.

The outlined policies are a summary based on the work we have been doing internally for the past year. If you have any questions or would like more information on specifics of the policies summarized, please email us at socialimpact@bostoncourtpasadena.org.

To read the entirety of our Anti-Racism Statement & Policies, click the button to the right.

Community Code of Conduct

As an inclusive and welcoming organization, let us celebrate each other’s differences and still work together to create the respectful, kind, and safe environment we all deserve. We want you to have a great experience here. To that end, please help us uphold our Community Code of Conduct. The entirety of our Code of Conduct can be read by clicking the button to the right.

Anti-Racism Statement & Policies

Community Code of Conduct

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EDWARD RADA, CHAIR
ARLENE WITHERS, VICE CHAIR
DAMARIS MONTALVO, SECRETARY
CHRIS WERNER, TREASURER

Z. CLARK BRANSON
WALT COCHRAN-BOND
JERED GOLD
NIK GOMEZ
ROBIN GREEN
SANDY GREENSTEIN
MARK WILSON JORDAN
ROBERT LEVENTER
RACHEL MOORE
APRIL PAREDES
YVETTE SANCHEZ
EILEEN T’KAYE
NICK VASELS

EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS

BILL ANAWALT
JOE CARTER
TOM JACOBSON
ROBBIN KELLEY
SARAH LYDING
GRETA MANDELL
JON NEUSTADTER
MICHAEL RUFF

LEADERSHIP

JESSICA KUBZANSKY
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Jessica Kubzansky (she/her/hers) is a champion of innovation and artistic excellence, and as such she was invited to be one of two founding artistic directors of Boston Court Pasadena, creating a mission and vision for the company that produces risky adventurous new work coupled with intimate artistic excellence. Now Kubzansky shepherds all the art created at Boston Court, including rich and eclectic music concerts as well as theatre. She is a passionate music lover and also an award-winning director working both locally and in regional theatres nationally. She is committed to illumination of texts and scores to create works that crack open minds and hearts so that people who experience the work walk out changed. Kubzansky creates inventive work across many genres. She is known as a play-whisperer for her ability to dramaturg new plays, breathe powerful life into classic adaptations, and create exciting new takes on old classics; and she nurtures innovative approaches to classic music, as well as urging musicians and composers to innovate their own practices. Her recent work at Boston Court includes staged excerpts of Philip Glass’s Madrigal Opera, a development workshop of Julia Adolphe and Stephanie Fleishman’s new children’s opera, as well as world premieres of Kit Steinkellner’s Ladies, Sarah B. Mantell’s Everything That Never Happened, plus for Boston Court elsewhere, Luis Alfaro’s Mojada, A Medea in Los Angeles (The Getty Villa), Sheila Callaghan’s Everything You Touch (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre at The Cherry Lane). Recently at other venues: The Father with Alfred Molina (The Pasadena Playhouse), Othello (A Noise Within), Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths (San Diego Rep, Arena Stage), Aditi Kapil’s Orange (South Coast Rep), Stupid Fucking Bird (ACT, Seattle), Most recently she directed a piece for Flash Acts, an international play festival of Russian and American artists produced by Arena Stage in D.C.  Kubzansky teaches graduate playwrights and directors at UCLA, has her MFA in Direction from the California Institute of the Arts, and her undergraduate degree in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins and Harvard. She has received many awards and honors, among them the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle’s Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatre.

 

Image Description: Jessica against a red background. Jessica is a woman of size who sports a mischievous smile, reddish-brown curly short hair, brown eyes, glasses, is wearing a black top with her typical black long scarf and two red necklaces.

MANUEL PRIETO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Manuel (Manny) Prieto (he/his/him) is a visionary leader who has tirelessly championed equitable arts access and engagement for the community of greater Los Angeles. He was formerly the Director of Education at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, and prior to that, Manny was the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt), a not-for-profit arts education institution in East Los Angeles with a 78-year history. Prior to joining LAMusArt, Prieto worked in the education department at Center Theatre Group coordinating accessibility programs at the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Kirk Douglas Theatre and implemented bilingual curriculum for their initiative “The Shop: Theatre in Your Everyday Life”. Prieto holds a B.F.A. from the University of Southern California in Theater Design and a M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Antioch University. He was co-chair of the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Council, member of the steering committee of the Latinx Theatre Alliance-LA and a former LACDAC internship program participant and peer mentor.

 

Image Description: Headshot of Manny smiling.  He has short black hair and sports a navy blue blazer, black tipped- white oxford button-down shirt, black slacks and has his right hand casually placed in his pocket.

ARTISTIC

ALISHA GREWAL
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE

Alisha Grewal (she/her) is a theatre artist based in Los Angeles. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Theatre and a minor in Cinematic Arts. Alisha has been a director, an actor, a producer, and an EDIA advocate. She was thrilled to direct Jiehae Park’s Peerless for Modern Minority Theatre Company, and she loved assistant directing for Lee Shallat-Chemel’s Much Ado About Nothing (Bing Theatre), Elisa Bocanegra’s Luzmi (Hero Theatre), and Laura Stribling’s Ode to Us and I (The Blank Theatre Co.). Alisha first joined Boston Court as a literary intern, where her interests in theatre expanded to include artistic direction and dramaturgy. She subsequently served as the dramaturg on Gabie Faulkner’s Buck v. Bell for Eight Ball Theatre Company. She is immeasurably grateful for the opportunity to continue with Boston Court as an Artistic Associate and have the privilege to learn and grow more every day.

 

Image Description: Headshot of Alisha with a gentle smile in a 3/4 profile. She has long, dark brown hair and brown eyes.

GRACE EVANOFF
LITERARY MANAGER

Grace is a passionate new play advocate with a great deal of experience in new play development. Artistically raised in Chicago, Grace co-led the Drinking & Writing Theater, dedicated to putting up new work year-round and collaborating with Chicago’s finest artists, including members from the Neo-Futurists. As co-director, Grace helped lead season planning, the curation of plays for festivals and workshops, recruitment initiatives, and more. Invited to work as an ensemble member with About Face Theatre’s education department, Grace toured in an original show throughout Chicago and surrounding areas, helping to bring more awareness and representation to LGBTQIA2S+ stories. She was also the Literary Manager for Wild Atlas and has been a passionate advocate for diverse playwrights, social justice, and the power of theatre to make change. Since returning to SoCal, Grace has earned her MFA in writing for television, film, and theatre at Cal State LA, where she was a two-time recipient of the Hollywood Foreign Press Scholarship. While there, Grace had the honor of acting as Sigrid Gilmer’s dramaturg on a new play for the theater department and working as an associate professor of theatre analysis. She has sold stories and written for various production studios, the highlight being DreamWorks’ Spirit and Friends, which is currently streaming. Along with writing for television and film, Grace also writes poetry and prose and was invited to read her work at the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in Orange County. Her forthcoming book of essays, Tiny Little Landslides, will be published this spring with Wet Cement Press. While Grace enjoys working with a range of storytelling mediums, her first love and passion is theatre and advocating for new plays and playwrights.

 

Image description: Headshot of a soft-smiling, inquisitive Grace out in nature with trees behind her. She has wavy, long, dark blonde hair and dons a tan collared jacket.

ERIC BEAL
ART UPFRONT COORDINATOR

Eric Beal is an artist, muralist, and curator in Los Angeles. As a curator and art installer, Eric has helped shape art shows across Los Angeles and showcased artists virtually. As the co-founder of The Artscene, a contemporary art community, Eric has interviewed artists, written, and podcast about contemporary art in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Paris. In his art practice, Eric utilizes stencils and spray paint to create symbolic representations through the layering of bold colors and shapes. His work has shown at various galleries, institutions, and fairs across the US and private collections abroad. His murals adorn businesses and walls in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Image description: The color photograph depicts Eric smiling at a 3/4 profile turn facing the left of the image. Eric is wearing an open white fabric jacket on top of a black t-shirt. He has black framed glasses and a silver left nostril ring.

ADMINISTRATIVE

LIBBY PETERSON
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Libby Peterson (she/ her/ hers) is an experienced development professional with a focus on performing arts fundraising. She is passionate about supporting the growth and success of arts organizations that push creative boundaries and connect deeply with their audiences. Libby has over ten years of experience working in development at Pasadena Playhouse, A Noise Within Theatre, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Minnesota Opera. She received a master’s in nonprofit management from University of San Francisco and a bachelor of science in dance and arts administration from Butler University. Libby looks forward to connecting with the BCP community this season!

 

Image description: Headshot of Libby smiling against a blue backdrop, wearing a navy sweater.

EMMAJO SPENCER
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE

EmmaJo Spencer (she/her/hers) is thrilled to work with Boston Court Pasadena following her time with the organization as a Graduate Fellow. She has recently graduated from Claremont Graduate University with an MA for Arts Management. She has spent time teaching after school arts programs in San Bernardino County and works regularly in administration and enrichment programming. When she is not working at the Theatre you can find her hiking in the mountains or drinking a cup of tea with her newest novel.

 

Image description: Headshot of EmmaJo smiling against a blue backdrop, wearing an peach top.

CLAIRE DOUCET
INTERIM PATRON SERVICES MANAGER

Claire Doucet (she/her) is an LA based theater creator. She recently graduated with Latin honors from UCLA’s school of Theater, Film, and Television with a B.A. in theater directing and production as well as minors in Film and Musicology. She has worked in stage management for various TFT productions (Shakepeare’s Pericles, Pippin, and Something Rotten) as well as studied and directed new plays through MFA and undergraduate programs. Having previously worked in various non-profits (Hammer Museum and Joan B. Kroc Theater, San Diego) she has a passion for accessibility and community in the art world. She has also self-produced short films for a film company she founded at UCLA and produced fundraising concerts for local Los Angeles arts-based education programs. She began her work at Boston Court as a Front of House Manager, but is thrilled to be working as the Patron Services Manager for the time being!

 

 

Image description:  Claire sits with short brown hair, head turned to the left, looking at the camera with a slight smile. She wears a leather jacket and black necklace.

TOVA KATZ
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Tova Katz (she/they) is playwright, composer-lyricist, and performer who infuses her love of storytelling into all her communications work. They are delighted to join the team at Boston Court!

 

Image description: Headshot of Tova at three quarters profile in a leather jacket with a dark blue background.

JENNY SMITH

JENNY COHN
MARKETING CONSULTANT

Jenny Cohn (she/her) worked at Boston Court full-time for almost 10 years as a props designer, stage manager, patron services, and eventually the senior director of marketing and communications. She’s happy to help BCP now in a consultant capacity.

 

Image description: Headshot of Jenny smiling against a grey backdrop, wearing a teal sweater.

PRODUCTION

JESSE SOTO

JESSE SOTO
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR & FACILITIES MANAGER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION MANAGER

Jesse Soto (he/him/his) has worked in almost every aspect of technical theatre since 2002, both in the professional and academic world. He has been a TD, Set Designer, Lighting Designer, Prop Master, Master Carpenter and Master Electrician, often performing multiple roles simultaneously. He graduated with a BA in Technical Theatre and Lighting Design from the University of La Verne. When he’s not hanging off the grid, crawling under the deck or just hammering away on set, he is spending his days with his amazing wife and beautiful daughter and sons.

MICHAEL MICHETTI
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS

Michael Michetti (he/him/his) was an Artistic Director of Theatre at Boston Court Pasadena for sixteen seasons, since its inception. He directed Romeo & Juliet, its inaugural production, in 2003, the first of 18 productions during his tenure as Artistic Director. While at Boston Court he directed the world premieres of: Dan O’Brien’s The House in Scarsdale, Dan Dietz’s American Misfit, Kathryn Walat’s Creation, Tom Jacobson’s The Twentieth-Century Way (also at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, NY), Deborah Stein’s God Save Gertrude, his own adaptation of A Picture of Dorian Gray (also at A Noise Within, Pasadena), and Eric Whitacre’s musical Paradise Lost: Shadows & Wings. Other Boston Court productions include: David Hare’s The Judas Kiss, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, Roland Schimmelpfennig’s The Golden Dragon, Eric Coble’s My Barking Dog, Aaron Posner’s Stupid Fucking Bird, John Walch’s The Dinosaur Within, Jason Grote’s 1001, Carlos Murillo’s Dark Play or Stories for Boys, Sinan Ünel’s Pera Palas, and Charles L. Mee’s Summertime.

Elsewhere his directing credits include: King Charles III and A Life in the Theatre (Pasadena Playhouse); the world premiere of Robert Schenkkan’s Building the Wall (Fountain Theatre); District Merchants (South Coast Rep); Frankenstein, Figaro, The Grapes of Wrath, Hamlet and As You Like It (A Noise Within); Brecht’s Edward II (Circle X); Noises Off (PlayMakers); Kiss Me, Kate, Carousel, and Man of La Mancha (Reprise). He is the recipient of many Los Angeles area theatre awards for his direction including an Ovation Award, a Stage Raw Award, and five LA Drama Critics Circle Awards.

EILEEN T’KAYE
FOUNDING PRODUCING DIRECTOR

has been acting, producing, and general managing in theatre for 30+ years. Her work has been honored with Ovation, L.A. Drama Critics Circle, L.A. Weekly, OOBR, Drama-Logue and Garland Awards. Her NY productions have been honored with Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Tony Award nominations. Ms. T’Kaye most recently appeared as Hucklebee in The Fantasticks at Reprise! and as Mrs. Peachum in Threepenny Opera at International City Theatre. She has performed on the Boston Court Pasadena mainstage in Gulls, Medea and Summertime. She lives in Pasadena with her amazing husband David and their three feline kids.

Z. CLARK BRANSON
FOUNDING DIRECTOR

Raised in Pasadena, Clark is fulfilling a lifelong dream with the creation of Boston Court Pasadena. He was honored with the Pasadena Art Council’s 2005 Gold Crown Award, for recognition of excellence in and support of the arts. He has produced musical concerts, workshops, world premiere plays and musicals for over 25 years. An artist in his own right, Clark is a painter, a published author and well known for his folk singing and storytelling.

CONTACT US

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions or feedback regarding your visit, ticket booking or something else. We look forward to hearing from you!

STREET ADDRESS
70 N Mentor Ave Pasadena, CA 91106

MAILING ADDRESS
Boston Court, P.O. Box 60187 Pasadena, CA 91116-6187

BOX OFFICE
626.683.6801, boxoffice@bostoncourtpasadena.org call_made

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
626.683.6883

MEDIA INQUIRIES
Contact us at marketing@bostoncourtpasadena.org call_made

PLAY SUBMISSIONS
Please do not send play submissions to the address. To find out more about our play submission policy, please visit our submission page call_made

SOCIAL MEDIA
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Staff Directory

THEATRE PRODUCTION HISTORY

(Key to designations below)

 

2025

Frou Frou: A Menagerie of Sorts by John Anthony Loffredo WP

2024

Both And (a play about laughing while black) by Carolyn Ratteray remount at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts*

The Body’s Midnight by Tira Palmquist (co-pro w/ IAMA Theatre Company) WP

A Going Away Party Play by Keyanna Khatiblou WP

2023

Unrivaled by Rosie Narasaki (co-pro w/ Playwrights’ Arena) WP 

Measure STILL for Measure by Jessica Kubzansky WP

2022

Both And (a play about laughing while black) by Carolyn Ratteray WP

Escapegoat: A Workshop Presentation by May Treuhaft-Ali

2021

Measure for Measure PLAY ON adaptation by Aditi Brennan Kapil (Virtual)

Mariology: A Virtual Workshop Presentation by Nancy Keystone (co-pro w/ Critical Mass Performance Group) 

Fool Me Once: A Virtual Escape Room Experience by Courtney Doyle, Jessica Kubzansky, Monica Montoya, Jesse Soto and Margaret Shigeko Starbuck

2020

Passion by James Lapine, music by Sondheim cancelled

Blood/Sugar by Diana Wyenn (Virtual)

Kristina Wong for Public Office by Kristina Wong (co-pro w/ Los Angeles Performance Practice) (Virtual)

2019

The Judas Kiss by David Hare

Ladies by Kit Steinkellner WP

How the Light Gets In by E.M. Lewis WP

2018

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Her Portmanteau by Mfoniso Udofia SP

Everything That Never Happened by Sarah B. Mantell WP

2017

Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Boops by Jen Silverman SP

The House in Scarsdale by Dan O’Brien WP

With Love and A Major Organ by Julia Lederer

2016

Colony Collapse by Stefanie Zadravec WP

The Golden Dragon by Roland Schimmelpfennig

Bars and Measures by Idris Goodwin RWP

2015

The Missing Pages of Lewis Carroll  by Lily Blau, dvlpd in collab with Sydney Gallas WP

My Barking Dog by Eric Coble SP

Shiv by Aditi Brennan Kapil

Seven Spots on the Sun by Martin Zimmerman (co-pro with Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre) WCP

*Mojada…A Medea in Los Angeles by Luis Alfaro (co-pro with The Getty Villa, Malibu)

*Everything You Touch by Sheila Callaghan (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre at The Cherry Lane, NYC)

*Happy Days by Samuel Beckett (The Flea Theater, NYC)

  • The Twentieth Century Way by Tom Jacobson (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, NYC)

2014

Se Llama Christina by Octavio Solis RWP

Everything You Touch by Sheila Callaghan (co-pro with Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre) WP

Stupid Fucking Bird by Aaron Posner (co-pro with Circle X Theatre Co.) SP 

Happy Days by Samuel Beckett

*Happy Days by Samuel Beckett (Commonwealth Shakespeare Co., Boston)

2013

Cassiopeia by David Wiener WP

American Misfit by Dan Dietz SP

Alcestis by Nancy Keystone (co-pro with Critical Mass Performance Group) WP

RII by William Shakespeare and Jessica Kubzansky WP

2012

The Treatment adapted from the Chekhov short story for stage by Richard Alger and Tina Kronis (co-pro with Theatre Movement Bazaar) WP 

The Children by Michael Elyanow WP

The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol adapted by Oded Gross (co-pro with Furious Theatre Co.) WP 

Creation by Kathryn Walat WP

2011

Camino Real by Tennessee Williams (co-pro with CalArts Theatre)

How To Disappear Completely and Never Be Found by Fin Kennedy AP

Heavier Than… by Steve Yockey WP

The Dinosaur Within by John Walch SP

2010

Oedipus el Rey by Luis Alfaro RWP

The Twentieth-Century Way by Tom Jacobson WP

The Good Book of Pedantry and Wonder by Moby Pomerance (co-pro with Circle X Theatre Co.) WP

Futura by Jordan Harrison SWP

2009

Tartuffe by Molière, transl. by Donald Frame

Courting Vampires by Laura Schellhardt WP

The Pain and the Itch by Bruce Norris (co-pro with Furious Theatre Co.)

God Save Gertrude by Deborah Stein, music by David Hanbury, lyrics by Stein & Hanbury WP

2008

Othello by William Shakespeare (co-pro with LA Women’s Shakespeare Co.)

1001 by Jason Grote SP

Gulls – book & lyrics by Nick Salamone, music by Maury McIntyre (a musical adaptation of Chekhov’s The Seagull)  WP

The Sequence by Paul Mullin WP 

2007

Gilgamesh adapted from Stephen Mitchell for the stage by Stephen Sachs WP

Bleed Rail by Mickey Birnbaum WP

Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings – music and book by Eric Whitacre, lyrics by David Norona and Eric Whitacre WP

Dark Play or Stories for Boys by Carlos Murillo SP

2006

A Picture of Dorian Gray – adapted from Oscar Wilde for the stage by Michael Michetti WP

The Winchester House by Julia Cho WP

Unfinished American Highwayscape #9 & 32 by Carlos Murillo WP

The America Play by Suzan-Lori Parks

2005

Medea by Euripides, transl. by Paul Roche

Echo’s Hammer by Ken Roht WP

Pera Palas by Sinan Unel (co-pro with Antaeus Theatre Co)

Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, adaptation by David Hare

2004

Cold/Tender by Cody Henderson WP

Summertime by Charles L. Mee

A Winter People by Chay Yew USP

Light by Jean-Claude Van Itallie WP

2003

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

 

Key: 

WP: World Premiere

RWP: Rolling World Premiere

SWP: Shared World Premiere

SP: Second Production

WCP: West Coast Premiere

USP: US Premiere

* denotes production produced off-site.

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