Sheldon Epps of
the Pasadena Playhouse was among six recipients
of $125,000 awards from the James Irvine Foundation,
which honors organizations that tackle state issues,
according to a press release. California governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand to congratulate
the winners at a July 16 ceremony.
Epps joined the
Pasadena Playhouse in 1997 and is credited with
jump-starting the company's renaissance. Poor attendance had
threatened to close the playhouse more than once, but
Epps, one of the few African-American artistic
directors in a major American theater, led the company
to its current stature as a high-grossing landmark of
diversity celebration. (The Advocate)
