Arts & Culture

Cozy Up to 'The Pajama Game' for a Good Cause

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 14, 2010) − Few things are more soothing than curling up in your own comfy PJs. And what could be better than enjoying a night watching a popular Broadway musical in your pajamas? How about sharing that comforting feeling with children waiting to be adopted or living in foster homes across the Commonwealth.

These next two weeks the University of Kentucky Department of Theatre invites you to get comfortable while helping others at their production of the Tony award-winning romantic musical comedy "The Pajama Game."

"The Pajama Game" tells the story of the blossoming romance of Sid and Babe, who find love amidst the labor squabbles in a pajama factory. UK's production, starring senior theatre majors Jim Trujillo and Alys Dickerson, comes to the Guignol Theatre April 15-25.

To help celebrate, UK Theatre, in collaboration with the Kentucky chapter of Pajama Program, will take donations of a new pair of pajamas to benefit these children housed in temporary living facilities. The Pajama Program is a national non-profit organization that collects pajamas and books for children waiting to be adopted or living in foster homes. Additionally, the two groups will sponsor a special PJ and Pizza Party to begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, in the lobby of the UK Fine Arts Building, prior to curtain at 7:30 p.m.

"UK Theatre is always looking for ways to give back to the community, and we are excited to partner with such a deserving program as the Pajama Program, which gives new pajamas to needy kids in Kentucky," said Nancy Jones, chair of UK Theatre. "We think 'The Pajama Game' is a great opportunity to bring awareness to the great work the Kentucky chapter is doing in our state."

Written by Richard Bissell with original music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jenny Ross, UK’s production is directed by Russell Henderson, associate professor of acting and voice. Guest artist for "The Pajama Game" is Lexington’s own Ryan Shirar, executive and musical director of Paragon Music Theatre.

Cast and crew have enjoyed working on the popular classic musical, which garnered the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical on Broadway in 2006. "The students and I have had a wonderful time exploring these vibrant characters and exuberant story together," noted the director.

Performances of "The Pajama Game" begin nightly at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee offered on Sunday, April 25, at the Guignol Theatre.

Tickets for "The Pajama Game" are $15 for general admission, $10 for UK faculty/staff or senior citizens, and $5 for students. Additionally, UK Theatre will offer a special rate of $5 per ticket for audience members who wear pajamas to this show.

For more information on the UK Theatre production, contact the UK Department of Theatre at (859) 257-3297 or visit www.uky.edu/finearts/theatre. To reserve tickets, call the Singletary Center for the Arts ticket office at (859) 257-4929 or visit online at www.singletarytickets.com.