A Night with Janis Joplin at Pasadena Playhouse

First of all, a big THANK YOU to Unilocal for making my first Unilocal experience a really fun one! I chose to take my Mom who is a HUGE Janis Joplin fan to see this performance at the Pasadena Playhouse. We are such fans of this venue! Small and intimate, but true to it’s fans… every seat in the house is a good one. We were actually sat in the very last row on the venue (per our complimentary tickets) and they were amazing! The temperature of the venue is perfect as well. The staff was warm and welcoming and the ushers seemed to be having just as much fun as the audience.
The actual show, I can’t say more about Mary Bridget Davies… she is a musical BEAST! I’m 31 and I thought at one point ‘this is probably as close as I will ever get to see someone so similar in likeness to Janis as Mary.‘
Thank you so much to a great ‘Girls Night Out’ for Mom and I! Many, many, thanks!
PS– The only note I would have is for the venue: The mezzanine is pretty tricky for those older than 60. My mom had a bit of difficulty getting up and down the mezzanine. I would consider installing a hand rail that is closer to the seats for people who’s eyesight is maybe not so top notch.

Thank you to Unilocal for the free tickets! Had a great time, the show was so good! It was like Janis was alive and telling her story with a supporting cast of friends/​guest singers. My friend & I were blown away by the powerful voices and the excellent band. If you closed your eyes she sounded just like Janis. They played every song you’d want to hear, 5 stars all the way!

If you’ve ever or never been a fan of Janis, «A Night With Janis Joplin» will do it for you. Very fortunate to have been invited for the AMAZING event! Kacee Clanton’s voice, mannerisms — her entire performance was breathtaking, she gives it all she’s got. I turned to myf friend at the conclusion and said– «She’s got to be exhausted” — soooo much energy dedicated to her performance. Beautiful LIGHTING, wardrobe was gorgeous, the band, brought it. Outstanding performances the Jooplinaire group of singers portraying Odetta Bessie Smith, Aretha, and Etta. There’s a boutique selling clothes apparently authorized by the Joplin family and inspired by the times. Loved the 3 finger ring, but wayyyy too $$$. I’d like to go again and see Mary Bridget Davies perform as Janis. Let’s go! Here’s a nice review and photo Clanton’s performance on LA weekly I found on FB.
Check out Kacee Clanton on the cover of this week’s Pasadena Weekly

My wife and I started going to Broadway performances about 10 years ago to see Phantom of the Opera… We were hooked! Over the years we have seen Wicked (twice), Lion King, Mama Mia, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Cats, a few others… you get the idea, all the big ones…
I have loved the music of Janis Joplin for well over 20 years and when I heard about this show I couldnt buy the tickets fast enough. It also happened to be playing on the night of my 46^th birthday so that was a no brainer. What to do for my birthday was easily decided and taken care of. My wife is NOT a Janis Joplin fan. Her experience with Janis’ music consists of hearing it when I’ve got it on… lol…
But she came along for this performance on Saturday 8÷15÷15… So lets cut to the chase… This show was absolutely AMAZING!!! I loved it and my wife loved it… Mary Bridgette Davies was beyond incredible… I truly felt as though we were at a Janis Joplin concert… But it doesnt stop there… The story line was about who influenced Janis Joplin. So as Janis (Mary Bridgette) talked about her musical influences growing up, different performers would come out on stage and sing one of the songs she was talking about that influenced her. So we got amazing performance from several incredible singers performing as Odetta, Aretha Franklin (brought the house down), Etta James, Bessie Smith, The Shandells… Just WOW!!!
But the story of course was really the music of Janis… I have NEVER been to a Broadway performance where song after song got a standing ovation from more people than you could count… And to be completely honest, it wasnt every song, but it was at least 6 different songs… A few times it was half the audience, and this was several times in the middle of the show, not the last number… Just unrelenting energy and amazing talent song after song…
The theater itself was a pleasant surprise. We had never been to Pasadena Playhouse before… It was a small venue probably seating less than a thousand people in total but because of this I couldnt see any seat that would be considered a bad seat… The acoustics were great, we could hear the spoken dialog crystal clear which is a nice change…
In closing, if you are familiar with her music at all, you will love this show. It went straight to the top as one of my all time favorite shows. It closes next weekend in Pasadena and I’m hoping it goes on a tour. If it comes up to Northern California where I live, I am seeing it again!!!

What an AMAZING show. The performances were a awesome. When the light hit Kacee Clanton just right you would swear Janis had taken the stage. Kacee’s performance was outstanding. She even sounded just like Janis when she spoke. Thank you for getting me as close to seeing Janis as I’ll ever get

So happy we won the tickets as we would have otherwise passed on this show, not being huge Janis Joplin fans. The actress portraying Janis was amazing, she sounded so much like Janis. I loved how the show incorporated Janis’ influences — Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin. Loved how they initially had her influences sing their song and how they show how Janis made those songs her own.

Let’s start by saying these voices will knock the socks off whatever socks your ears wear. The performances by these virtuosos of blues and rock are nothing short of things you hear once in a blue moon.
The women make the show. I’ve wanted to see this show since it played here last here. I’ve heard wonderful things about Mary Bridget Davies’ performance and the hype is not overblown. She is full on Janis Joplin interpreter that embodies that rocker, hippie ethic. But the performance that really stole the show was the Everyday Blues Woman singing «Today I Sing the Blues». I swear the entire building was going to crumble under the sheer power of her voice.
Thank you Katie B. and Unilocal for the tickets! It was such a fun night!

Great performance!
Thank you, Pasadena Playhouse, yet again, for the complimentary Unilocal tickets for another very entertaining show! Growing up, I’d never truly appreciated the music of Janice Joplin – I’d never really known much about her and certainly wasn’t at all schooled on her influences musically – but this show provides a lot of insight about who she was and who she became. Afterward – and I have to say that the Aretha and Etta renditions were amazing! – I immediately hit iTunes! Now, for my long drives coming up this weekend, I have a few new, rockin’ playlists. Happy about that!
Thanks, also, to Katie B., of course! I’m always a fan of theatre performances, and I always enjoy being a part of a Unilocal-​stocked audience! =]

Fun I was happy to get tickets and we enjoyed our night thanks a bunch I have never been to the playhouse and always wanted to go.

I love Janis! I have been wanting to see this performance since I heard about it and been putting it off. But I finally got off my butt and put it into action. Words cannot describe what I happen to see… I was left speechless. I have had my share of being a theater goer from big to small productions. The best of the best, WHY have you not gotten out to see this one is beyond me. No, wait I understand… life has gotten in the way. But if you love or even appreciate the voice of Janis, Do one thing for yourself and for this cast and go out and see them. You will not be disappointed!
Mary Bridget Davies your voice is magical. You left it out on that stage!
Not to say the rest of the cast didn’t., because they did too! Go out there and show them the love of the art!

Absolutely Amazing.
From start to finish you go on this music experience that the 5 women singing take you to a great moment in music, makes you feel like getting up and shaking what your momma gave you.
A few years ago I missed out on watching this, this time around and a huge thanks to Katie B and Pasadena Playhouse for giving me the opportunity to hear, see and feel a magnificent show.
If you love music and want to be wowed then catch this show, ends in about a week but if you don’t see it this time make sure to make it the next time it is at the Pasadena Playhouse.
I will Go On…

Thank you Katie B and Unilocal for hooking it up big time!!! This was my first time at the Pasadena Playhouse and I really enjoyed it! I have never heard of Janis Joplin so I was very unfamiliar with the music and what the show/​musical was going to be about. But after reading the reviews prior to the show, it made me really excited. We arrived before the show started and got our tickets at Will Call with no issues. Our seats were EXCELLENT. We were right in the middle of the pack with a perfect view!
The show itself was amazing — and this is coming from someone that isn’t very much into this type of events. It was funny, crowd engaging and pleasing at the same time. The music, the singing and the light effects were all on point. The singing was just amazing — everyone’s voice was so powerful!
I would definitely recommend this show to anyone out there — whether or not you are familiar with Janis Joplin. Everyone that attended this event were on their feet! Couldn’t have asked for a better 1^st time experience at The Pasadena Playhouse. Thank you Katie B!

Last nights performance knocked my socks off! Mary Bridge Davies played Janis Joplin wonderfully! Her voice was powerful and electric that it gave me chills. Everyone was on their feet dancing the night away, arms swaying in the air, clapping and just grooving. I love how the show demonstrated a unique narrative style of singing which blew my mind. I came here not knowing who Janis Joplin was and thought it was just more like a classic rock music concert but it was much more than that! The performance gave you a great perspective of her life and portrayed her journey on becoming that awesome rock-​star, the Queen of Rock n Roll!
Thank you Pasadena Playhouse for putting on a wonderful show and of course, thank you Katie B. for these complimentary tickets. I wasn’t a fan of classic rock as my taste of music is more on the R&B/Pop side but now I’m definitely digging it.
Her show ends August 23, 2015 so get those tickets while you still can!