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ACTING WITH THE STARS

On July 30, SCR celebrated a successful 2007-08 Season—its 44th in the black—with a party on the Segerstrom Stage to honor underwriters and trustees.  This Annual Dinner bash was dubbed “Acting With the Stars” and included an entertaining rundown of the season past by host Kevin Rahm (What They Have) along with Bill Brochtrup and Kasey Mahaffy (Taking Steps) and Nancy Bell (What They Have).  Acting like the stars they are, the foursome held a mock talent contest with Honorary Producers, who tested their skills in scenes from past SCR shows.  As the party ended, the 2007-08 Board officers took their final bow and ushered in the new team.  

The stars: Kasey Mahaffy, Kevin Rahm, Nancy Bell, Bill Brochtrup

The stars dressed up: Kasey Mahaffy, Kevin Rahm, Nancy Bell, Bill Brochtrup

Emeritus Trustee Elaine Weinberg, new Trustee Mary Ann Brown and past President Larry Higby. Elaine, Honorary Producer of The Importance of Being Earnest acted with the stars as Jack in the muffin scene from the show.

Newly-elected Emeritus Trustees Socorro Vasquez, second from left, and Sue Stern, right, with other Emeritus Trustees Carl Neisser and Olivia Johnson. Honorary Producer of Culture Clash with her husband, Ernie, Socorro acted with the stars as Juliet to Ernie's Romeo.

Gail and Ernie Doe with Laurie Smits Staude, Honorary Producer of Shipwrecked, who acted with the stars as Louis de Rougemont in the show.

Retiring Trustees Denise Moon and Betty Huang (seated) and Kim Kelley, Chris Anderson and Tim Weiss. Honorary Producer of Doubt with his wife, Jean, Tim acted with the stars as Professor Higgins in Pygmalian.

Danny Scheie

US, NERO

06/26/08 • South Coast Repertory’s much-anticipated World Premiere production of Amy Freed’s You, Nero will travel to Berkeley Repertory Theatre after its Julianne Argyros Stage debut! The Pulitzer Prize nominee’s new comedy follows the travails of the infamous Roman emperor who decides to commission a play that could be the Colosseum’s biggest hit ever – if its hapless author lives to tell the tale. Amy’s Roman romp, commissioned by SCR, will run from January 4 through January 25, 2008 and then enjoy a run at Berkeley Rep from May 8 through June 21. Danny Scheie, who had PPF audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter, will recreate his satirical star-turn as Nero at both Tony Award-winning theatres.

Douglas Weston and Mark Harelik in The Beard of Avon.

You, Nero is “an uproarious comedy set during the declining years of the Roman Empire,” the New York Times raved after attending this year’s Pacific Playwright’s Festival. “Ms. Freed’s gloriously funny play is its own argument for the continued viability of an endangered species, the stage comedy. I’m tempted to quote at length, but the play’s delirious charm would surely fizzle in sober newsprint. For evidence of its irresistible appeal I’ll just report that the audience staggered out into the sunny spring afternoon with stomachs sore from laughter, and that I await a New York production with unusual relish… A spoof of theater through the ages – from Sophocles to A Chorus Line – You, Nero makes lively sport of contemporary American culture, as Ms. Freed imagines the mincing Nero (a magnificent Danny Scheie – but Nathan Lane might want to call his agent now) commissioning an image-primping pageant from a down-on-his-luck dramatist.”

Sharon Ott (Ridiculous Fraud) will again helm the hysteria. Amy’s other SCR commissions include The Beard of Avon, Safe in Hell and Freedomland.

Don’t miss out! SCR subscription packages are available now. Single tickets go on sale August 11.

The dual is over and lovers, Desirée (Stephanie Zimbalist) and Fredrik (Mark Jacoby), foreground, and the Count (Damon Kirsche) and Charlotte (Amanda Naughton) reunite in A Little Night Music.

SCR ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON!

06/26/08 • South Coast Repertory’s 45th season kicks off with the World Premiere of An Italian Straw Hat, an SCR-commissioned musical by John Strand and Dennis McCarthy, and dead man’s cell phone, the acclaimed new play by Sarah Ruhl. The season also includes SCR-commissioned World Premieres by Amy Freed, Lauren Gunderson and John Kolvenbach, and three classics, The Heiress, Noises Off and King Lear. Tickets to South Coast Repertory’s 2008-2009 Argyros, Segerstrom and Theatre for Young Audiences Seasons are currently available by subscription only and range from $42 to $495. Single tickets will be available to the public on August 11. Subscription packages may be purchased by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

On the Segerstrom Stage:

An Italian Straw Hat by John Strand and Dennis McCarthy (Sept. 5 – Oct. 5)
Emmy Award-winning composer Dennis McCarthy ("Star Trek") teams up with Charles MacArthur prize winner John Strand (Tom Walker, Lovers and Executioners) and director Stefan Novinski for the World Premiere of a rollicking new musical based on the classic farce by Eugene Labiche. Stefan helmed the current season’s hit production of A Little Night Music.

The Heiress by Ruth Goetz and Augustus Goetz (Oct. 17 – Nov. 16)
SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson stages the classic play about a widower and his daughter in 1850’s New York. Loosely based on the Henry James novel Washington Square, The Heiress is a psychological drama of love, innocence and betrayal.

Noises Off by Michael Frayn (Feb. 6 – March 8)
Michael Frayn’s irresistible comedic masterpiece follows the on and off stage antics of an inept acting troupe as they stumble from bumbling dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night. Noises Off is widely recognized as the most ingenious and hilarious back stage farce ever written. Warner Shook (The Importance of Being Earnest, Born Yesterday) directs.

Collected Stories by Donald Margulies (May 15 – June 14)
This provocative revival of SCR's smash hit is an intimate portrait of two women, writers at opposite stages of their career - on a collision course.

A World Premiere production will debut from April 3 to May 3 as part of the 2009 Pacific Playwrights Festival.

On the Julianne Argyros Stage:

Brooke Bloom and Peter Katona in the West Coast premiere of Sarah Treem's life-affirming comedy, A Feminine Ending.

dead man’s cell phone by Sarah Ruhl (Sept. 21 – Oct. 12)
After playing to sold-out houses in New York this season, SCR presents Sarah Ruhl’s fantastical play about a woman who answers a mysterious cell phone. Sarah returns to SCR following the West Coast Premiere of The Clean House which also enjoyed a New York run and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Bart DeLorenzo (Shipwrecked! An Entertainment) directs.

You, Nero by Amy Freed (Jan. 4 – 25)
The World Premiere of Pulitzer Prize nominee Amy Freed’s new comedy about the infamous Roman emperor who decides to commission a play that could be the Colosseum’s biggest hit ever – if its hapless author lives to tell the tale. Commissioned by SCR, You, Nero was directed by Sharon Ott as a staged reading at this past season’s Pacific Playwrights Festival. Amy’s plays include the SCR commissions The Beard of Avon, Safe in Hell and Freedomland. Sharon will return to direct.

Goldfish by John Kolvenbach (March 15 – April 5)
From Chicago to New York to London, John Kolvenbach is one of today's most sought-after playwrights. An SCR-commissioned World Premiere, Kolvenbach’s bittersweet comedy about love lost and found received a staged reading at this year’s Pacific Playwrights Festival under the direction of Loretta Greco. Loretta was recently appointed San Francisco’s Magic Theatre’s artistic director and will return to direct.

Emilie – The Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight by Lauren Gunderson (April 19 – May 10)
This highly theatrical rediscovery of one of history’s most interesting women – the 18th century Parisian Emilie du Châtelet – and her lifelong affair with the Enlightenment superstar Voltaire was presented as a staged reading at this past season’s Pacific Playwright’s Festival. Kate Whoriskey (The Piano Teacher, Life is a Dream, The Clean House) directed the reading and will also stage the production.

The 2008-2009 Season will also include the holiday favorites, A Christmas Carol and La Posada Mágica (The Magical Journey). A Christmas Carol will be presented on the Segerstrom Stage Nov. 29 through Dec. 27. La Posada Mágica, celebrating its 15th season, will be presented on the Julianne Argyros Stage Dec. 11 – 23.

The 12th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival, one of the preeminent festivals of new plays in the United States, will take May 1 – 3 and will feature seven new plays over three days. The 2008-09 NewSCRipts Season consists of three Monday evening readings of plays by emerging and established writers. NewSCRipts readings will be presented on Oct. 20, Dec. 8 and March 2.

Click here for the 2008-09 Mainstage Season.
 
All selections are subject to change.

James Lambert (right) as Sam with Brett Ryback (left) as T-Rex, his imaginary friend (who doesn’t know he’s imaginary) in the World Premiere of Imagine.

2008-09 Theatre for Young Audiences Announced!

06/26/08 • SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences season features three lively and colorful productions for the entire family. Tickets to the TYA season are currently available by subscription only and range from $42 to $78. All performances take place on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Single tickets will be available to the public on August 11. Subscription packages may be purchased by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing based on the book by Judy Blume, adapted for the stage by Bruce Mason (Nov. 7 – 23). Judy Blume’s enormously popular book hits the stage with hilarity, and sibling rivalry has never been so much fun. Jessica Kubzansky directs.

A Year with Frog and Toad music by Robert Reale, book and lyrics by Willie Reale, based on the books by Arnold Lobel (Feb. 13 – March 1). Nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Musical, A Year with Frog and Toad is a song-filled year in the life of two charming woodland characters and their friends that Variety declared “delights young eyes and minds.”  Nick DeGruccio directs.

The Brand New Kid based on the children's book "The Brand New Kid" by Katie Couric, music by Michael Friedman, book by Melanie Marnich, lyrics by Michael Friedman and Melanie Marnich (May 29 – June 14). Adapted from CBS anchor Katie Couric's popular children's book, The Brand New Kid is an upbeat new musical about friendship and tolerance. Shelley Butler (James and the Giant Peach, Charlotte’s Web) directs.

Click here for the Theatre for Young Audiences season

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