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The cast (l. to r.) Dan Parker, Jeanne Sakata, Larry Bates, Brenda Canela, Daniel Chaffin and Tom Shelton of Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

CASTING TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING

10/29/08 • The cast of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing has begun rehearsals and features some familiar faces to fans of SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences series. Tom Shelton takes on the roles of Dad, Ralph and Viktor. Who can forget Tom’s hilarious turn as the earthworm in James and the Giant Peach? Daniel Chaffin, who headlined last year’s educational touring production of You’re Getting Warmer, will portray Peter, and playing his annoying younger brother, Fudge, is Daniel T. Parker, no stranger to SCR having been in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Habeas Corpus. Rounding out the cast are Larry Bates, Jeanne Sakata and Brenda Canela. Judy Blume’s hilarious tale of sibling rivalry runs on the Julianne Argyros stage November 7-23.

Bob and Susan Ehrlich with actor Tony Amendola

THE HEIRESS SHINES

10/29/08 • A standing ovation followed by a lively party. That’s the makings of a great First Night at South Coast Repertory. Following their bows, The Heiress cast members made their way to backstage dressing rooms where they shed period costumes, wigs and make-up before heading for Ela’s Terrace and a reception with First Nighters. The rave reviews at the party (“Marvelous!”— Susan Ehrlich; “Spot-on!” —Olivia Johnson) were followed by kudoes from the Orange County Register (“Still makes us gasp!”), the Long Beach Press Telegram (“Engaging drama!”) and Variety (“Delivers the crowd-pleasing goods!”).

To enjoy more astute comments from First Nighters and more lively photos, visit SCR Party Play with Ann Conway.

View the slideshow and the video.

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS

10/22/08 • For a fascinating behind-the-scenes account on the making of the lavish period costumes of The Heiress, check out Paul Hodgins' story in the Orange County Register.

Costume designer Maggie Morgan, right, goes over the finishing touches of a 1850's cherry red silk taffeta dress with cutter Bronwen Burton. The 19th-century hoop dress will be featured in "The Heiress" at South Coast Repertory.

Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Orange County Register

The playwright at First Night of A Naked Girl on the Appian Way with Linda Kensay and Teri Kennady

FIRST NIGHTERS TO HOBNOB WITH GREENBERG

10/22/08 • Subscribers to SCR’s Segerstrom Stage — and playgoers across the Southland — just got the news that TBA (to be announced) now has a name! It’s called Our Mother’s Brief Affair, a world premiere by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg, directed by Pam MacKinnon.  The SCR-commissioned play will anchor the theatre’s 12th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival, running April 3 through May 3, 2009.

Adult siblings Seth and Abby have reunited to tend to their elderly mother, Anna, who has come close to dying more than once.  But this time something is different.  This time Anna has a story to tell, about long-ago Saturday afternoons, about escorting young Seth to his viola lessons at Juilliard despite his constant protestations — and about what she did while he played scales.  A love affair made out of weekly matinees at a small hotel, with a man whose name is synonymous with betrayal.

Our Mother’s Brief Affair is the ninth SCR World Premiere by the prolific playwright, who will be ‘in residency’ in Costa Mesa from the first rehearsal through opening night on April 10.  Those who subscribe to First Nights at SCR will have the opportunity to to join the playwright for the show that evening and remain for the exciting post-production party with all the artists.  To learn more about becoming a First Nights subscriber and joining the fun at Our Mother’s Brief Affair—and all the other SCR openings—call Laura Bleiberg at (714) 708-5590.

Dede and Howard Brink and Danuta Schenke

A PEARL OF AN EVENING

10/16/08 • Only weeks after hosting a glorious dinner for South Coast Repertory, celebrating 30 years of the Segerstrom Stage, Mikimoto opened its South Coast Plaza store with a sneak peak for SCR donors only. On view: the latest from Mikimoto’s South Sea Cultured Pearl Collection.

Guests oooh-ed and aaah-ed over the collection as waiters served champagne and passed hors d’oeuvres. Producing Artistic Director David Emmes thanked Mikimoto store manager Mitra Parsa and introduced SCR Literary Associate Linda Baity, who gave the guests another sneak preview — the upcoming production of The Heiress, which runs on the Segerstrom Stage October 17.

For information about becoming a member of SCR’s donor Circles and attending upcoming events such as the evening at Mikimoto, call Laura Bleiberg at (714) 708-5590.

SCR Trustee Sophie Cripe admires Mikimoto pearls	Pearls on display

The cast of The Heiress includes (back row) Ameila White, Jennifer Parsons, Branden McDonald, Lynn Milgrim, Karen Hensel, Rebecca Mozo, (front row) Tony Amendola, Kirsten Potter and Michael A. Newcomer.

THE HEIRESS PREPARESS

10/14/08 • The cast and creative team for The Heiress is in full swing preparing for the show’s first preview performance on Friday. Helmed by Artistic Director Martin Benson, the classic drama of love, innocence and betrayal will run from Oct. 17 through Nov. 16 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Loosely based on the classic Henry James novel Washington Square, The Heiress "alternately pierces the mind with its wit and shakes up the emotions with its brutality," according to The New York Times, and has achieved international success both on stage and screen.  Set in 1850s New York, a widower and his daughter go about their lives, each craving love but powerless to express their needs. Into their home comes a suitor of great charm who awakens the daughter’s spirit and brightens her world – and may or may not be a fortune hunter.

The cast features Tony Amendola, Karen Hensel, Lynn Milgrim, Rebecca Mozo, Michael A. Newcomer, Jennifer Parsons, Kirsten Potter and Amelia White (Elizabeth Almond).

Read the press release

Lenny Von Dohlen and Margaret Welsh in Dead Man’s Cell Phone.

RINGING REVIEWS!

10/03/08 • Sarah Ruhl’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone opened to rave reviews and is now playing on the Julianne Argyros Stage. The Hollywood Reporter proclaimed Dead Man’s Cell Phone “wildly clever and very funny . . . terrific entertainment” and the Los Angeles Times calls’ Ruhl’s play “a wildly impromptu journey!”

Read more about the Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright’s views about playwriting – and cell phones – in her essay written for the Los Angeles Times. And check out her lively interview with Paul Hodgins in the Orange County Register.

Henry and Elizabeth Segerstrom, Hajime Fukuju, Mitra Parsa of Mikimoto, dinner sponsors.

HATS OFF TO THE SEGERSTROMS

10/02/08 • If you live in Orange County, the name Segerstrom is familiar to you. It’s everywhere — as well it should be. The Segerstrom family put our area on the map with the most successful shopping center in America, South Coast Plaza. But that’s only part of the story. As philanthropists, the family is unequaled, and we at South Coast Repertory are among those benefitting from its generosity. Our theatre sits on land donated by the Segerstroms and has been the recipient of the family’s largess through every major fund-raising campaign. And one of our stages bears their name. It was in recognition of the Segerstrom Stage’s 30th anniversary that SCR threw a party prior to First Night of An Italian Straw Hat: A Vaudeville — and the Segerstrom family came, along with Orange County’s most generous individuals. We tipped our hat to Henry Segerstrom and the entire family during the dinner party at The Westin South Coast Plaza and will keep on tipping it as the seasons roll on.

Visit SCR Party Play with Ann Conway for more!

Jennifer and Anton Segerstrom, center, with Tim and Jean Weiss	Sally Segerstrom, Steve Perry, Susie Segerstrom

HORSING AROUND

The first couple of days of rehearsal for South Coast Repertory productions are crowded with activity, not the least of which is taking initial press photos—before costumes or sets are available. An Italian Straw Hat: A Vaudeville presented its own challenges:

Because the plot revolves around an unusual occurence (Fadley’s horse has eated a young lady’s hat—offstage!—and the hapless bridegroom’s wedding will be derailed unless he finds a replacement), what was needed was a hat—and a horse. The Costume Department was able to supply a hat. But what about the horse?

For that SCR is indebted to Carrie Spence, a member of Back Bay Therapeutic Riding Club. On day two of rehearsal, actor Daniel Blinkoff, who portrays Fadley, made a detour to Carrie’s backyard coral and met Ed, one of her two exceptional horses whose usual job is to make life better for those with physical and developmentmental disabilities.

Because he is used to being gentle and cooperative, Ed didn’t seem to mind wearing a hat or interacting with Danny. In fact, both horse and actor had a lot of fun, and SCR had its press photos. By the way, anyone interested in finding out more about the therapeutic riding program can call (949) 474-7329 or visit www.backbaytrc.org

Owner Carrie Spence Gets Ed ready for his close up.

Henry DiRocco shoots Daniel Blinkoff the thespian and Ed the equestrian thespian.

A photo finish!

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