World Premiere of Julia Cho's The Language Archive Underwritten by South Coast Repertory's Playwrights Circle
COSTA MESA, CA, April 2, 2010 – The Language Archive, a world premiere by Julia Cho, directed by Mark Brokaw, opened tonight on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory with underwriting by the Playwrights Circle, a group of individual donors who help produce a new play each season.
In his curtain remarks, Producing Artistic Director David Emmes talked about the excitement generated by a world premiere, especially one whose author is familiar to SCR audiences. “It’s great to bring Julia back with a new play after the enthusiasm that greeted The Piano Teacher in the 2006-2007 season and the staged reading of The Language Archive during last spring’s Pacific Playwrights Festival. The Language Archive’s reception at PPF helped convince us to include it in this season, and we can definitely say it’s here on the Segerstrom Stage tonight thanks to our underwriters, the Playwrights Circle.”
SCR Board President Wylie Aitken enthusiastically thanked the Playwrights Circle for its dedication. “Every season the membership in this generous group of underwriters changes, and for this show we are pleased that their number has blossomed and now includes Steve and Toni Berlinger, Linda and Robert A. Hovee, Bill and Carolyn Klein, Barbara and Bill Roberts, Michele Rohé, John and Carolina Prichard and Linda and Tod White.” Aitken asked all of the underwriters to stand and be recognized.
Artistic Director Martin Benson added his thanks to them and to Media Partner Riviera Magazine and Segerstrom Stage Media Partner KOCE-TV and invited everyone to the post-production Cast Party co-hosted by Mikimoto and Marché Moderne at the latter’s South Coast Plaza restaurant. Mikimoto Senior Vice President Mr. Hajime Fukuju flew over from his Tokyo office for the event.
Among First Nighters and guests enjoying the evening’s festivities were Marian Bergeson, Kathryn Glassmyer, John Gunnin, John and Jackie Melbon with Tom and Cindy Houston, Mitra Marsa with Haans and Julie Wong, Mike and Bobbi Purcell with Eric Hyman and Teri Kennady, Eric and Juli Ackerman with Joe and Judy Rosener, Tom and Amy Prenovost with Wylie and Bette Aitken, Nancy Leeds and Brooke Webb with Bill and Barbara Roberts, Michelle Rohé with Mary Roosevelt, Jonathon Shakill, Keren and Amita Singh, Bob Smyrak, Tania Vasquez and Seth Weingarten.
