August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-Winning Fences at SCR Underwritten by Barbara and Bill Roberts
COSTA MESA, CA, January 29, 2010 – August Wilson’s Fences, directed by Seret Scott, led off the new year on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory with underwriting by Barbara and Bill Roberts. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play is the ninth production the couple has helped underwrite in their 25 years of SCR support.
In his curtain remarks on the play’s opening night, Producing Artistic Director David Emmes talked about Wilson’s theatrical legacy, adding that for SCR’s production of Fences everything came together at the right time—the ideal creative team, supported by enthusiastic underwriting. “To restage a play of this magnitude, we must remain true to the writer and at the same time bring a fresh and exciting production to the audience. With our Honorary Producers’ help, and with exemplary actors and designers, we have done just that.”
SCR Board President Wylie Aitken enthusiastically thanked Barbara and Bill Roberts for their dedication. “Barbara is an Emeritus Trustee and former Gala Chair, and she and Bill have been Honorary Producers of a classic American musical—A Little Night Music—seven classic plays, including last season’s production of The Heiress, and now Fences, one of August Wilson’s masterpieces.”
Artistic Director Martin Benson added his thanks to Media Partners KOCE-TV, KCRW 89.9 and Orange Coast magazine and invited everyone to the post-production Cast Party at Scotts Restaurant & Bar. In the restaurant’s lounge and bar area and private dining room guests enjoyed tray-passed seared beef “fondue,” petals of brie and walnut canapé, crab cakes, spicy tuna rolls, chocolate mousse cups and miniature assorted cookies — in a setting that featured picket fences backlit with oranges and reds, and wooden boxes filled with wheatgrass and embellished with orange and red florals.
Among First Nighters and guests enjoying the evening’s festivities were Bill and Barbara Roberts and their daughter and son-in-law Brooke and Ron Webb and guests Dick and Kim Crawford; Tom and Beth Phelps and guests Jim and Kelly Mazzo; Don Carnegie and Ardelle St. George and guests Matt & Monica Bullock and Steve and Lina Nassau; Andrew Maldonado and Lewis Shiro; Howard and Dede Brink and guests Ken and Amber Rohl; Wylie and Bette Aitken and guests Pete and Angie Bowen; George and Micki Rach and guests Carol & Kent Wilken; Tom Rogers and Sally Anderson and guests Tom Taylor & Gail Robinson; Elaine Weinberg and guests Bernard and Katherine Schneider and Janet Keller; Helen Diamond and Dot Benedict; Patricia Ellis and Janet Freemond; Dr. Fernando Austin; Susan Bowman; John and Sue Murphy and guests Louis Baldi and Susan Warren; Alan and Barbara Wiener; and Tom and Vina Williams Slattery.
