Completeness: Finding the Formula for Love
COSTA MESA, Calif. (March 21, 2011) — Megabytes and microbes collide in Itamar Moses’ Completeness, a romantic comedy about the budding relationship between a pair of science geeks that will have its world premiere on the Argyros Stage April 17 through May 8.
The couple at the heart of Completeness are grad students. Elliott (Karl Miller) is a computer scientist searching for an answer to the elusive Traveling Salesman Problem; Molly (Mandy Siegfried) is a microbiologist studying protein interactions. A chance meeting in the library leads to a scientific collaboration that turns romantic. But they soon realize that love is more complex than any scientific problem they’ve ever encountered.
“These are smart, smart people. Very analytical,” said director Pam MacKinnon. “There’s something in their DNA that has them always looking for answers. But love isn’t something that can be solved, and that makes for delicious comedy.”
MacKinnon directed SCR’s production of Becky Shaw earlier this season, as well as Our Mother’s Brief Affair in 2009. She recently directed Death of a Salesman at The Old Globe and is a frequent interpreter of the plays of Edward Albee, having directed premieres of Peter and Jerry (now called At Home at the Zoo, Hartford Stage Co. and Second Stage Theatre) and Occupant (Signature Theatre) as well as The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, The Play About the Baby, A Delicate Balance and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Siegfried, who appeared in the Broadway production of Noises Off, originated the role of Molly in last year’s Pacific Playwrights Festival reading of the play. Miller is new to SCR, but has appeared in numerous theatrical productions, including Forum Theatre’s Angels in America, for which he won the 2010 Helen Hayes Award. Playing the various ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends who complicate Molly and Elliott’s relationship are Brooke Bloom (SCR’s Hamlet and A Feminine Ending) and Johnathan McClain (TV’s “Retired at 35,” Lincoln Center’s Spinning into Butter).
This is Moses’ second play at SCR. His first was 2006’s Bach at Leipzig. His other full-length plays include Outrage, Celebrity Row, The Four of Us, Yellowjackets, Back Back Back and The Den, as well as a musical adaptation of Jonathan Lethem's The Fortress of Solitude (with Michael Friedman). He writes for television’s "Boardwalk Empire" and "Men of a Certain Age."
The creative team consists of Christopher Barreca (set), Sara Ryung Clement (costumes), Russell H. Champa (lighting), Bray Poor (sound), Kelly L. Miller (dramaturg), Jackie Hill (production manager) and Jennifer Ellen Butler (stage manager).
Bette and Wylie Aitken are the Honorary Producers of Completeness. The media partners are Orange Coast Magazine and KCRW 89.9. This play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays award.
TICKETS for Completeness are $20 to $66 and can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.
LOCATION: South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Folino Theatre Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available off Anton Blvd. on Park Center Drive.
COMING UP: Silent Sky (April 1 – May 1), Three Days of Rain (May 13 – June 12), The Emperor’s New Clothes (May 20 – June 5).
PHOTO EDITORS: Digital images of South Coast Repertory productions are available at www.scr.org/press.
ABOUT SCR: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, under the artistic direction of David Emmes and Martin Benson, is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theaters in the United States. Founded in 1964, SCR is committed to theater that illuminates the compelling personal and social issues of our time, not only on its stages but through its education and outreach programs. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theater, SCR is renowned for its extensive new play development program, including the Pacific Playwrights Festival. Of SCR’s more than 450 productions, 117 have been world premieres, with subsequent stagings achieving enormous success across America and around the world. SCR-developed works have garnered eight Pulitzer Prize nominations with Margaret Edson’s Wit winning the prize in 1999 and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole in 2007. Located in Costa Mesa, California, in 2002 SCR opened the Folino Theater Center, an expanded three-theater complex that includes the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio.
Fact Sheet
Completeness by Itamar Moses directed by Pam MacKinnon
CREATIVE TEAM: Christopher Barreca (set), Sara Ryung Clement (costumes), Russell H. Champa (lighting), Bray Poor (sound), Kelly L. Miller (dramaturg), Jackie Hill (production manager), Jennifer Ellen Butler (stage manager).
CAST: Brooke Bloom (Lauren/Katie/Nell), Johnathan McClain (Don/Clark/Franklin), Karl Miller (Elliot) and Mandy Siegfried (Molly).
HONORARY PRODUCERS: Bette and Wylie Aitken
MEDIA PARTNERS: Orange Coast Magazine and KCRW 89.9
SYNOPSIS: How does a computer scientist hook up with a molecular biologist? He uses the algorithm method, of course. But when Elliot offers to build a computer program to help Molly with her latest research project, they discover that megabytes and microbes might not be compatible —and even the most sophisticated algorithm may freeze in the face of life’s infinite possibilities. From the author of Bach at Leipzig, a 21st-century romantic comedy about the timeless confusions of love.
TICKETS: $20-$55 previews, $28-$66 regular performances.
BOX OFFICE WINDOW HOURS: 10 a.m. to showtime Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to showtime Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and non-performance days. American Express, VISA and MasterCard accepted. (714) 708-5555.
LOCATION: Folino Theatre Center, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa CA 92626. One block east of South Coast Plaza at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway.
PHOTOS: Digital images of South Coast Repertory productions are available at www.scr.org/press.
PRESS CONTACTS: Soyia Ellison 714-708-5561 soyia@scr.org Madeline Porter 714-708-5562 mad@scr.org
RUNS: April 17 – May 8, 2011 PREVIEWS: April 17 SUN at 2:00 p.m. April 19 TUE at 7:45 p.m. April 20 WED at 7:45 p.m. April 21 THU at 7:45 p.m. OPENING NIGHT: April 22 FRI at 7:45 pm REGULAR PERFORMANCES: April 23 SAT at 2:00 p.m. April 23 SAT at 7:45 p.m. (Press Night) April 24 SUN at 2:00 p.m. April 24 SUN at 7:45 p.m. April 26 TUE at 7:45 p.m. (Post-Show Discussion) April 27 WED at 7:45 p.m. (Post-Show Discussion) April 28 THU at 7:45 p.m. April 29 FRI at 7:45 p.m. April 30 SAT at 2:00 p.m. April 30 SAT at 7:45 p.m. May 1 SUN at 2:00 p.m. May 1 SUN at 7:45 p.m. May 3 TUE at 7:45 p.m. May 4 WED at 7:45 p.m. May 5 THU at 7:45 p.m. May 6 FRI at 7:45 p.m. May 7 SAT at 2:00 p.m. (Inside the Season and ASL-Interpreted) May 7 SAT at 7:45 p.m. May 8 SUN at 2:00 p.m.
POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27 Discuss the play with members of the cast following the performance. Free.
INSIDE THE SEASON Saturday, May 7, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. A 2-hour comprehensive seminar featuring creative personnel from the current production. Tickets: $12.
