George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance Opens SCR's 2010-11 Season Underwritten by Mary Beth adderley and Elizabeth & Ryan Williams with Corporate Underwriting by U.S. Bank
COSTA MESA, CA, September 17, 2010 – George Bernard Shaw’s Misalliance, directed by SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson, opened the 2010-11 Season on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory with underwriting by SCR Trustee Mary Beth Adderley and her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Ryan Williams and corporate underwriting by U.S. Bank.
In his curtain remarks on the play’s opening night, Producing Artistic Director David Emmes talked about Shaw and SCR. “He is our most produced playwright, next to Shakespeare,” Emmes said, “so that tells you we get a kick out of Shaw—and so do our audiences. One of his biggest proponents is my colleague, Martin Benson, who directed tonight’s production—and five others, winning the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Major Barbara, Heartbreak House and our first production of Misalliance. If you ask Martin why he’s doing Misalliance again, he’ll tell you it’s Shaw’s most delicious comedy and he was able to get the cast he wanted, headed by the majestic Dakin Matthews. And, thanks to our generous underwriters, we’ve been able to pull out all the stops for this sumptuous production.”
SCR Board President Tom Phelps asked Adderley, Elizabeth and Ryan and William R. Cave, Orange Coast and Inland Empire Market President of U.S. Bank, to stand and be recognized.
“This is the sixth play Mary Beth has underwritten,” he said, “but here’s something our audience may not know. In the early 1970s, a young actor, known then as Mary Fleming, was an SCR company member and appeared in a variety of productions from Shakespeare to Molière to the West Coast premiere of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, directed by Martin Benson. In 2003, after a successful business career, Mary Beth Adderley returned to Southern California and underwrote her first play at SCR, Terra Nova, also directed by Martin. She joined the Board that same year and remains an ardent fan of her old stomping ground.”
Phelps added that while he was pretty sure Bill Cave had not been an SCR company member, U.S. Bank certainly had a long history with the theatre as Corporate Honorary Producers. “And it’s an eclectic history,” he added, “which encompasses the holidays, family theatre, gothic comedy and American musicals. In other words, U.S. Bank has underwritten the 30th annual production of A Christmas Carol; a Theatre for Young Audiences play, The Stinky Cheese Man; Beth Henley’s Ridiculous Fraud; and Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.”
Emmes added his thanks to Misalliance Media Partners Orange Coast, represented by Anne Valdespino, 89.3 KPCC, represented by Craig Curtis, as well as Season Media Partner KOCE-TV, represented by Maria Hall Brown, and invited everyone to the post-production Cast Party on Ela’s Terrace, where classical music filled the air as guests enjoyed an English country garden setting replete with buttery yellow, white and pastel flowers (Floral Creations by Enzo) that filled urns and birdhouses and covered birdcages. The very English menu included Shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and blueberry scones, and C. Salt Gourmet’s custom chocolate bar overflowed with unique chocolate creations.
The other productions underwritten by Adderley are The Happy Ones (2009), A Feminine Ending (2008), Nothing Sacred (2007) and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2005). She also served as an Honorary Producer of the 2009 Pacific Playwrights Festival. She is a major donor to the Next Stage Campaign and Gala underwriter, First Nights subscriber to both stages and a member of the Platinum Circle.
U.S. Bank is the sixth largest commerical bank in the United States, with 559 California branches, over 300 of them in Southern California. U.S. Bank connects with its communities through affordable housing, economic opportunity, education, arts and culture and community service.
Among First Nighters enjoying the evening’s festivities were Laurie Smits Staude and guests Gardy and Beatrix Barker, Juan and Joan Basombrio, Marian Bergeson, Dennis and Carol Campbell, Don Carnegie and Ardelle St. George, Tom and Cindy Houston with guests Charlie and Marie Clark, Steve and Linda Clark, Vicki de Reynal, Robert Palmer and Chris Collett with guests Steven and Denise Eisenberg, Michael and Harlene Goodrich, John Gunnin, Kelly and Kay Kelly, Brent Law, Guy and Richele Lowery, Tom and Beth Phelps with guests Michael Shepherd and Martha Vejar, Larry and Sophie Cripe with guests Tom and Debra Willard, Kerry Wright, and Brian and Patti Durkin, Chris Darragh and Frank Mullen.
To view photographs of the Misalliance Cast Party, please visit “SCR Party Play” after September 21 at: http://www.scr.org/supportscr/specialevents/partyphotos.aspx
To order photos, please contact: mad@scr.org.
