Revised December 28, 2011: CAST CHANGE
Gritty Story of Sibling Rivalry Comes to SCR
COSTA MESA, Calif. (Dec. 28, 2011) — South Coast Repertory will kick off 2012 with Suzan-Lori Parks’ powerful Pulitzer Prize winner, Topdog/Underdog, running Jan. 8 – 29 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.
Topdog tells the story of Lincoln and Booth, African-American brothers who are best friends and bitter rivals. Lincoln is a former three-card monte hustler now working as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator in a rundown arcade; Booth is a shoplifter. Booth desperately wants Lincoln to get back in the game, but the consequences could be deadly.
Curtis McClarin, who appeared in Broadway’s Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk and Off-Broadway in The Good Negro and King Hedley II, will play Lincoln.
Larry Bates will take over the role of Booth. Mr. Bates last appeared at SCR in the 2010 production of Fences and previously in Mr. Marmalade. His film and television credits include Lions for Lambs, directed by Robert Redford, and “Bones.”
Seret Scott, who directed SCR’s much-lauded production of Fences in 2010, will helm the show. Scott, whose work at SCR also includes The Piano Lesson and Crumbs from the Table of Joy, is an associate artist at The Old Globe, where she has directed numerous shows. Her productions have been seen Off-Broadway and across the country, and she won a Drama Desk Award for her work as an actress.
Topdog’s artistic team is comprised of Shaun Motley (set design), Soojin Lee (costume design), Jaymi Smith (lighting design), Sam Lerner (sound design) and Kathryn Davies (stage manager).
Alan and Olivia Slutzky are the Honorary Producers; 89.3 KPCC and OC Weekly are the media partners.
Note: Complete cast bios are available here. Click on “Cast/Creative Team.”
FAST FACTS
SHOW TIMES: Shows start at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday nights, with matinees starting at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
IMPORTANT DATES: Opening night is Friday, Jan. 13, and press night is Saturday, Jan. 14.
TICKETS: Can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. $20-$68.
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.
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.
POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS: Jan. 17 and 18. Discuss the play with members of the cast following the performance. Free.
“INSIDE THE SEASON:” Saturday, Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. A two-hour interactive session featuring set tours and Q&A’s with creative personn
