Creationist Student, Evolutionist Teacher: Gripping Debate
COSTA MESA, Calif. (Sept. 5, 2011) — An evolutionist teacher and a creationist student clash in the world premiere of Catherine Trieschmann’s How the World Began, which runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 16 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.
The play is being produced in association with Women’s Project Theater in New York.
Sarah Rafferty (TV’s “Suits”) plays biology teacher Susan Pierce, who has just arrived in tornado-ravaged Plainview, Kansas, from New York City. When she unthinkingly implies that creationism is “gobbledy gook,” she riles the devout but troubled Micah (Jarrett Sleeper of SCR’s Doctor Cerberus). That, in turn, disturbs Micah’s wily, good-natured guardian, Gene (Time Winters, Camelot, National Tour.) Soon the entire town is up in arms, and Susan’s job is in jeopardy.
Director Daniella Topol describes the play as a conversation starter that asks audiences to think about what they believe, and how they think about others who believe differently.
Topol is a New York-based director whose recent credits include Rajiv Joseph’s Monster at the Door (Alley Theatre), Anne Ziegler’s Photograph 51 (Theatre J) and Willy Holtzman’s The Morini Strand (City Theatre). She will also direct the Women’s Project Theater production of How the World Began in New York in January.
Catherine Trieschmann lives and writes in Kansas, and is author of The Bridegroom of Blowing Rock, crooked, The World of Others, Hot Georgia Sunday and Small and Selfish Creatures. She also wrote the screenplay for Angel’s Crest, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. How the World Began is also slated for production by Out of Joint theatre in London in November.
The artistic team is comprised of Sara Ryung Clement (set and costume design), Paul Whitaker (lighting design), Darron L West (sound design and original music), Kelly L. Miller (dramaturgy), and Jennifer Ellen Butler (stage manager).
Bette and Wylie Aitken are the Honorary Producers. OC Weekly is the media sponsor.
Note: Complete cast, playwright and director bios are available here. Click on “Cast/Creative Team.”
Fast Facts
SHOW TIMES: Shows start at 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
IMPORTANT DATES: Opening night is Friday, Sept. 30, and press night is Saturday, Oct. 1.
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: Will follow every performance. Free.
“INSIDE THE SEASON:” Saturday, Oct. 8, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. A two-hour interactive session featuring set tours and Q&A’s with creative personnel. Tickets: $12. (Tickets to the showare sold separately.)
COMING UP: The Trip to Bountiful (Oct. 21 – Nov. 20), Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (Nov. 4 - 20), A Christmas Carol (Nov. 26 - Dec. 24).
ABOUT SCR: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964 by David Emmes and Martin Benson and now under the leadership of Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei, is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. SCR is committed to theatre that illuminates the compelling personal and social issues of our time, not only on its stages but through its wide array of education and outreach programs. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theatre, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program, which includes the nation’s largest commissioning program for emerging and established writers and composers. Each year, it showcases some of country’s best new plays in the Pacific Playwrights Festival, which attracts theatre professionals from across the country. Of SCR’s more than 450 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres, whose subsequent stagings achieved enormous success throughout America and around the world. Two SCR-developed works have won Pulitzer Prizes, and another eight were named Pulitzer finalists. In addition, SCR works have won several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, California, SCR’s Folino Theatre Center is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. Today, SCR produces 13 shows and eight public readings each season.
