How the World Began Opens SCR 2011-12 Argyros Stage Season Underwritten by Bette and Wylie Aitken
COSTA MESA, CA, September 30, 2011 – The world premiere of How the World Began, a thought-provoking play by Catherine Trieschmann, directed by Daniella Topol, opened the Julianne Argyros Stage season at South Coast Repertory tonight, with underwriting by Bette and Wylie Aitken.
Greeting First Nights subscribers and their guests was a trio of SCR leaders. Board President Tom Phelps welcomed the audience and introduced the new leadership team of Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei.
Masterson expressed his pleasure at the warm welcome he and his wife, Patricia Melvin, have received from the theatre and the community. He talked about the enjoyment of working with Paula and the SCR staff—and with David and Martin to choose an exciting season, which began on the Segerstrom Stage with the sell-out production of Pride and Prejudice.
“It’s wonderful to begin the season with such an overwhelming hit. Now, we’re offering another kind of play, one we knew would be a conversation starter, and that has been the case at our audience ‘talk-backs’ during previews.”
Phelps thanked the Aitkens for underwriting the play, the fifth production the couple has helped produce. Wylie is a former Board President; Bette is a current Trustee and has twice chaired SCR’s annual Gala Ball.
Phelps also reminded SCR supporters of the $2 million Emmes/Benson Founders Endowment, named for the two men who founded SCR 47 years ago. He encouraged everyone to join in honoring David and Martin through the endowment campaign, which will help bring SCR’s total endowment to $50 million by the end of the year and thus secure the future for the new generation of leaders.
Tomei added her thanks to How the World Began Media Partner OC Weekly, represented by Account & Product Management Coordinator Vince Vuong, and invited playgoers to the post-production Cast Party on Ela’s Terrace—a schoolhouse-themed event catered by Mark’s Catering with a sweets bar donated by C. Salt Gourmet.
To view photographs of the How the World Began Cast Party, please visit “SCR Party Play” after October 4 at: http://www.scr.org/supportscr/specialevents/partyphotos.aspx
To order photos, please contact: mad@scr.org.
