The 2009 Pacific Playwrights Festival
South Coast Repertory’s Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) celebrates its 12th annual outing with a lineup of longtime collaborators and new theatrical voices. Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. Well known as SCR’s premiere showcase for introducing new plays and writers to the national stage, PPF also serves as a gathering place for writers and theatre leaders from across the country to meet and share ideas and interests.
This year’s festival will take place from May 1 through May 3 and features seven plays during an action-packed weekend: five staged readings and two fully-staged World Premieres on SCR’s two major stages.
“Nationally recognized as an incubator of major talent,” recently stated The New York Times, “South Coast has mounted an impressive list of acclaimed plays, long before the East Coast establishment got wind of them.” SCR’s 11 previous festivals have introduced 78 new plays to the national stage including Amy Freed’s The Beard of Avon, Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel, Nilo Cruz’s Anna in the Tropics, Rolin Jones’ The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole.
READINGS
IN A GARDEN by Howard Korder directed by David Warren Friday, May 1 at 1:00pm on the Segerstrom Stage Cast: Greg Germann, Mark Harelik, Bernard White
An American architect plays a game of cat and mouse with the Culture Minister of a Middle Eastern country while the world teeters on the brink of disaster.
DOCTOR CERBERUS by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa directed by Bart DeLorenzo Friday, May 1 at 3:30pm on the Julianne Argyros Stage Cast: Steven Culp, Nike Doukas, Matt McGrath, Lee Rosen, Brett Ryback
Thirteen-year-old Franklin Robertson is trying to survive life with his parents and his older brother. His imagination is sparked by the horror movies he watches every Saturday night, introduced by the enigmatic Dr. Cerberus—but are they doing him more harm than good?
EXTRAORDINARY CHAMBERS by David Wiener directed by Art Manke Friday, May 1 at 7:45pm and Saturday, May 2 at 2:30pm and 7:45pm in the Nicholas Studio Cast: Andrew Borba, Kimiko Gelman, Darrell Kunitomi, Kirsten Potter, Greg Watanabe
An American couple find themselves caught up in the controversy surrounding the UN hearings taking place in the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia.
9 CIRCLES by Bill Cain directed by Michael John Garces Saturday, May 2 at 10:30am on the Julianne Argyros Stage Cast: Nancy Bell, Kevin Daniels, Bill Heck, Blake Robbins
This powerful contemporary drama about military justice during wartime asks, when does killing in the service of country become a crime?
THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE by Julia Cho directed by Mark Brokaw Sunday, May 3 at 10:30am on the Segerstrom Stage Cast: Tony Amendola, Seana Kofoed, Matt Letscher, Maria Thayer, Brenda Wehle
George is a linguist who knows many, many languages; but when his marriage starts to unravel, he suddenly finds himself utterly at a loss for the right words.
FULL PRODUCTIONS
OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR World Premiere by Richard Greenberg directed by Pam MacKinnon April 3 - May 3, 2008
Abby and Seth thought they knew their mother's story inside out. But she has a secret about a long ago love affair — with a man whose name is synonomous with betrayal.
EMILIE - The Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight World Premiere by Lauren Gunderson directed by David Emmes April 19 - May 10, 2009
A Parisian noblewoman tallies her achievements in Love and Philosophy—including an enduring affair with Enlightenment superstar Voltaire.
INFORMATION
Tickets for readings are $12 each. Tickets for full productions range in price from $31 to $64.
Theatre professionals, please contact Kimberly Colburn at 714-708-5841 for industry packages and more information.
The Honorary Producers of the 2009 Pacific Playwrights Festival Sophie & Larry Cripe, John & Sue Murphy and Tod & Linda White. Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting the Pacific Playwrights Festival and to The Shubert Foundation, whose generous grant supports all of SCR’s play development efforts. Special thanks also to the Elizabeth George Foundation for funding the commission of Lauren Gunderson's Emilie.
Coast Magazine is the Media Partner and The Wyndham Orange County Hotel is the Official Hotel of the Pacific Playwrights Festival.
Read more about the Pacific Playwrights Festival.
See the list of play titles presented during previous Pacific Playwrights Festivals.
