RELEASE: January 2, 2008

SCR’S EDUCATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION 'YOU’RE GETTING WARMER' TRAVELS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS JANUARY 16-MAY 3, 2008

Special Free Public Performances Jan 28 and Feb 4

COSTA MESA, CA. South Coast Repertory’s 2008 Educational Touring Production travels to Southland elementary schools January 16-May 3 with You’re Getting Warmer, a musical lesson in energy conservation. Special free public performances will be presented at South Coast Repertory January 28 and at Santa Ana College February 4.

You’re Getting Warmer, by Richard Hellesen and Michael Silversher, is a lively and entertaining musical that provides an exhilarating theater experience for children as it brings classroom science to life. Children in grades 1-6 will learn all about climate change and the many ways they can use less power and help fight global warming.

According to Bonnie Swann, Executive Director of Educational Serivces, Newport-Mesa Unified School District, “You’re Getting Warmer encourages the development of responsible citizens while it lights their creative fire and captures their imagination. Every student should see this unique, compelling production.”

John-David Keller directs a cast featuring two veterans of Educational Touring Productions, SCR Professional Intensive Program graduate Leena Lambert, who appeared in last season’s Bad Water Blues, and Daniel Chaffin, last seen in Eureka! SCR’s Gold Rush Musical. The cast also includes SCR newcomers Jimmy Lambert and Tracy Rowe Mutz. Angela Balogh Calin is set and costume designer. Stage manager is Mia Osherow.

Educational Touring Production History

For over 40 years, SCR’s Educational Touring Production has introduced children to theater by commissioning original musical plays which deal with important issues and making them available to Southern California elementary schools during the winter and spring. The tour reaches nearly 50,000 school children each year. Some of the children who will see You’re Getting Warmer will be experiencing live theater for the first time. Others will discover that their parents (and often their grandparents) enjoyed the experience when they were students.

The Story

You’re Getting Warmer brings the issues surrounding global warming right to the front door of the technology generation, represented by a young boy named Alex. In his house computers are loaded and cell phones and i-Pods are charging in every room. In fact, the entire place is humming with electricity. And even though it’s winter, it’s much too warm outside so the air-conditioner is running, too, and the polar bear in the basement keeps turning it up.

Why is there a polar bear in Alex’s basement? Maybe it has something to do with climate change. Alex wants the bear to go home. The bear wants to go home. But first, they must find out why the North Pole isn’t what it used to be and how Alex can discover ways he—and everyone on earth—can use less power and get along just fine.

The Artists

Richard Hellesen and Michael Silversher have collaborated on 12 Educational Touring Productions and adapted Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows for SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA).   Silversher wrote the music for the TYA production of The Adventures of Pør Quinly by Quincy Long. He is a three-time Emmy nominee and was founding and resident composer and musical director for Sundance Playwrights Lab and Children’s Theatre. Hellesen has written for the SCR Mainstage (Once in Arden), Second Stage (Moonshadow) and the Young Conservatory (Twelve Dancing Princesses).

John-David Keller is an SCR Resident Artist, who has worked with the company since 1973 as both an actor (in over 100 plays) and director. This is his 36th season as director of the Educational Touring Production. He has directed all 28 seasons of A Christmas Carol, has appeared in numerous roles in that production and staged three of the theater’s TYA shows. He has been concert host for the fifth grade Orange County Philharmonic Society concerts for 22 years and has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Philharmonic.

Angela Balogh Calin has designed numerous productions on SCR’s Segerstrom and Argyros Stages, most recently the costumes for Doubt, a parable, as well as sets and costumes for eight Educational Touring Productions. She is a resident designer at A Noise Within, has designed over 50 productions for local theatres and worked in film and television in the U.S. and her native Romania.

The Actors

Daniel Chaffin (Alex) appeared at SCR in The Caucasian Chalk Circle and in the 2006 Educational Touring Production of Eureka! He is a graduate of the California Institue of the Arts and the Mid-Pacific School of the Arts, where he appeared as Reverend Hale in The Crucible and John the Baptist in Godspell.

Jimmy Lambert (Fred, Joseph, Nat the Hat) is a graduate of UCLA’s Musical Theater program, where he appeared in productions including Side Show. Regionally, he has appeared at Geffen Playhouse and The Hudson Backstage Theatre as Matt in The Fantasticks.

Leena Lambert (Jo, Svante, Doreen) is a graduate of SCR’s Professional Intensive Program and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she appeared in productions including the title role in Major Barbara.

Tracy Rowe Mutz (Ursula) is a graduate of SCR’s Professional Conservatory and appeared on the Segerstrom Stage in Tartuffe. She has appeared locally in productions at Whittier/La Mirada Civic Light Opera, Fullerton Civic Light Opera and The Hungar Artists.

Booking Information

Bookings are available for performances January 16 – May 3, and available slots fill quickly. Schools wishing to book We’re Getting Warmer are encouraged to schedule performances as soon as possible. The show runs 45 minutes with a 45-minute set-up time. Fees are $465 with discounts for back-to-back performances. A free study guide is provided. For more information, please call the SCR Education Department at (714) 708-5549.

Special Performances

Free performances will be offered to the public on a first-come first-served basis. For more information call Janis Morrissette in SCR’s Education Department at (714) 708-5549.
Monday, January 28 at 5 p.m. South Coast Repertory, Julianne Argyros Stage
Monday February 4 at 10 a.m. Santa Ana College, Phillips Hall

The Underwriters

The Boeing Company and Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation are Honorary Producers of the Educational Touring Production. The program was made possible in part by grants from the O.L. Halsell Foundation and the Arts Commission of the City of Newport Beach.