Press Release: Casts and Creative Team for Outside SCR

South Coast Repertory Announces Casts and Creative Team for Outside SCR

American Mariachi and You’re A Good Man, Charlie BrownTo be Performed in July 15-Aug.1 at Mission San Juan Capistrano

COSTA MESA, Calif. (June 28, 2020)—Today, South Coast RepertoryArtistic Director David Iversand Managing Director Paula Tomei announced the cast and creative team for Outside SCR at Mission San Juan Capistrano, July 15-Aug. 1, the theatre’s return to live, in-person performances. The new summer series features two family friendly productions, performed under the stars: American Mariachi by José Cruz Gonazález, which is being brought back by popular demand, and the perennial family favorite, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown based on the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz.

“It’s unbelievably exciting to be able to return to live, in-person performances, but even more thrilling to be doing so with this incredibly talented team of directors, designers and cast members,” said Ivers. “As an ensemble and as individual artists, they bring immeasurable talent and artistry to every facet of these two productions. Their world-class artistry bringing these two stories of triumph to life in the beautiful and historic surroundings of the Mission San Juan Capistrano will be a truly special experience. Outside SCR’s audiences are in for a real treat!”

Christopher Acebo, who directed SCR’s production of American Mariachi in the fall of 2019, returns to direct this command performance, and Kari Hayter, who helmed SCR’s 2018 Theatre for Young Audiences and Families production of Nate the Great, direct You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.Cynthia Reifler Floresis the music director for American Mariachi and Deborah Wicks La Puma is the musical director for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The design team for Outside SCR does double-duty, creating the settings for both plays.The set designer is Efren Delgadillo Jr; costume design is by Kish Finnegan; lighting design is by Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz; and sound design is by Paul James Prendergast. The full creative teams are listed below.

Many of the cast members from SCR’s popular 2019 production of American Mariachi have returned to reprise their roles. Returning cast members include Diana Burbano (Amalia Morales/Doña Lola), Gabriela Carrillo (Lucha Morales), Sol Castillo (Mino Avila/Padre Flores), Satya Jnani Chavez (Hortensia “Boli” Perez), Alicia Coca (Isabel Campos), Mauricio Mendoza (Federico Morales) and Luzma Ortiz (Gabby Orozco), as well as mariachis Esteban Montoya Dagnino, Ali Pizarro and Antonio À. Pro. New to the cast are Eduardo Enrikez (Mateo Campos/René/Rubén/Los Muchachos), last seen at SCR in Destiny of Desire (2016); Crissy Guerrero (Soyla Reyna/Sister Manuela), who performed in multiple years of SCR’s La Posada Mágica;and mariachi Francisco Javier Molina and Stephanie Swift Molina (Tía Carmen/Mariachi), who are making their SCR debuts.

The cast for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, has new and familiar faces for SCR audiences, too. Ricky Abilez (Linus) was last seen at SCR in She Loves Me in 2020, Matthew Henerson (Charlie Brown) was last seen in Shakespeare in Love (2018) and Derek Manson (Snoopy) appeared in the 2014 production of James and the Giant Peach. Making their SCR debuts are Kelley Dorney (Lucy), Brian Kim (Schroeder) and Grace Yoo (Sally).

The casting director for both productions is Joanne DeNaut, CSA.

Ticket prices range from $20-$35 per ticket, with special pricing for those age 25 and under. Purchase tickets online at www.scr.org or by phone at (714) 708-5555.

More information is available at www.scr.org.

THE PLAYS

American Mariachi
by José Cruz González
directed by Christopher Acebo
Performances: July 15, 17, 23, 25, 29 and 31 (all at 7:30 p.m.)
Performed at Mission San Juan Capistrano
Back by popular demand! In this big-hearted comedy with live music, Lucha spends her days caring for her mother and yearning for more. But it’s the 1970s and women can’t be mariachis…or can they? Defying tradition, Lucha and her spunky cousin hunt for bandmates and take up instruments. A loving gesture for a mother becomes much more as the young women dream big and embrace the transcendent power of music. “A tug at the heartstrings that will echo for days” (Denver Post). Recommended for ages 12 and older.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
based on the comic strip “Peanuts”
by Charles M. Schulz
book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner
additional dialogue by Michael Mayer
additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Performances: July 16, 18, 22, 24, 30 and Aug. 1 (all at 7:30 p.m.)
Performed at Mission San Juan Capistrano
Good grief! The whole “Peanuts” gang is here—Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, and of course, that wishy-washy blockhead, Charlie Brown. He’s never pitched a winning baseball game and he can’t muster the courage to talk to the Little-Red Haired Girl. But all his best qualities—and those of his clever friends—get celebrated in this delightful musical filled with such gleeful tunes as “My Blanket and Me,” “Suppertime” and “Happiness.” Recommended for ages 4 and older.

FULL CREATIVE TEAMS

American Mariachi
by José Cruz González
directed by Christopher Acebo
Performances: July 15, 17, 23, 25, 29 and 31 (all at 7:30 p.m.)
Performed at Mission San Juan Capistrano
music director: Cynthia Reifler Flores
scenic design: Efren Delgadillo Jr.
costume design: Kish Finnegan
lighting design: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz
sound design: Paul James Prendergast
assistant director: Erika Clark
assistant lighting design: Nita Mendoza
assistant scenic design: Melissa Tobar
stage manager: Sophia Sanchez
assistant stage manager: Natalie Figaredo
production assistants: Rubèn Bolívar and Gloria Perez

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
based on the comic strip “Peanuts”
by Charles M. Schulz
directed by Kari Hayter
book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner
additional dialogue by Michael Mayer
additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Performances: July 16, 18, 22, 24, 30 and Aug. 1 (all at 7:30 p.m.)
Performed at Mission San Juan Capistrano
music director: Deborah Wicks La Puma
scenic design: Efren Delgadillo Jr.
costume design: Kish Finnegan
lighting design: Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz
sound design: Paul James Prendergast
costume design assistant: Deanna Reis
lighting design assistant: Diana Herrera
assistant scenic design: Melissa Tobar
music assistant: Eve La Puma
stage manager: Kathryn Davies
assistant stage manager: Julie Ann Renfro
production assistant: Lauren Buangan

Complete information is available at www.scr.org.