Press Release: 2021-22 NewSCRipt Series

South Coast Repertory Announces 2021-22 NewSCRipt Series

Plus NewSCRipts in Schools Partnership With UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts

COSTA MESA, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2021)— South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei) announces the return of its renowned NewSCRipts play-reading series, part of TheLab@SCR, the Costa Mesa theatre’s comprehensive play-development program. The series begins Monday, Oct. 25 withLouderby Caroline V. McGraw, at 7:30 p.m. on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

The popular series continues Monday, Dec. 6 with a yet-to-be-determined play. It wraps up with Funnie by Jessica Moss on Monday, April 25, 2022. NewSCRipts play readings are free and open to the public. Tickets may be reserved by calling SCR’s ticket services office 714-708-5555, or online at scr.org.

In addition, SCR announces a new program: NewSCRipts in Schools. This pilot program brings a reading of McGraw’s Louder to the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The NewSCRipts in Schools reading will be followed by a moderated discussion with the playwright, director and the actors. The NewSCRipts in Schools reading will be performed exclusively for an invited audience of UCI students and faculty.

The NewSCRipts in Schools program gives UCI theatre students the opportunity to experience a reading of a play in progress, bringing them into the process with SCR-commissioned playwrights, actors and the director. Likewise, it enriches the development process for the playwright. By experiencing their play with two unique and vastly different audiences, the playwright gains valuable knowledge in how audiences will respond to their work.

“Our NewSCRipts in Schools program provides a vital connection for SCR and the educational community of Orange County,” Ivers said. “And we’re thrilled that UC Irvine is joining us in launching this new program that will mutually benefit the playwright, the work in progress and UCI students. Their enthusiastic response in joining us in this partnership is a testament to UCI and their status as one of the premier drama programs.”

Don Hill, the Chair of UCI’s Department of Drama, anticipates the partnership with SCR will create a greater understanding among his students into the storytelling process and what it entails.

“The Department of Drama in the UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts (CTSA) is thrilled to be building an ongoing relationship with SCR,” Hill said. “The art of storytelling is the core of theatre, and this program helps inform and empower UCI Drama students in exploring the world of playwriting and development. Having new works shared live directly with our community on the CTSA campus creates new connections and discoveries. The value of our students observing professional actors at work and being an active part of post-play discussions is immeasurable.”

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 David Emmes/Martin Benson Theatre Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available on Park Center Drive, off Anton Boulevard.

2021-22 Productions: A Shot Rang Out, Oct. 2-Nov. 6; A Christmas Carol, Nov. 27-Dec. 26; What I Learned in Paris, Feb. 12-March 12; Our Town, May 7-June 4; (Theatre for Young Audiences) Last Stop on Market Street, Jan 7-23, 2022; Clean, March 20-April 10; Tiger Style! May 15-June 12. The Mozart Project (a collaboration with the Pacific Symphony), May 19-21. The annual showcase of new works, the Pacific Playwrights Festival, runs April 8-10, 2022.

Complete information is available at www.scr.org.