Press Release: 2023-24 Season Announcement

SOUTH COAST REPERTORY ANNOUNCES 60th SEASON

Including Quixote Nuevo, A Raisin in the Sun, the World Premiere of Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical with Special Offerings, including Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone

COSTA MESA, Calif. (May. 23, 2023)—South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei) announced its 60^th season, with a lineup that ranges from an American classic to contemporary works, with two world premieres—including one musical—and a special offering featuring pianist and actor Hershey Felder.

“It’s thrilling to share the titles that are part of our milestone 60^th season,” Ivers said. “No doubt, there’s something for everyone. You’ll find passionate and focused commitment to new work, a couple of re-imagined classics, including two penned by our early core playwrights—Octavio Solis and Craig Lucas. This is a transformative, adventurous, entertaining and diverse season.”

“Through 60 seasons, South Coast Repertory evolved from a storefront to the forefront of American theatre. As Orange County grew from an agricultural community to one of the largest centers of commerce in the country, SCR developed along with it,” Tomei said. “We look forward to celebrating this milestone and the exciting work of the season with the community who continues to go on this wonderful and dynamic journey with us.”

The 2023-24 season begins with Quixote Nuevo by SCR legacy playwright Octavio Solis. Running Sept. 30-Oct.28, 2023 on the Segerstrom Stage, this acclaimed modern adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes’ epic novel, Don Quixote de La Mancha is produced in association with Seattle Repertory Theatre and Portland Center Stage. Directed by Lisa Portes, Quixote Nuevo features Tejano music and Herbert Siguenza of Culture Clash in the lead role of Jose Quijano,

SCR kicks off the American Icons series with A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry’s masterpiece that propelled her into history as the first African American woman to have a play produced on Broadway. Over the next several seasons, SCR’s American Icons series will celebrate the artists, personalities and figures who changed our world, starting with this celebrated work exploring issues of racism, assimilation and housing discrimination. Directed by Khanisha Foster, A Raisin in the Sun runs Oct. 22-Nov. 12, 2023 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

“This American classic gives us the perfect beginning to our new American Icons series, which celebrates individuals who shape and influence the foundations of America and American culture,” Ivers said. “Along with our season, it reinforces a vision to reflect the world back to our communities.”

A Christmas Carol, Orange County’s holiday tradition, returns for its 43^rd season Nov. 25-Dec. 24, 2023 with SCR Founding Member Richard Doyle once again picking up the top hat and red scarf as Ebenezer Scrooge. Hisa Takakuwa returns to direct.

The new year starts with a special offering featuring pianist/actor/playwright/producer Felder for a limited engagement of Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone, running Jan.18-28 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Gershwin, the legendary composer of hundreds of iconic American standards, comes to life onstage in a theatrical performance declared, “’S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous!” by The Washington Post, “Sheer joy” by the San Francisco Chronicle, and “Glorious. Poignant, moving, and fascinating” by USA TODAY.

SCR’s popular Theatre for Young Audiences and Families series continues in February with Alice’s Wonderland, book, music and lyrics by Julia Riew and J. Quinton Johnson and conceived by Linda Chichester and David Coffman. This hip-hop musical inspired by the Lewis Carroll classic places an ingenious, teenage Alice into the virtual world of a video game she creates. Directed by SCR’s Artistic Coordinator Rob Salas, Alice’s Wonderland runs Feb. 10-25, 2024.

The spring brings two world premieres, starting with Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical. Originally written by Craig Lucas as a play, Prelude to a Kiss had its world premiere at SCR in 1988, before going on to win a Tony Award on Broadway and becoming a motion picture. Now it returns home as a musical, with book by SCR legacy playwright Lucas, music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Sean Hartley and Daniel Messé and directed by Ivers. The long-awaited world premiere musical was originally scheduled for the 2020-21 season and again for the 2022-23 season. Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical runs April 5-May 4 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Another new play to be announced runs April 21-May 12 on the Julianne Argyros Stage, joining Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical as the second anchor for the Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF). The annual showcase of new plays, part of The Lab@SCR, runs May 3-5, 2024.

Finally, Outside SCR returns July 20-Aug. 11, 2024 for a fourth summer of theatre under the stars at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Subscriptions for the 2023-24 season are now on sale. Subscribers may also purchase A Christmas Carol and Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone at this time. Individual tickets for Quixote Nuevo, A Raisin in the Sun, Alice’s Wonderland, Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical and the world premiere to be announced go on sale June 15. Tickets for A Christmas Carol, Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone go on sale to the general public on Aug. 7.

Subscriptions range in price from $21 to $320. Single-ticket prices range from $30 to $105. Tickets may be purchased online at www.scr.org or by phone at (714) 708-5555.