Press Release: The Born Identity
SOUTH COAST REPERTORY PRESENTS THE BORN IDENTITY BY RENOWNED COMEDIANS THE SKLAR BROTHERS
One-night-only reading presentation launches 2025-26 Samples from The Lab@SCR lineup
COSTA MESA, Calif. (Sept. 22, 2025)—South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) announced today a presentation reading of The Born Identity created, written and performed by the Sklar Brothers, and co-created and directed by Evan Shapiro. The Born Identity will kick off the 2025/26 Samples from The Lab@SCR lineup Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Nicholas Studio. Samples from The Lab is one component of the theatre’s nine-initiative new play development program, The Lab@SCR.
Tickets are free and may be reserved online at scr.org, or by calling SCR’s Ticket Services Office at (714) 708-5555. Reservations are required and seating is limited.
“I always love a glimpse of process as we invite our audiences in to the early stages of play development,” Ivers said. “The Born Identity blends stand-up/sketch comedy and narrative uniquely. I’m excited to hear from our devoted new play-goers about this singular opportunity to visit this work in SCR’s Lab.”
About The Born Identity
Randy and Jason Sklar have been a comedy duo for more than 30 years. They have been identical twins for more than 50 years. But here’s the thing: When they were babies, they accidentally got switched… maybe… they think. Now adults with families of their own, they embark on an epic and hilarious exploration of childhood, parenthood, twinhood and more in a quest to find their TRUE born identities.
The Sklar Brothers are known for their stand-up comedy and shows such as “What We Do in the Shadows,” Better Call Saul,” “Entourage,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Glow,” Wild Hogs, “Cheap Seats” on ESPN and shows on Netflix, Starz, Comedy Central and more.
Shapiro is one of the media industry’s most provocative and widely followed voices. He is also an Emmy- and Peabody-winning producer and creator, having produced the iconic TV series “Portlandia,” as well as countless series, films and podcasts.
“We’re thrilled to kick off this season’s Samples from The Lab@SCR with the Sklar Brothers’ hilarious and poignant two-person comedy about selfhood, self-discovery and parenthood,” said Andy Knight, director of The Lab@SCR. “This wildly funny work-in-progress tells a deeply personal story—and one that proves that real life is stranger than fiction.”
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.
2025-26 Upcoming Productions: Million Dollar Quartet, Sept. 13-Oct. 19, 2025; The Heart Sellers, Oct. 26-Nov. 16, 2025; Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, 45th Anniversary, Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 2025; God of Carnage, Jan. 23-March 21, 2026; Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Jan. 24-March 21, 2026; Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale, Feb. 20-March 8, 2026; Eat Me, April 12-May 3, 2026; Fremont Ave., April 25-May 23, 2026; Hershey Felder, BEETHOVEN, June 10-21, 2026. The annual showcase of new works, the Pacific Playwrights Festival, runs May 1-3, 2026.
ABOUT THE LAB@SCR: South Coast Repertory’s comprehensive play development infrastructure provides resources with which artists can imagine, create and develop new work for SCR and for the American theatre. It includes the Pacific Playwrights Festival, the Samples from The Lab@SCR reading series, development of new American musicals, commissions for emerging playwrights, as well as mid-career and established writers, playwright residencies, and additional in-house readings and workshops. Learn more at www.scr.org/about/new-play-programs
ABOUT SOUTH COAST REPERTORY: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964, is led by Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel. SCR is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern plays and musicals, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program—The Lab@SCR—which includes one of the nation’s largest commissioning programs for emerging, mid-career and established writers. Of SCR’s more than 550 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, CA., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org