Get to Know South Coast Repertory

We contribute to the canon of American theatre through The Lab@SCR—the theatre’s comprehensive, collaborative, new-play development infrastructure. Through our commissioning program—one of the largest in the nation—we invest in playwrights at various stages of their careers—including a $60,000 Pinnacle Award—offer residences, workshops and readings for works-in-process, and develop new American musicals. More than 350 new plays have resulted from commissions given to more than 245 playwrights, with more than 60 writers currently on commission. Audiences participate in the process through public play readings and the renowned Pacific Playwrights Festival.

Each year, kids, teens and adults attend acting, improv and playwriting classes in our Theatre Conservatory, while our Neighborhood Conservatory serves students through after-school acting classes in underserved schools and community centers. Our students are featured in three annual productions (Junior, Teen and Summer Players) and work with professional designers and creative teams.

We engage the community in dialogue around each production through our lineup of post-show conversations, Inside the Season interactive sessions with artists, as well as our website, program notes, blog stories, social media and YouTube channel. Get connected at scr.org.

We foster the next generation of theatregoers through special ticket programs, benefitting students—many of whom are experiencing live theatre for the first time. More than half attend free through Theatre for Young Audiences student matinees (grade school) and the Theatre Access program (high school and college). Deep discounts are available for student groups and individuals. As participants transition into adulthood, they are invited to join MyStage, a membership program that encourages 15-to-25-year-olds to engage in our work and see plays at minimal cost.