South Coast Repertory Announces 2026-27 Season

Expanded Nine-play Lineup Features Raymond Lee as Hamlet,
Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of Into the Woods, Brings Mehr Theatre Group's
Blind Runner to the West Coast for the First Time, Includes a Rotating Repertory of Lauren Yee's Mother Russia and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest,
and Premieres of New Plays by JuCoby Johnson and Eleanor Burgess

South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) announced its expanded 2026-27 season today, which features nine productions. Season highlights include Raymond Lee returning to SCR as Hamlet, Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's musical masterpiece Into the Woods as the latest installment in the American Icons series and a unique rotating repertory—the recent Off-Broadway hit Mother Russia by Lauren Yee paired with Oscar Wilde's classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest.

SCR's 63rd season also includes the West Coast Premiere of Blind Runner, the international hit from Mehr Theatre Group and Iranian writer/director Amir Reza Koohestani, and two world premieres that will anchor the 2027 Pacific Playwrights Festival: Three-headed Monster by JuCoby Johnson and The Ingenue by Eleanor Burgess. Family-centered programming includes Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jerry Patch, and the Theatre for Young Audiences and Families production of How I Became a Pirate, book, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman and based on the book "How I Became a Pirate" by Melinda Long with illustrations by David Shannon.

The 2026-27 season reflects programming changes established in SCR's recently adopted strategic plan, which includes more classics, modern masterpieces and the continuation of an annual musical on the Segerstrom Stage and a dedication to world premieres and exciting new hits on the Julianne Argyros Stage. In addition, audiences will now enjoy a world premiere in SCR's most intimate space—the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. Moving one world premiere to the Nicholas Studio not only creates more opportunities to experience the powerful, inspiring storytelling SCR is known for, it also frees up the Segerstrom Stage for an additional spring production.

"As we deepen programming and expand our offerings, I am so grateful to our supportive board of trustees and our unequaled staff," Ivers said. "I am confident the season has something for everyone," Ivers said. "An adventurous, joyful feast highlighting resilience, empowerment, entertainment and laughter, it's woven together by some of SCR's favorite returning artists. JuCoby Johnson's and Eleanor Burgess' new plays, conversing with Lauren Yee, Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare and Sondheim, is a combination truly not to be missed. I am certain the shows will engage audiences and artists alike."

The season is the institution's largest since 2018-19 and will continue at this level of production into the future. And like this season, The Rep will perform continuously for eight weeks—giving theatregoers the opportunity to see both plays in the same weekend or even back-to-back on the same day.

"The time is right for SCR to expand the season. Audiences have grown substantially over the past two years and subscribers have expressed an appetite for more plays. This expansion, combined with the selection of plays which includes more classics and more comedies, provides wonderful opportunities for connection and community building," said Appel. "Whether you're interested in the great works on the Segerstrom Stage or the innovative works on the Julianne Argyros Stage and Nicholas Studio, or all the above, SCR has a subscription that's right for you. You can give yourself a gift by subscribing and putting more theatre on your calendar."

The season opens with Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's musical masterpiece Into the Woods, Sept. 12-Oct. 10, 2026 on the Segerstrom Stage, and continues SCR's American Icons series, which celebrates the artists, opinion leaders and artists who boldly changed our world. Recognizing Sondheim as an American Icon, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy marks its 40th anniversary with its inventive twist on favorite fairy-tale characters. Directed by Peter Rothstein (All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which won the New York Drama Desk Critics Award), Into the Woods features Sondheim's enchanting score and Lapine's relevant, darkly comedic book which continues to captivate audiences.

The West Coast Premiere of Mehr Theatre Group's international hit, Blind Runner follows, Oct. 18-Nov. 8, 2026 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. With text and direction by Amir Reza Koohestani, Blind Runner tells the story of an imprisoned Iranian activist who convinces her husband to train a blind runner. United Kingdom's The Guardian praised Blind Runner, calling it "mesmerizing, stunning, deeply moving," while New York Stage Review described it as "undeniably powerful." Critically praised for its poignancy, relevancy, and artful use of video, Blind Runner is performed in Persian with English supertitles. The Farhang Foundation continues its support as Cultural Partner on this production.

An Orange County holiday tradition, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jerry Patch, takes the stage for its 46th season, Nov. 28-Dec. 27, 2026. Once again, SCR Founding Member Richard Doyle entertains audiences as Ebenezer Scrooge. Hisa Takakuwa returns to direct.

For the second consecutive season, SCR welcomes the new year with The Rep—two comedies about love and identity performed in rotating repertory, alternating nightly, with overlapping casts on the same stage. Michael Ray returns as Lead Repertory Producer. It begins with Mother Russia, which brings Lauren Yee back to SCR for the first time since her breakout hit Cambodian Rock Band in 2018. A critical hit during its Off-Broadway run earlier this year, where the Wall Street Journal called it "engaging and fiercely funny," Mother Russia runs Jan. 22-March 20, 2027 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Mother Russia rotates with The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's comedic masterpiece. Directed by Lisa Rothe, who helmed SCR's critically acclaimed production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and considered one of the greatest comedies in the English language for its delightfully satirical skewering of Victorian England, The Importance of Being Earnest runs Jan. 23-March 20, 2027 on the Segerstrom Stage.

For SCR's youngest audience members, the Theatre for Young Audiences and Families production of How I Became a Pirate, book, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, takes the Julianne Argryos Stage Feb. 19-March 7, 2027. Directed by Kari Hayter (the Outside SCR production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Into the Woods at Musical Theatre West), How I Became a Pirate is based on the award-winning book written by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon. This fun, imaginative musical follows 10-year-old Jeremy as he learns that home is a treasure you can't find on any map.

The spring brings two world premieres to SCR stages. The first is Three-headed Monster by JuCoby Johnson, one of the American theatre's rising stars. Directed by H. Adam Harris, Johnson’s close collaborator and SCR’s Artistic and Audience Engagement Associate. Three-headed Monster tells a gripping, touching story about the power of friendship through the eyes of Kyrie, who returns home from Riker's Island after serving time for a crime he didn't commit. Three-headed Monster premieres in SCR's intimate Nicholas Studio April 4-May 2, 2027.

The second world premiere is The Ingenue by Eleanor Burgess, who returns to SCR after her critically acclaimed Galilee, 34 premiered in 2024. In The Ingenue, Burgess takes us inside the life of 18th-century playwright Hannah Cowley as she attempts to write a romantic comedy while her own marriage and life disintegrate around her. The Ingenue takes the Julianne Argyros Stage April 18-May 9, 2027.

The subscription season concludes with William Shakespeare's timeless classic, Hamlet, which runs May 8-June 5, 2027 on the Segerstrom Stage. With Ivers directing, Hamlet returns to the SCR stage after 20 years with Lee playing the title role of Hamlet. Lee's history at SCR runs deep and memorable. He received his Equity card right out of Cal State Long Beach in SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences and Families 2012 production of Robin Hood. Lee went on to play the lead, Quang, in SCR's 2015 world premiere of Vietgone by Qui Nguyen and re-created the role at Manhattan Theatre Club, for which he received the 2016 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance. Lee's other SCR performances included Office Hour (2016), opposite Sandra Oh and Cambodian Rock Band (2018). His TV career includes the recently wrapped second season of "Sugar" opposite Colin Farrell for Apple TV+, "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed" (Apple TV+), the lead role of Dr. Ben Song in the NBC revival of "Quantum Leap," series regular roles in "Kevin Can F*** Himself" (AMC) and "Here and Now" (HBOMax) and recurring performances in "Made For Love" (HBOMax), "Prodigal Son" (Fox), "Mozart in the Jungle" (Amazon) and "Scandal" (ABC). Lee's film career includes appearing in the independent feature The Unknown Country and as Lt. Logan "Yale" Lee in Top Gun: Maverick.

Into the Woods, Blind Runner, Mother Russia, The Importance of Being Earnest, Three-headed Monster, The Ingenue and Hamlet can be purchased on subscription at this time. Subscribers also get exclusive early access to A Christmas Carol, which is not included in subscriptions and goes on sale to the general public in August.

More offerings will be announced in May when the SCR Presents series is unveiled.

A variety of subscription package options are available now and may be purchased online at www.scr.org or by phone at (714) 708-5555. The six-play Super Subscription ranges from $299-$533, depending on the day and time of the performance. Four-play Segerstrom Stage packages range from $213-$369, and the three-play Julianne Argyros Stage packages range from $149-$237, with additional discounts for students, seniors, educators and theatregoers age 35 and under. Also available is a special seven-play Opening Night subscription for two people, which includes post-show parties with the cast and artists who create the productions. Opening Night subscriptions start at $4,000 per couple and include a tax-deductible donation of $2,656 benefiting SCR.

Single tickets for the fall and winter plays go on sale Aug. 4.

2026-27 Season

American Icons
Join us over several seasons as we celebrate the artists, personalities and opinion leaders who boldly changed our world – like legendary composer Stephen Sondheim.

Into the Woods
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Directed by Peter Rothstein
Sept. 12-Oct. 10, 2026
Segerstrom Stage

When the Baker and his wife venture into the forest to break a witch's curse, they encounter Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack (of beanstalk fame)—and familiar tales take on clever new lives. But be careful what you wish for, because "happily ever after" is never the whole story. With a Tony Award-winning book and score, this poignant musical comedy masterpiece celebrates its 40th anniversary with a fabulous new SCR production.

Blind Runner
A Mehr Theatre Group production
Text and Direction by Amir Reza Koohestani
Oct. 18-Nov. 8, 2026
Julianne Argyros Stage

Blind Runner interweaves the destinies of three Iranians in an international multi-media hit proclaimed "mesmerizing" by The Guardian. At the insistence of his wife, a political prisoner, a man agrees to help a blind woman train for a race in Paris. After placing third, they take on a second challenge. Can they run the 38-kilometer Channel Tunnel from France to the UK in a few hours to avoid being hit by the first train of the morning? Performed in Persian with English supertitles.

Charles Dickens'
A Christmas Carol
Adapted by Jerry Patch
Directed by Hisa Takakuwa
Nov. 28-Dec. 27, 2026
Segerstrom Stage

Whether it's your first time or a cherished family tradition, this timeless classic is sure to rekindle your holiday spirit! Gather your loved ones and celebrate the season with festive music, joyful dancing and the heartwarming story of one magical, life-changing night in the life of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Ages 6 and up. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted.

The Rep
Another ambitious centerpiece to our season

Two delightful comedies about love and trading in your old identity. Performed in repertory, alternating nightly, on the same stage with overlapping casts. This is must-see theatre!

Mother Russia
By Lauren Yee
Jan. 22-Mar. 20, 2027
Segerstrom Stage

1992: The Soviet Union has collapsed and McDonald's is open. Clueless Evgeny takes a surveillance job with his friend Dmitri to spy on Katya, a former pop star with a mysterious past. Deeply in love, Evgeny decides to defy his gangster father and risk everything to win over Katya. A New York Times Critic's Pick, Lauren Yee's (Cambodian Rock Band) off-beat comedy about identity and the cost of capitalism is "as funny as it is smart."

The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde
Directed by Lisa Rothe
Jan. 23-Mar. 20, 2027
Segerstrom Stage

Celebrated as the finest comedy of the English language, this sparkling classic hilariously skewers Victorian England's upper class. Jack and Algernon are carefree bachelors who've created false identities to shirk their responsibilities and have a bit of fun. Jack's in love with the enchanting Gwendolen, Algernon is falling for Cecily—and both women have sworn to marry only men named Ernest. But their happiness hinges on the approval of Gwendolen's mother, the unbending Lady Bracknell.

How I Became a Pirate
Book, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman
Based on the book "How I Became a Pirate" written by Melinda Long and illustrations by David Shannon
Directed by Kari Hayter
Feb. 19-Mar. 7, 2027
Theatre for Young Audiences
Julianne Argyros Stage

Aaarrh! The award-winning picture book is now a fun-filled musical comedy kids and adults will love! Braid Beard and his band of goofy pirates are searching for an expert digger to join their crew. When 10-year-old Jeremy Jacob joins them at sea, he learns their unique pirate ways and helps them look for the perfect spot to bury their booty. Along the swashbuckling adventure, he discovers that home is a treasure you can't find on any map.

World Premiere
Three-headed Monster
By JuCoby Johnson
Directed by H. Adam Harris
Apr. 4-May 2, 2027
Nicholas Studio

After serving time for a crime he didn't commit, 21-year-old Kyrie returns to the Bronx and his two best friends. As kids, they were inseparable—lovingly known as the Three-headed Monster. Now, in their cramped apartment, Kyrie fears there's no room left for him in a trio and world that moved on while he was away. A touching drama about the healing power of friendship from one of the theatre's rising stars.

World Premiere
The Ingenue
By Eleanor Burgess
Apr. 18-May 9, 2027
Julianne Argyros Stage

In 18th-century London, neither Letitia nor Doricourt wants to go through with their arranged marriage, and each is determined to make the other call it off. Their hilarious scheming is playwright Hannah Cowley's latest work-in-progress, which she's desperately trying to finish while also holding together her own marriage and career. With a nudge and a wink, the writer of Galilee, 34 takes us inside a witty new twist on a classic comedy of manners.

Hamlet
By William Shakespeare
Directed by David Ivers
May 8-June 5, 2027
Segerstrom Stage

When Prince Hamlet returns to Denmark following the suspicious death of his father, he discovers that his uncle has seized the throne—and occupies his mother's bed. Spurred on by his father's ghost, Hamlet rages against his own conscience, plots revenge against the new king and spirals deeper into treachery and madness. Artistic Director David Ivers and actor Raymond Lee (SCR: Vietgone, Office Hour. TV/Film: Quantum Leap, Sugar, Top Gun: Maverick) join forces to bring Shakespeare's haunting psychological thriller to life.