"4,000 Miles" Opens to Cheers and Thanks

On November 25, First Night of 4,000 Miles began with cheers for the production and continued at the Cast Party with thanks to Honorary Producer Barbara Roberts.  You name it, over the years Barbara and her late husband, Bill, got behind it.  Their history of support is legendary, but it includes something not everyone knows: way back when, SCR joined the computer age thanks in part to Bill, who helped train the staff and get everything up and running.

Barbara and Bill’s daughter Brooke Roberts-Webb, who partnered with her mother to help underwrite 4,000 Miles, was unable to attend First Night, as were first-time Honorary Producers SCR Trustee Steve Duncan and his wife, Laurie.  But there were many old timers sharing the warm glow provided by the show’s director David Emmes and cast, led by Jenny O’Hara as the 91-year-old Leftie, Vera Joseph; Matt Caplan as her neo-Hippie grandson, Leo; Rebecca Mozo; and Klarissa Mesee.

Throughout the 50th Season, First Nighters will share their special evenings with longtime SCR artists.  Joining the audience for 4,000 Miles were favorites Marnie Mosiman and John de Lancie, who appeared in a total of 14 productions.  In fact, they met here in 1981, when John was in Childe Byron on the Mainstage and Marnie in Ashes on the Second Stage.  A decade later, they appeared together in Man and Superman.

Anni Long and Jarion Monroe travelled down from their home in Mill Valley to join the fun.  A longtime SCR favorite, Anni appeared in more than 50 shows, plus many productions of A Christmas Carol.  Jarion has a dozen shows to his credit.  And, they also met at SCR!

Ayre Gross, who began his career at SCR in Educational Touring Productions, went on to perform in seven more shows, including Our Mother’s Brief Affair with, among others, Jenny O’Hara.

They were all there to sip cocktails, including the signature “Leftie,” nibble mini bagels and New York style cheesecake and congratulate the artists of 4,000 Miles, which the Los Angeles Times called “a dramatic journey across the generations.”



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