Monday, May 19, 2014

SCR’s 2014-15 Season: From the Mediterranean to Cornwall and Neverland


South Coast Repertory’s 2014-15 season moves from the Mediterranean island in Shakespeare’s The Tempest to Cornwall in a new take on the classic Tristan & Yseult, from Mecca in Zealot by Theresa Rebeck to an updated look at the Land of Oz in OZ 2.5 by Catherine Trieschmann. SCR will present classics and contemporary and new works, including Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph, Of Good Stock by Melissa Ross and Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice.

“This season features sparkling new productions by some of the most talented theatre-makers in the world. We have innovative re-imagined classics—Shakespeare’s The Tempest, seen through the magical lens of Teller (from Penn and Teller) and Kneehigh’s Tristan & Yseult—and fresh new plays that will soon move onto the world stage. This season will have something for everyone.” –Artistic Director Marc Masterson

On the Segerstrom Stage:

The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller
songs by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
choreography by Matt Kent, Pilobolus
Aug. 29-Sept. 28
Transformed onstage into a travelling tent show, this is The Tempest unlike anything you—or the Bard—ever envisioned! As the wizard Prospero plots revenge on the enemies who banished him, the exuberant epic takes on a new life—thanks to the music (haunting ballads by the inimitable Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan), the magic (by Teller, of the legendary Penn and Teller duo) and the movement (by Pilobolus, the dance troupe Newsday called “mind-blowing…wildly creative…and physically daring”). Produced in association with American Repertory Theater.

Zealot
by Theresa Rebeck
directed by Marc Masterson
Oct. 17-Nov. 16
Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The British consul pours tea for the American undersecretary of state, avoiding her questions—with answers to ones she hasn’t even asked. In the street below, a group of Saudi women set in motion a carefully-planned protest. The results are devastating enough to ignite a battle of wills and wits—now that a life hangs in the balance. This is a riveting story by a prolific Broadway veteran and Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Kneehigh’s Tristan & Yseult
adapted and directed by Emma Rice
writers: Carl Grose and Anna Maria Murphy
Jan. 23-Feb. 22
A cabaret band plays high above the stage as this classic myth about star-crossed lovers unfolds. King Mark is victorious in battle, and Yseult is destined to be his bride. But when he sends Tristan to bring her back, trouble begins. It’s played out with wild exuberance—and a touch of Tarantino—by Kneehigh, the English company that thrilled audiences with productions like The Wild Bride and Brief Encounter. This is the play that wowed critics (The Huffington Post: “Utterly timeless, delightful and engrossing”) and catapulted Kneehigh into the international spotlight.

Of Good Stock
by Melissa Ross
March 27-April 26
Part of the 18th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival
Legendary novelist Mick Stockton left his three daughters a house in Cape Cod, control over his books, and a whole lot of issues. Years later, the men in their lives struggle to be part of this elusive family's legacy.  It’s not always easy keeping up with the whip smart and very funny Stockton Sisters, especially during a weekend filled with dramatic confrontations and surprising confessions.  But good scotch helps.  And, in the end, what matters most is family in this new play by the writer whose work Time Out New York called  “zesty, muscular and quick-witted.”

Peter and the Starcatcher
by Rick Elice
based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
directed by Art Manke
May 8-June 7
They call him Boy, the orphan without a name. One day he’s whisked onto the good ship Neverland, and the century-old legend of Peter Pan gets its hilarious, exhilarating and wildly imaginative prequel. Sail with us across the seven seas as Boy becomes Peter in a swashbuckling tale of yesteryear, infused with pop culture imagery of today. Backstage called this winner of five Tony Awards “more fun than the proverbial barrelful of monkeys.”


Venus in Fur
by David Ives
directed by Casey Stangl
Oct. 5-26
Auditions are over for the day and Thomas still hasn’t found the perfect actress for his adaptation of a 19th-century erotic novel. Vanda stumbles into the bare rehearsal studio, soaking wet and hours late. She dons a white Victorian-era dress and mysteriously—hilariously—becomes the elusive leading lady. But the battle for sexual dominance that follows is not limited to the script in what The New York Times called “90 minutes of good, kinky fun.”

The Whipping Man
by Matthew Lopez
directed by Martin Benson
Jan. 4-25
The Civil War has ended, leaving destruction in its wake. As a raging storm illuminates what’s left of a once majestic plantation home, three Jewish men prepare for Passover—the owner’s son, and his family’s former slaves. Only one of them, Simon, remains strong in his faith, but it is threatened with truths about what happened in this house—and in their lives—during its antebellum days. Stage and television star Charlie Robinson plays Simon in this Obie Award-winning drama The New York Times proclaimed “haunting and powerful.”

To Be Announced
March 8-29
It might be a recent hit coming out of New York or London—or a world premiere by one of our commissioned playwrights. Stay tuned.

Mr. Wolf
by Rajiv Joseph
April 12-May 3
Part of the 18th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival
Theresa is 17 years old, and she can map out the solar system. She understands the universe—how and why it came to be. She has a man named Mr. Wolf to thank for that. Now the only life she has ever known is coming to an end. She’s being taken away—turned over to people who are strangers to her. They can’t possibly understand her needs, when they seem to be lost, too. And they’re all asking the same questions: What is home? Where do I belong?


Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White
adapted by Joseph Robinette
Nov. 7-23
The sounds of morning tell of something exciting that happened during the night. A pig was born. His name is Wilbur. And he’s destined to become tomorrow’s bacon—until a spider with amazing skills hatches a plan. This beloved children’s fable about love and friendship comes alive onstage—in a warm and witty production that helps young people understand the ever-changing cycle of life.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
by Dwayne Hartford
adapted from the book by Kate DiCamillo
Feb. 6-22
Edward Tulane is a very dapper china rabbit—a birthday present for 10-year-old Abilene, who loves him almost as much as Edward loves himself. But when he gets lost at sea, Edward finds he has a lot to learn. Caught in a fisherman’s net, he lands in a garbage dump, travels with a happy hobo and comforts a sick child, bouncing along from person to person through decades until he discovers the transformative power of love.

OZ 2.5
by Catherine Trieschmann
inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
May 22-June 7
Oz was never like this! That’s because it’s OZ 2.5: brighter, bolder, customized for every player, surprises around every corner—yes it’s a children’s classic set in a video game world! Dee’s moniker is Dorothy 14, and with the help of Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, she gets through each level on her way to defeating the Witch of the Western Realm. But what happens when she wins the game and wants to go back to Kansas? Log on and find out.

Celebrate the 35th Anniversary Season of A Christmas Carol 

This is a special year for the Orange County holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol: for three-and-a-half decades, Hal Landon Jr. has portrayed Scrooge and John-David Keller has directed SCR’s beloved production. Don’t miss this special milestone year!

Check out the full lineup!

Season subscriptions are on sale now and may be purchased by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office. Packages range from $48 to $549. Single tickets will be available to the public on Aug. 1 and tickets for A Christmas Carol go on sale to the public in mid-to-late August. All dates and plays are subject to change.

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