South Coast Repertory announces lineup
South Coast Repertory has announced its lineup for the 2016-17 season, which features three world premieres and five West Coast premieres.
“A season is selected with the idea to have as much variety as possible, and we wanted projects artists are passionate about,” said Marc Masterson, South Coast Repertory’s artistic director.
Here’s a look at the plays and the people:
“All the Way,” Sept. 2 to Oct. 2: The play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan follows President Lyndon B. Johnson’s efforts to maneuver members of Congress to enact and civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr. to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“It’s an interesting play to do during an election season, and there’s something to learn from it,” Masterson said.
“District Merchants, An Uneasy Comedy,” Oct. 2 to 23: In a setting of black and Jewish populations, playwright Aaron Posner takes “The Merchant of Venice” from its Shakespearean setting to — simultaneously — Shakespearean times, post-Civil War Washington, D.C., and life in America today. The play explores love and litigation, deep passions, money and humor.
“Destiny of Desire,” Oct. 14 to Nov. 13: Playwright Karen Zacarias infuses high drama and passion for a modernized comedy about two baby girls — one born into a life of privilege and the other into a life of poverty — being secretly switched by a scheming former beauty queen. The girls meet 18 years later, brought together by misfortune, and grow into one destiny.
“This is a fresh new story written in the style of a telenovela,” Masterson said. “It’s a whole lot of fun, and I think it will be very popular.”
“The Roommate,” Jan. 3 to 22: The comedic play written by Jen Silverman, whom Masterson dubbed “one of the hottest rising playwrights,” tells the story of Sharon, a 54 year old divorcee living in Iowa who finds herself in need of a roommate to make ends meet. Robyn, a new arrival from the Bronx, is hiding a lifetime of secrets. Sharon gets to the truth, and the two women figure out how to redefine themselves at the mid-point of their lives.
“Moby Dick,” Jan. 20 to Feb. 19: David Catlin, founding ensemble member of the Chicago, Ill.-based Lookingglass Theatre Company, adapted and directed the novel by Herman Melville for the stage. The result is “an acrobatic and poetic theatrical production of telling a classic story,” Masterson said. The masterwork tells the tale of a captain on a quest to seek revenge on Moby Dick, the white whale that on an earlier voyage destroyed his ship and severed his leg.
“Orange,” March 5 to 26: The West Coast premiere of Aditi Brennan Kapil’s tale follows a young woman’s search for her place in the world.
“The Siegel,” March 24 to April23: A comedy by Michael Mitnick about modern love and the need to go back in order to move forward.
“A Doll’s House, Part 2,” April 9 to 30: The play that will headline the 20th anniversary of the Pacific Playwrights Festival will continue the story of Henrik Ibsen’s three act play, “A Doll’s House.”
“The Monster Builder,” May 5 to June 4, 2017: A comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Freed about two fledgling architects daring to challenge a mega architect at his own game.
In December, the 37th annual production of “A Christmas Carol” will feature returning actor Hal Landon Jr. as Scrooge, and at different times during the season, the Theatre for Young Audiences will present “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” “Flora and Ulysses” and “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”
Season subscriptions are on sale now, and packages range from $64 to $576. Single tickets will be available June 6.
South Coast Repertory is at 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, call (714) 708-5555 or visit scr.org.
Twitter: @KathleenLuppi
