South Coast Repertory director Martin Benson hugs...

South Coast Repertory director Martin Benson hugs it up with chairwoman Susan Whitten at Saturday night’s “Encore!” benefit staged at Town Center Park. The event raised more than $75,000 for South Coast Repertory. The party was presented by SCR’s Theater Guild. Proceeds from the benefit go into theater’s Annual Fund, which helps bridge the gap between earned income and expenses.