South Coast Repertory to venture into Greek tragedy

It will have taken nearly 40 years, but with a staging of “Antigone” next January, ancient Greek tragedy no longer will be Greek to South Coast Repertory.

Along with Sophocles’ 2,445-year-old play, the schedule for 2003-04 -- South Coast’s 40th season -- includes another classic, Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac,” and the world premiere of “Safe in Hell,” Amy Freed’s (“Freedomland,” “The Beard of Avon”) study of Puritan preacher Cotton Mather.

In 1998, SCR staged a Greek comedy, Aristophanes’ “The Birds,” as adapted and performed by the Chicano comedy trio Culture Clash. Artistic director Martin Benson said that the Costa Mesa theater is not mounting “Antigone” just to fill a significant gap in its dramatic repertory. “We went back and examined the Greeks and found the play’s whole struggle between the law and morality so pertinent.” Benson said that director Kate Whoriskey already has chosen her Antigone: Alyssa Bresnahan, who played Cassandra in Peter Hall’s lavish Denver and British productions of John Barton’s epic Trojan War tale “Tantalus.”

The season also offers familiar titles from three well-established contemporary writers: “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” by Alfred Uhry (“Driving Miss Daisy”); “Terra Nova,” Oscar-winning screenwriter Ted Tally’s (“The Silence of the Lambs”) modern tragedy about British explorer Robert Falcon Scott’s doomed race to the South Pole; and the second part of Alan Ayckbourn’s two-actor comedy “Intimate Exchanges.” South Coast staged the first part of “Intimate Exchanges” in 1993; the same actors, SCR regulars Kandis Chappell and Richard Doyle, will return for the sequel.

Two plays are recent works by emerging writers: “Anna in the Tropics,” by Nilo Cruz (a West Coast premiere), and “Lovers and Executioners,” John Strand’s play based on a 17th century romance by Moliere’s rival Montfleury.

The season’s ninth title, a new play, will be announced later; South Coast also will mount its annual holiday staples, “A Christmas Carol” and Octavio Solis’ “La Posada Magica,” and a three-play Theatre for Young Audiences ... and Their Families series that already has been announced.

Playing in the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage are “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” (Sept. 5-Oct. 5), “Terra Nova” (Oct. 17-Nov. 16), “Antigone” (Jan. 30-Feb. 29), “Safe in Hell” (April 9-May 9, 2004) and “Cyrano de Bergerac” (May 28-June 27, 2004).

Shows in the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage are “Anna in the Tropics” (Oct. 3-19), “Lovers and Executioners” (Jan. 9-25), “Intimate Exchanges” (March 12-28, ) and a fourth play that will run April 30-May 16, 2004.