Marc Masterson News

Romance, mistaken identities, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics served up with a generous dash of comedy are at the heart of Shakespeare in Love, adapted by Lee Hall from the Oscar-winning film written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, with music by Paddy Cunneen. South Coast Repertory Artistic Director Marc Masterson directs the production on the Segerstrom Stage, Jan. 13-Feb. 10. Tickets are now on sale: www.scr.org.

Some of the most-recognized phrases in the English language come from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: Bah!, Humbug! and God bless us, everyone. South Coast Repertory's annual production of the Dickens classic returns for its 38th year; performances run Nov. 24-Dec. 24 on the Segerstrom Stage. Hal Landon Jr. returns as Scrooge and John-David Keller directs both for their 38th consecutive year. Tickets are now on sale at scr.org.

Alliance Theatre takes HAND TO GOD on the road at Dad's Garage.

Below check out the performance schedule for South Coast Repertory for the four-month period of November 2017-February 2018.

Some of the most-recognized phrases in the English language come from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: Bah!, Humbug! and God bless us, everyone. South Coast Repertory's annual production of the Dickens classic returns for its 38th year; performances run Nov. 24-Dec. 24 on the Segerstrom Stage. Hal Landon Jr. returns as Scrooge and John-David Keller directs both for their 38th consecutive year. Tickets are now on sale at scr.org.

Here is the performance schedule for South Coast Repertory for the four-month period of October 2017-January 2018.

The Alliance Theatre is pleased to announce the Atlanta premiere of HAND TO GOD, the irreverent puppet comedy that was a 2015 Tony Award nominee for Best Play and the most produced play in American regional theater last season. Marc Masterson, Artistic Director of South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California, directs this darkly delightful (The New York Times) production. HAND TO GOD explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us. Performances are October 20 November 12, 2017 at Dad's Garage while the Alliance Theatre undergoes a complete renovation. Opening night is Wednesday, October 25.

August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean will continue South Coast Repertory's 2017-18 season. With quiet power and undeniable beauty, Gem of the Ocean transports audiences to 1904 Pittsburgh and tells a story that mixes legends from the past with notes of hope for the future. Kent Gash will direct Gem of the Ocean on the Segerstrom Stage, Oct 14-Nov. 11, 2017. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

South Coast Repertory's Summer Players will present the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods on the Julianne Argyros stage, directed by Hisa Takakuwa, with musical direction by Erin McNally. Performances by SCR's Theatre Conservatory students run Aug. 12-20; tickets are on sale now at www.scr.org. 

A testament to the transcendent power of love and music takes center stage as South Coast Repertory opens its 2017-18 season with the multi-award-winning Once. The musical-book by Enda Walsh; music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova-is based on John Carney's Academy Award-winning indie film of the same name. Kent Nicholson will direct Once on the Segerstrom Stage, Sept. 2-30, 2017. Tickets are available online at www.scr.org.

A dark comedy about unexpected choices and familial prejudices, Byhalia Mississippi is a phenomenal evening of entertainment directed by Marc Masterson and wonderfully written by Evan Linder.

The virtue of Byhalia, Mississippi lies precisely in its modesty. It prescribes no rules, apart from loving one another and telling the truth, for getting through a marital and race-inflected social crisis in a small town; it simply shows how one not-overwhelmingly admirable couple does it. And at that, the true secret here may just be the jokes. Those, and the blackout line at the very end of the play, which just may bring a lump to the throat.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University announces their 130-member company for the 2017 season.

South Coast Repertory's Summer Players will present the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods on the Julianne Argyros stage, directed by Hisa Takakuwa, with musical direction by Erin McNally. Performances by SCR's Theatre Conservatory students run Aug. 12-20; tickets are on sale now at www.scr.org. 

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University announces their 130-member company for the 2017 season.

South Coast Repertory is producing the world premiere of Lucas Hnath's A Doll's House, Part 2 on the Julianne Argyros Stage, April 9-30.

The lineup for South Coast Repertory's 20th Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF), April 21-23, includes works from playwrights Amy Freed, Lucas Hnath, Donald Margulies and Lauren Yee. This year's festival offers three full productions and four staged readings. Tickets, including discounted packages to see all the readings, are available online at www.scr.org.

The Directors Lab West Steering Committee is pleased to announce the 18th annual Directors Lab West will be held Saturday, May 20 through Saturday, May 27, 2017. Applications are now being accepted at directorslabwest.com.

Can a person really change? And, once they break the mold, can they ever stop? Playwright Jen Silverman takes on these questions in The Roommate, a funny and dark comedy that has its West Coast premiere at South Coast Repertory on the Julianne Argyros Stage, Jan. 3-22. Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson directs. Tickets are available now at www.scr.org.

Can a person really change? And, once they break the mold, can they ever stop? Playwright Jen Silverman takes on these questions in The Roommate, a funny and dark comedy that has its West Coast premiere at South Coast Repertory on the Julianne Argyros Stage, Jan. 3-22. Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson directs. Tickets are available now at www.scr.org.