Multi-Award-Winning Musical ONCE Opens South Coast Repertory 54th Season

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 Markéta Irglová-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.

"Once is an extraordinary testament to the power of music and the power of story," Nicholson said. "It's a unique story about human interaction, kindness and what draws people together and how that can have an effect on art."

The story follows a Dublin street musician who's about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. There's no mistaking the chemistry between them. As it begins to grow, his music soars to powerful, new heights. Theirs is an unlikely connection, though, that turns out to be deeper and more complex than other everyday romances. Once is an unforgettable story about going for one's dreams and the power of music to connect us all.

Once earned eight Tony Awards, a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album, four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, two Olivier Awards (for the British production) and three Dora Mavor Moore Awards (for the Toronto production). The Wall Street Journal called Once, "A love story played with fierce sincerity and unexpected honesty"; and the Associated Press said, "Pure, moving, inventive, and irresistible. Once makes a lasting connection."

Playwright Enda Walsh is a multi-award-winning Irish playwright who won a Tony Award for writing the book for Once in 2012. The musical played for three years on Broadway, two years in London's West End and has been touring worldwide. His other works include Misterman (Landmark Productions, The Galway Arts Festival); and Penelope, The New Electric Ballroom and The Walworth Farce (Druid Theatre, Ireland). He co-wrote the screenplay for the 2008 film Hunger

The SCR cast includes Scott Anthony, Amanda Leigh Jerry, Aoife McEvoy, Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper, Alex Nee, Christian Pedersen, Rustin Cole Sailors, Marnina Schon, Zach Spound, Cassidy Stirtz, Andy Taylor, Diane King Vann, Jacqueline Vellandi and Scott Waara.

The design and creative team includes Ralph Funicello, scenic design; Leah Piehl, costume design; Lap Chi Chu, lighting design; Lindsay Jones, sound design; Andy Taylor, music director; Kelly Todd, choreography; and Joanne DeNaut, CSA, casting. The production manager is Joshua Marchesi and the stage manager is Sue Karutz. Once has generous support from Honorary Producers Joan and Andy Fimiano and Steve and Laurie Duncan; Corporate Honorary Producer U.S. Bank; and media sponsor Modern Luxury magazine.

Tickets: May be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the Box Office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances run Sept. 2-30. Ticket prices start at $26. Low-priced previews run Sept. 2-7.

Location: South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the David Emmes/Martin Benson Theatre Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available on Park Center Drive, off Anton Boulevard.

Upcoming Productions: Curve of Departure by Rachel Bonds, Sept. 24-Oct. 15; Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson, Oct. 14-Nov. 11; Ella Enchanted: The Musical by Karen Zacarías, Oct. 27-Nov. 12 (Theatre for Young Audiences); A Christmas Carol adapted by Jerry Patch, Nov. 24-Dec. 24; Sugar Plum Fairy by Sandra Tsing Loh, Dec. 3-24; and Shakespeare in Love adapted by Lee Hall, Jan. 13-Feb. 10, 2018. More information is available at www.scr.org.

Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964 by David Emmes and Martin Benson, is led by Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei. SCR is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theatre, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program, which includes the nation's largest commissioning program for emerging and established writers. One-quarter of SCR's more than 510 productions have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, Calif., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org