SCR Opens New Season With ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, 9/7

This year marks the 40th anniversary for Alan Ayckbourn's first big hit, Absurd Person Singular.

South Coast Repertory's 49th season opens Sept. 7 with Ayckbourn's ferociously funny farce; performances on SCR's Segerstrom Stage continue through Oct. 7.

Set over three successive Christmas Eves in three different kitchens, Absurd Person Singular listens in on the relationships of three couples as they experience soaring and diving fortunes. The cast-each with SCR, film and television credits-features Tessa Auberjonois as Eva; Robert Curtis Brown as Ronald; JD Cullum as Sidney; Kathleen Early as Jane; Colette Kilroy as Marion; and Alan Smyth as Geoffrey. SCR Founding Artistic Director David Emmes directs Absurd Person Singular, his sixth Ayckbourn production and SCR's ninth Ayckbourn play.

The production is generously supported by Honorary Producers Richard P. and Jane Taylor; Corporate Honorary Producer is U.S. Bank.

"I'm pleased to have assembled what I think is an extraordinary cast for this marvelous comedy," Emmes said. "Ayckbourn's genius is in creating characters with whom we can identify; everyday people who have dreams and ambitions not dissimilar to our own."

Absurd Person Singular is one of Ayckbourn's most widely praised plays, with a long production history and 2012 revivals in Britain and the United States, including SCR's upcoming production.

Ayckbourn's deep knowledge of the theatre is a delight for director, actors and audience members, said Emmes.

"Ayckbourn comes from the theatre, initially an actor, then a director and finally playwright," he said. "He has a theatrical inventiveness and imagination that are particularly unique."

The creative team for Absurd Person Singular includes Sara Ryung Clement, set design; Nephelie Andonyadis, costume design; Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz, lighting design; Sam Lerner, sound design; John Glore, dramaturg; and Jamie A. Tucker, stage manager.

Tickets range from $20-70. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, fulltime educators, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For complete information, visit: www.scr.org.

Related Information for Absurd Person Singular

Tickets: Can 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 begin Sept. 7 and continue through Oct. 7. Ticket prices range from $20 to $70. Low-priced preview performances run Sept. 7-13.