South Coast Rep Cancels Sullivan's 'Lear'- Replaces With 'Collected Stories'

Collected Stories, one of South Coast Repertory's most successful commissioned plays, will replace the previously announced Daniel Sullivan-directed King Lear as the final production of South Coast Repertory's 2008-09 season.  Donald Margulies' Pulitzer Prize nominated play about two women writers at opposite stages of their careers will run May 15 through June 14, 2009 on the Segerstrom Stage.  King Lear will open SCR's 2009-10 season.

"We are delighted to have this opportunity to revisit one of Donald's most celebrated plays and reintroduce it to Southern California audiences," said Artistic Director Martin Benson, who will direct the revival.

Collected Stories received its World Premiere in 1996 on SCR's Second Stage.  After its New York premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club, Collected Stories received a commercial Off-Broadway run, and the Los Angeles production at the Geffen Playhouse was subsequently filmed for PBS.  Since then, Collected Stories has been produced throughout the U.S. and the world.

"Although we've had to postpone King Lear due to an unexpected conflict with Daniel Sullivan's spring schedule, we're happy to be able to replace it with Donald's engaging play," said Producing Artistic Director David Emmes.  "Fortunately, Dan will be able to direct King Lear in the fall and we gain an exciting way to open our 2009-10 season."

In addition to Collected Stories, Margulies is the author of four plays that were commissioned and premiered by South Coast Repertory:  Brooklyn Boy and Pulitzer Prize finalist Sight Unseen, which received Broadway productions, and Shipwrecked!  An Entertainment – The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont as Told by Himself.  Dinner with Friends, which had its West Coast Premiere at SCR, won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize.

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 Folino Theater Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.  Parking is available off Anton Blvd. on Park Center Drive.

Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, under the artistic direction of David Emmes and Martin Benson, is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theaters in the United States.  Founded in 1964, SCR is committed to theater that illuminates the compelling personal and social issues of our time, not only on its stages but through its education and outreach programs.  While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theater, SCR is renowned for its extensive new play development program, including the Pacific Playwrights Festival.  Of SCR's more than 400 productions, 107 have been world premieres with subsequent stagings achieving enormous success across America and around the world.  SCR-developed works have garnered eight Pulitzer Prize nominations with Margaret Edson's Wit winning the prize in 1999 and David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole in 2007.  Located in Costa Mesa, California, in 2002 SCR opened the Folino Theater Center, an expanded three-theater complex that includes the 507-seat Julianne Argyros Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio.

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