'The Importance of Being Earnest' Opens at SCR Feb.15; Shook Directs
Warner Shook, director of South Coast Repertory's acclaimed productions of Born Yesterday and The Last Night of Ballyhoo, returns to SCR with style to stage Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest to run from February 8 through March 9 on the Segerstrom Stage. Low-priced previews are available February 8-14. Opening night is February 15.
"The Importance of Being Earnest is Oscar Wilde's most enduring play and has been called the funniest in the English language. It's certainly the most outrageously frivolous with intricate twists and turns, through which the characters move while they carry on sparkling conversations about life – and love. Algernon and Jack are in love with two delectable young women, both of whom have illogically sworn to marry only men named Ernest. Although Wilde's plot is wonderfully witty, his wit is serious, as he adroitly uses it to skewer the Victorian English upper class and utterly charm everyone else," explain press notes.
Kandis Chappell takes on the immortal role of Lady Bracknell. The four confused young lovers will be played by Elise Hunt (Cecily Cardew), Tommy Schrider (Jack Worthing), Christine Marie Brown (Gwendolen Fairfax) and Michael Gotch (Algernon Moncrieff). Rounding out the cast are SCR Resident Artist Richard Doyle (Rev. Canon Chasuble), John-David Keller (Merriman and Lane), Amelia White (Miss Prism) and Bryan Vickery (Footman/Ensemble).
The creative team for The Importance of Being Earnest includes Michael Olich (set design), Nephelie Andonyadis (costume design), Lap-Chi Chu (lighting design), Michael Roth (original music/music direction), Philip D. Thompson (dialect coach) and Jamie A. Tucker (stage manager).
Tickets to The Importance of Being Earnest 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. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, educators, seniors and groups of 15 or more. There will be a "Pay-What-You-Will" performance on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggested Price: $10; $7 Minimum) and an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, March 8 at 2:30PM.
Performances begin on February 8 and continue through March 9. Ticket prices range from $20 to $62. Low-priced preview performances are available from February 8-14. Performance times: Previews: Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9 at 8PM; Sunday, February 10, Tuesday, February 12 and Wednesday, February 13 at 7:30PM; and Thursday, February 14 at 8PM. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:30Pm; Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30PM; and Sunday evenings at 7:30PM.
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.
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