David Ivers News

Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei today announce a new initiative, SCR Community, an online series of free readings, events, interviews and community-centered stories to engage Southern California with the power of live theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series starts on Aug. 17, at 5:30 p.m., with MASA, a live, online fiesta with readings of four short pieces relating to the historical and cultural importance of masa.

Music Director Carl St.Clair and President John Forsyte today announced the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series, inaugurating St.Clair's fourth decade as music director. Comprised of 44 concerts, the 2020-21 classical season reflects the orchestra's diverse repertoirea?"from core symphonic works, new commissions, full-length opera and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei today announced the lineup for the 2020 Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF). The annual showcase of new works, part of the theatre's new-play development arm, The Lab@SCR, includes two world-premiere productionsa?"The Scarlet Letter by Kate Hamill and I Get Restless by Caroline V. McGrawa?"and five staged readings. PPF runs April 24-26, with morning, afternoon and evening events. Single tickets and value-priced ticket packages are now on sale at www.scr.org.

Though SCR's admirable new production of the 1963 Broadway musical SHE LOVES ME, for the most part, still has many charming, beautifully-staged, and well-sung moments, it also somehow feels like it is slightly reigned in, as if there was a purposeful attempt to downscale some of its built-in whimsy and spirited vivaciousness---particularly in the first act where emotional expressions all seem to sit in the same middle areaa?? never tipping over to too angry or too sad or too happy or too, well, anything. Now on stage in Costa Mesa through February 22, 2020, the production---directed by the theater's own artistic director David Ivers---is genuinely entertaining, but still needs a huge shot of joy, romance, and pep to make it feel complete.

Today, South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei announced an expanded schedule of thoughtful, lively conversations and talkbacks for the 2019-20 season, the first programmed by Ivers. The main productions on the Segerstrom and Julianne Argyros stages will have at least 4 post-show discussions, a series of artistic director talkbacks and Saturday morning seminars called Inside the Season. There will be a special talkback for A Christmas Carol, which marks its 40th anniversary this year.

Today, South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei announced the 13 creative dream teams for the 2019-20 season, the first programmed by Ivers. The roughly 100 individuals are among the theatre industry's finest, most creative and versatile talents.

Play On Shakespeare today announces an expansive list of compelling actors and dynamic directors confirmed to participate in the Play on! Festival, presented in association with Classic Stage Company (CSC) and Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). Play on! features 39 readings of new, work-in-progress translations of Shakespeare's plays into contemporary modern English by some of today's most exciting playwrights-May 29-June 30 at the Lynn F. Angelson Theater at CSC (136 E. 13th Street). In 2015, Oregon Shakespeare Festival launched an ambitious 39-play, three-year commissioning project, Play on!, tasking 36 playwrights-more than half of whom were women and playwrights of color, each paired with a dramaturg-to translate Shakespeare's canon in celebration of the enduring impact of the Bard's work. Supported by a generous grant from the Hitz Foundation and inspired by long-time patron Dave Hitz's passion for Shakespeare, the project was and continues to be led by Lue Morgan Douthit. For more information, visit playonfestival.org.

Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei today announced South Coast Repertory's 13-play, 2019-20 season, which builds on the theatre's 56-year foundation of stellar artistry. The offerings range from a two-person show to a large-cast musical and represent a kaleidoscope of classics and popular hits, along with four world premieres and three shows for young audiences and families. The season includes the world premiere of The Scarlet Letter by Kate Hamill, the musical She Loves Me (directed by Ivers), American Mariachi by Jose Cruz Gonzalez, Arcadia by Tom Stoppard and the beloved children's story, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Subscription packages are currently on sale; single tickets will go on sale on June 10. More information is available at www.scr.org.

Sombreros off to the theatre companies that are emphasizing cultural diversity and inclusiveness in their programming and casting and creatively outreaching to new audiences. One of the leaders in the mix, thanks to the artistic directorship of David Ivers (who's off now to take the helm at South Coast Repertory), is Arizona Theatre Company, which has mounted AMERICAN MARIACHI as one of its 52nd Season highlights. The light-hearted and sentimental production, directed by Christopher Acebo, runs through April 21st at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

Play On Shakespeare in association with Classic Stage Company (CSC) and Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) presents the Play on! festival-featuring 39 readings of new, work-in-progress translations of Shakespeare's plays into contemporary modern English by some of today's most exciting playwrights-May 29-June 30 at the Lynn F. Angelson Theater at CSC (136 E. 13th Street).In 2015, Oregon Shakespeare Festival launched an ambitious 39-play, three-year commissioning project, Play on!, tasking 36 playwrights-more than half of whom were women and playwrights of color, each paired with a dramaturg-to translate Shakespeare's canon in celebration of the enduring impact of the Bard's work. Supported by a generous grant from the Hitz Foundation and inspired by long-time patron Dave Hitz's passion for Shakespeare, the project was and continues to be led by Lue Morgan Douthit. For more information, visit playonfestival.org.

"Why can't a girl be in a Mariachi band?" is a question only answered by understanding music's power to heal and connect, and the freedom to dream big, in Arizona Theatre Company's production of American Mariachi, a new comedy from Jose Cruz Gonzalez, the former playwright in residence at Childsplay, March 9-30 at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson and April 4-21 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

"Why can't a girl be in a Mariachi band?" is a question only answered by understanding music's power to heal and connect, and the freedom to dream big, in Arizona Theatre Company's production of American Mariachi, a new comedy from Jose Cruz Gonzalez, the former playwright in residence at Childsplay, March 9-30 at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson and April 4-21 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

Virtuoso performances are the order of the day in Arizona Theatre Company's revival of August Wilson's TWO TRAINS RUNNING, directed by Lou Bellamy and featuring standout performances by James Craven, Alan Bomar Jones, Erika LaVonn, Ahanti Young, Lester Purry, Cedric Mays, and Dennis Spears.

Arizona Theatre Company's (ATC) 2019/2020 season, under the theme, "The Curtain Rises," offers an entertaining, thoughtful lineup of six shows including Lauren Gunderson's Silent Sky; the powerful musical love story Cabaret; Athol Fugard's story of South Africa in the early years of apartheid, Master Harold…and The Boys; and The Legend of Georgia McBride, an hilarious and heartwarming story of Casey, a broke Elvis impersonator with a baby on the way, a co-production with Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei today announced the lineup for the 2019 Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF). The annual showcase of new works kicks off on April 26 with a concert reading of a new musical adaptation of Prelude to a Kiss, directed by Ivers in his directorial debut as SCR's artistic director.

August Wilson's Two Trains Running, the seventh in his 10-part, decade-by-decade saga of ordinary African Americans in the turbulent 20th century that The New York Times described as his "most adventurous and honest attempt to reveal the intimate heart of history," will be on stage at Tucson's Temple of Music & Art Jan. 19-Feb. 9 and at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, Feb. 14-March 3.

Arizona Theatre Company (David Ivers, Artistic Director; Billy Russo, Managing Director) presents a special limited engagement of With Love, Marilyn, a one-woman tribute performance to one of America's most iconic romantics, Feb. 14-17 at the Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature HAMILTON, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and More!

David Ivers, Arizona Theatre Company's Artistic Director, has taken Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN and transformed it into an eye-popping and hand-clapping two hours of nonstop jubilation. An unequivocally boffo production, the show continues its run at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix through January 27th.

August Wilson's Two Trains Running, the seventh in his 10-part, decade-by-decade saga of ordinary African Americans in the turbulent 20th century that The New York Times described as his "most adventurous and honest attempt to reveal the intimate heart of history," will be on stage at Tucson's Temple of Music & Art Jan. 19-Feb. 9 and at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, Feb. 14-March 3.