John-David Keller News

South Coast Repertory and Hal Landon, Jr. will celebrate their 30th season of A Christmas Carol this Nov. 28 through Dec. 26. Landon is now the longest-running Scrooge in the West; in fact, he has missed only three performances in 29 years - and that's despite breaking a toe two different times while running around stage in stocking feet.

NOVEMBER 2009 - FEBRUARY 2010 OCTOBER Oct. 23 - Nov. 22 ? Segerstrom Stage ? West Coast Premiere

The following is SCR's four month calendar for October 2009 ? January 2010.

The following is South Coast Rep's calendar. South Coast Repertory was founded in the belief that theatre is an artform with a unique power to illuminate the human experience. We commit ourselves to exploring the most urgent human and social issues of our time, and to merging literature, design and performance in ways that test the bounds of theatre's artistic possibilities. We undertake to advance the art of theatre in the service of our community, and aim to extend that service through educational, intercultural, and outreach programs that harmonize with our artistic mission.

South Coast Repertory will open its 2009-2010 season with a celebration of the music of Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim and will shine the spotlight later in the season on the up-and-coming musical theater composer and lyricist, Adam Gwon. The season lineup includes World Premieres by Bathsheba Doran, Julie Marie Myatt and Howard Korder, and a West Coast Premiere by Noah Haidle.

South Coast Repertory will revive the musical play Indian Summer, one of the theatre's most popular Educational Touring Productions, for travel to Southland elementary schools Jan. 21 - April 4, 2009. There will be a free public performance at SCR on Jan. 26. Set in the mid-19th century, Indian Summer is based on the true story of a young boy who grows up with a Native American tribe. The play directly supports California K-6 State Frameworks for History-Social Science, English-Language Arts and Visual and Performing Arts. John-David Keller directs the show written by Richard Hellesen with music and lyrics by Michael Silversher. Indian Summer features Matt Bartosch, Daniel Behnke, Eagle Young and Ellen D. Williams. Bartosch and Behnke are recent graduates of SCR's Professional Intensive Program. Sets and costumes are designed by Angela Balogh Calin. Kathleen Allison is stage manager. For over 40 years, SCR's Educational Touring Production has introduced children to theater by commissioning original musical plays which deal with important issues and making them available to Southern California elementary schools during the winter and spring. The tour reaches nearly 35,000 school children each year. Some of them will be experiencing live theater for the first time. Others will discover that their parents (or even their grandparents) saw the show when they were in elementary school.

South Coast Repertory's Educational Touring Production of INDIAN SUMMER by Richard Hellesen music and lyrics by Michael Silversher directed by John-David Keller. The creative team consists of Angela Balogh Calin (Set and Costume design) and Kathleen Allison (Stage Manager). CAST: Matt Bartosch (Jeff), Daniel Behnke (Father), Ellen D. Williams (Mother) and Eagle Young (Koo-Nance). Set in the mid-19th century, Indian Summer is based on the true story of a young boy who grows up with a Native American tribe. RUNS: Jan. 21 - April 4, 2009 Bookings are available for performances Jan. 21 - April 4, and available slots fill quickly. Schools and educators wishing to book Indian Summer are encouraged to book early for the best choice of dates. The show runs 45 minutes with a 45-minute set-up time. Fees are $465 with discounts for back-to-back performances. A free study guide is provided. For more information, call the SCR Education Department at (714) 708-5549. A free performance will be offered to the public on a first-come first-served basis on Monday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. on South Coast Repertory's Julianne Argyros Stage. For more information call Janis Morrissette, SCR Education Department at (714) 708-5549. UNDERWRITERS: Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation and Bank of America are Honorary Producers of the Educational Touring Production. The program was made possible in part by a grant from the O.L. Halsell Foundation, the Kenneth A. Lester Family Foundation, and the City of Newport Beach Arts Commission

JANUARY - APRIL 2009 JANUARY January 4 - 25 ● Julianne Argyros Stage ● World Premiere YOU, NERO By Amy Freed Directed by Sharon Ott The World Premiere of Pulitzer Prize nominee Amy Freed's new comedy about the infamous Roman emperor who decides to commission a play that could be the Colosseum's biggest hit ever - if its hapless author lives to tell the tale. Commissioned by SCR, You, Nero is directed by Sharon Ott who directed the staged reading at the 2008 Pacific Playwrights Festival. Freed's plays include the SCR commissions The Beard of Avon, Safe in Hell and Freedomland. Previews Jan. 4-8, opens Jan. 9, closes Jan. 25. Tickets: $20-$64 (Previews $20-$45, Regular Run $28-$64) See last page for performance schedule.

South Coast Reperatory Calendar of events for December - March 2009

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Orange County's beloved holiday tradition, returns to South Coast Repertory for its 29th season.

South Coast Repertory's popular holiday presentation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol returns to the stage with Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the three Spirits of Christmas. This Jerry Patch adaptation is an Orange County family tradition.

South Coast Reperatory Calendar of events for December - March 2009

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Orange County's beloved holiday tradition, returns to South Coast Repertory for its 29th season.

South Coast Repertory presents The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde and directed by Warner Shook running February 8 - March 9, 2008; officially opening February 15 at 8PM.

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.

South Coast Repertory's popular holiday presentation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol returns to the stage with Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the three spirits of Christmas. An Orange County family tradition, directed by John-David Keller, adapted by Jerry Patch

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Orange County's beloved holiday family tradition, returns to South Coast Repertory for its 28th incarnation. Adapted for the stage by Jerry Patch and directed by John-David Keller, Dickens' classic tale runs on the Segerstrom Stage from Nov. 24 through Dec. 24. Low-priced previews begin Nov. 24. Opening night is Nov 30. Press night is Dec. 1 at 7:30. Tickets are available by calling the box office at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting www.scr.org.