Martin Benson News

South Coast Repertory has announced an exciting lineup of shows from March to June. Check out the full linup below!

Experience something(s) new: Three world premiere productions and four new play readings during South Coast Repertory's 2014 Pacific Playwrights Festival, April 25-27.

As South Coast Repertory's 50th Season celebration continues, look at its past, get a preview of its future and take a peek behind the scenes to see how the magic of theatre happens during a special Open House.

A big hit with audiences during the 2006-07 season, James and the Giant Peach in 2014 will offer a memorable experience for new and returning playgoers as a part of SCR's Theatre for Young Audiences series. Casey Stangl, director of last season's Anastaisa Krupnik, returns to direct this adaptation by David Wood of the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach. The show runs tonight, Feb. 7-23 at South Coast Repertory on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

At Saturday's grand opening of Chance Theater's Bold New Home, Wylie Aitken, a major arts supporter and chair of the California Arts Council, announced that he has made a $250,000 contribution to name the new home of the Chance after his lovely wife, Bette Aitken. The new name will be the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center. The official dedication ceremony will be scheduled soon.

A big hit with audiences during the 2006-07 season, James and the Giant Peach in 2014 will offer a memorable experience for new and returning playgoers as a part of SCR's Theatre for Young Audiences series. Casey Stangl, director of last season's Anastaisa Krupnik, returns to direct this adaptation by David Wood of the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach. The show runs Feb. 7-23 at South Coast Repertory on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

The 2014 Studio SCR series at South Coast Repertory offers five works that: Earned honors including Best Comedy at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and Ovation Awards; Have been created by a MacArthur Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation fellowship recipient; Found inspiration in the writings of Tennessee Williams and Nathaniel Hawthorne; and Push the boundaries of the theatrical form through hip-hop culture, improvisation and science.

South Coast Repertory has announced its upcoming shows, January through April 2014. Details below!

An Italian vacation, young love and a parent's heart-rending decision are all part of the award-winning Broadway hit, The Light in the Piazza, book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer. Directed by Kent Nicholson, The Light in the Piazza runs Jan. 24-Feb. 23 on SCR's Segerstrom Stage.

Love in the modern world doesn't have an 'easy button;' it's complicated and sometimes not very convenient. Take a look at one contemporary and very complex relationship in the next production at South Coast Repertory: Trudy and Max in Love by Zoe Kazan The show runs Jan. 5-26, 2014, on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Lila Neugebauer directs.

The 2014 Studio SCR series at South Coast Repertory offers five works that: Earned honors including Best Comedy at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and Ovation Awards; Have been created by a MacArthur Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation fellowship recipient; Found inspiration in the writings of Tennessee Williams and Nathaniel Hawthorne; and Push the boundaries of the theatrical form through hip-hop culture, improvisation and science.

South Coast Repertory has announced its upcoming shows and events, December 2013-March 2014. Details below!

A new exhibition traces the history of South Coast Repertory, Orange County's Tony Award-winning theatre. The display is on view Oct. 12-20 at South Coast Plaza, during the mall's regular business hours. The display, in the Jewel Court rotunda (by Macy's), includes cut-out characters in costumes from past productions and large color panels that tell the story of SCR through photos and text.

Tonight at South Coast Repertory's landmark 50th Season Gala Ball, Orange County arts supporter Paul Folino announced the re-naming of SCR's Folino Theatre Center to honor the company's founders. Its new name will be the David Emmes and Martin Benson Theatre Center.

South Coast Repertory's 50th season blends five world premieres with classics and modern masterpieces. The slate includes Arthur Miller's American classic Death of a Salesman, the musical The Light in the Piazza and the world premiere of Rest by Samuel D. Hunter. The season concludes with the play that started it all for SCR in 1964: Moliere's Tartuffe. Season subscriptions are available now; single tickets go on sale in August.

Join South Coast Repertory during its monumental 50th season. Five world premieres, a musical and a classic American drama are all featured during the season, running from August through June. Tickets for SCR's 2013-14 season are now on sale, starting at $22.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Time Warner Foundation, South Coast Repertory is launching its new CrossRoads Commissioning Project-a community-based initiative within the theatre's renowned new work program. As part of the project, SCR has commissioned eight playwrights, locally and nationally, to create new work inspired by residencies that explore the incredible diversity of Orange County.