Photo Flash: EMILIE At South Coast Rep

Passionate. Independent. A great beauty. A prodigious scientific intellect. These are the qualities that inspired this true story of 18th century Parisian noblewoman Emilie du Châtelet and her lifelong affair with the Enlightenment superstar Voltaire. In this highly theatrical rediscovery of one of history's most intriguing women, Emilie must defend her life by tallying her achievements in love and philosophy - and search for a formula that will convince the world of her worth.

Natacha Roi (Emilie) was last seen at SCR in Vesuvius and The Real Thing. On Broadway she has appeared in Sixteen Wounded, Closer and Wait Until Dark. Her Off Broadway and regional theater credits include Fiction at Roundabout Theatre Company; Uncle Vanya at McCarter Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse; Othello at The Public Theater; and Passion Play at Minetta Lane Theatre.

Don Reilly (Voltaire) previously appeared at SCR in Terra Nova and Amy's View. His Broadway credits include The Heiress and Arcadia. Off Broadway, Reilly has been seen in Misalliance, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Virgin Molly, Fortinbras, Candida and Macbeth. He won the Boston Theatre Critics Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Jack Tanner/Don Juan in Man and Superman at the American Repertory Theatre, where he also played Petruchio in Andre Serban's staging of The Taming of the Shrew.

The cast also features Susan Denaker (Madam), Matthew Humphreys (Gentleman) and Rebecca Mozo (Soubrette).

The creative team includes Cameron Anderson (set design), Nephelie Andonyadis (costume design), Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz (lighting design), Vincent Olivieri (sound design), Gabriela Estrada (movement consultant), Kelly Miller (dramaturg) and Jennifer Ellen Butler (stage manager).

Lauren Gunderson is a playwright, screenwriter and short story author. She is currently finishing her M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. Her work has received national praise and awards including the Berrilla Kerr Award for American Theatre, Young Playwright's Award, Eric Bentley New Play Award, Essential Theatre Prize, Virtual Theatre Prizes and many others. She has been produced Off Broadway (Parts They Call Deep), Off Off Broadway (Sus Manos) and recently had many new plays produced in Atlanta (including The Van Gogh Café, Leap and Background), as well as regionally (A Short History of Nearly Everything).

David Emmes is the Producing Artistic Director of South Coast Repertory and has received numerous awards for his direction of SCR productions during his career, including the World Premieres of Amy Freed's Safe in Hell, The Beard of Avon, and Freedomland, Thomas Babe's Great Day in the Morning, Keith Reddin's Rum and Coke and But Not For Me, Neal Bell's Cold Sweat, the American premieres of Terry Johnson's Unsuitable for Adults and Joe Penhall's Dumb Show, the West Coast Premieres of Jeffrey Hatcher's Three Viewings, David Hare's The Secret Rapture and Richard Nelson's New England, and the Southland premiere of Caryl Churchill's Top Girls at SCR and the Westwood Playhouse. Along with his artistic colleague, Martin Benson, Emmes is the recipient of the 2007-2008 Margo Jones Medal for lifetime commitment to the living theatre.

Bette & Wylie Aitken are the Honorary Producers of Emilie. 89.3 KPCC and Coast Magazine are the Media Partners. SCR's commission of Emilie was funded by the Elizabeth George Foundation.

Associated events taking place during the run of Emilie include:

POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS: Tuesday, April 28 & Wednesday, April 29

Discuss the play with members of the Emilie cast during free post-show discussions led by South Coast Repertory's literary team after the 7:45 p.m. performances on April 28 & 29.

INSIDE THE SEASON: Emilie Saturday, May 9, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $12

Inside the Season is a series of interactive seminars that provide a comprehensive inside look at the theatrical production process. Each two-hour session is led by School and Community Programs Director Linda Sullivan Baity and features creative personnel from South Coast Repertory's current production. Inside the Season is offered on select Saturday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased online at www.scr.org or by calling the Box Office at (714) 708-5555. (Tickets to Emilie are sold separately.)

TICKETS to Emilie - La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight 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. Performances begin on April 19 and continue through May 10. Ticket prices range from $20 to $64. Low-priced preview performances are available from April 19-23. Performance times: Previews: Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m., and Tuesday, April 21, Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23 at 7:45 p.m. Regular Performances: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:45 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. 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, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. ($10 minimum) and an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, May 9 at 2:00 p.m.

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.

Photos courtesy of South Coast Rep