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South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei) announces the casts and creative teams for its renowned Pacific Playwrights Festival. The highly anticipated showcase of new works, part of the theatre’s new-play development arm—The [email protected]—begins Friday and runs through Sunday, April 8-10.
Single tickets and discounted ticket are available at scr.org.
The 24th annual festival begins Friday at 1 p.m. with A Million Tiny Pieces by Spenser Davis. Directed by Ivers, this SCR commissioned play features the largest cast in the festival. Telling the true story how the iconic video game Tetris escaped the Iron Curtain and who controlled its rights, the play features Amy Kim Waschke, David Nevell, Derek Manson, Elinor Gunn, E.M. Davis, Marco Barricelli, Moses Villarama, José Antonio García, Jake Szczepaniak and Matthew Arkin. Many of the actors play multiple roles in this funny, engaging story. Jerry Patch is the dramaturg.
Friday at 4 p.m. on the Segerstrom Stage is how to roll a blunt by Naomi Lorrain. Colette Robert directs this witty play that explores Black art, Black Love and the pursuit of Black excellence and the costs associated with each. The comedy features India Gurley, Justin Walker White, Kaye Winks, Michael Oloyede, Chalia La Tour and Starr Kirkland. Francisca Da Silveira serves as dramaturg.
Saturday’s readings begin at 10:30 a.m. on the Segerstrom Stage with love you long time (already) by Katie Đỗ. Directed by Mei Ann Teo, this story of a Vietnamese mother and daughter grappling with their immigration to America, infidelity and family communication features Elyse Dinh, Kelly Marie Tran, Vien Hong and Trieu Tran. Natalia Duong is the dramaturg.
avaaz by Michael Shayan takes the Nicholas Studio for the first of four readings at 8 p.m. Friday. Directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Shayan plays Roya, the hostess and guide who shows you how to celebrate Nowruz—the Iranian New Year—in style. Kristina Wong is the dramaturg. The other three readings for avaaz are Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., Saturday evening at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
Festival organizers made one change in the program. Bite Me by Eliana Pipes replaces Scene Partners by John J. Caswell Jr. Directed by Jennifer Chang, with Celia Mandela Rivera serving as dramaturg, Bite Me tells the story about two lonely 16-year-olds colliding in the storage closet of their suburban high school and how that relationship develops over the following 10 years. It features Jasmine Ashanti and Connor Paolo. The reading is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on the Segerstrom Stage.
A new experience for audiences, Samples from The Lab is a special event that offers audiences an exclusive sneak peek of a new musical in development. The event includes a presentation of excerpts from Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life, by Anika and Britta Johnson (music and lyrics) and Nick Green (book).
Logan Vaughn directs this new musical experience about the dangers of absolute belief. Alexander Burke is the musical consultant. It features Caroline Pernick, Craig McEldowney, J. Valerione, Taylor Iman Jones, Alexander Mendoza, Amanda Naughton, Alexander Matos, Eric Myrick and Alicia Coca. Dr. Silver, A Celebration ofLife’s performances are Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Dr. Silver is presented in collaboration with Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
PPF includes the world-premiere production of Clean/Espejos by Christine Quintana, with Spanish translation and adaptation by Paula Zelaya Cervantes. A co-world premiere with the Neworld Theatre in Vancouver, B.C., Clean/Espejos is performed in both English and Spanish with subtitles in both languages provided throughout the play. A reading of Clean/Espejos was featured in the 2021 streaming PPF.
Clean/Espejos is directed by Lisa Portes. It features Nell Geisslinger as Sarah and Lorena Martinez as Adriana. The critically acclaimed production runs through April 10.
The Pacific Playwrights Festival is made possible with support from The Shubert Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts and the Pacific Playwright Festival Honorary Producers: Sally Anderson and Tom Rogers, Laurie and Steve Duncan, Kristen and Adrian Griggs, Samuel and Tammy Tang and Linda and Tod White. Special thanks to the Elizabeth George Foundation for supporting the development of new plays.
ABOUT TICKETS AND LOCATION
The 2022 Pacific Playwrights Festival offers several ticketing options:
- Tickets for individual readings are $19
- Packages to see all five readings and Samples from The Lab are $90
- Tickets to see five readings are $80
- Tickets to see Samples from The Lab are $10
- Tickets for the production of Clean/Espejos range from $33-$98 each
- The Sunday, April 10 playwrights’ panel discussion is free and open to the public
Tickets and ticket packages for the general public and theatre industry professionals may be purchased online at www.scr.org.
Location: 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 David Emmes/Martin Benson Theatre Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available on Park Center Drive, off Anton Boulevard.
Complete information is available at www.scr.org.
