South Coast Repertory
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Broadway had a hold on American theatre by the mid-20th century when a revolution began. Young theatre artists began founding independent professional theatres to make classic and new works available to more people. It was called the "resident theatre movement," and by the early 1960s it was taking root in cities across America.
In California, David Emmes and Martin Benson had attended San Francisco State College, where two faculty members—Jules Irving and Herbert Blau—ran the Actor's Workshop, a model for resident theatre advocates. Having gone separate ways after graduation, Emmes and Benson held jobs in academia, the social services and the peripheries of entertainment before the duo gathered a few San Francisco friends in summer 1963 to stage Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde at the "Off-Broadway Theatre" in Long Beach. The chemistry worked and the theatre's board invited the troupe back to mount a series of plays the next summer.
The group of actors returned with The Hostage, Major Barbara and The Alchemist. The process of staging these three productions transformed the talented friends: the pressure they put themselves under to excel, and the creativity that emerged, marked the 1964 summer in Long Beach as a crucible. The band of hopefuls fused into a company.
Emmes and Benson were convinced there was a future for them in theatre. One night at a diner—using a napkin for paper—they sketched out a four-step plan to create a theatre company. The first step would involve touring to rented stages. In November 1964, the company—now formally named South Coast Repertory—staged its first production, Moliere’s Tartuffe, at the Newport Beach Ebell Club.
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Hosted events
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Costa Mesa, California19 February 2022Type: Theater - LiveIt’s 1973, Maynard Jackson has just been elected Atlanta’s first African American mayor and the city is poised to become the “new Black capital of America.” -
Costa Mesa, California20 March 2022Type: Theater - LiveAt a luxury resort in Cancún, a storm is brewing. Adriana, a floor manager at the hotel, reels from the news of her father’s death.
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Costa Mesa, California7 May 2022Type: Theater - LiveMay 7, 1901. Life has begun in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Milk is being delivered. Breakfast is on the stove.
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Costa Mesa, California15 May 2022Type: Theater - LiveWhat happens when “tiger parenting” goes wrong? Meet Albert and Jennifer Chen— brother and sister, once brilliant students and musicians, now epic failures leading unfulfilling lives. The problem?
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Costa Mesa, California19 May 2022Type: Theater - LiveWolfgang comes to life in this all-Mozart evening!
Attending Events
Actor Profiles - Most Recent Additions 2
Richard Lafleur is a Canadian born actor, singer, dancer, and aspiring writer.
At a petite 6'3", Jason Simon is a presence!
Lance is currently a working actor out of New York City, and is loving every minute.
Meet Carina Avila got her start in Los Angeles working on TV and music videos. She is now focused on transferring her early success to the theatre.
Cait is a New York City based actor, dancer and singer who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Montclair State University.
Eddie attended NYU for acting, training at the Stella Adler Studio and the Experimental Theatre Wing, and while he was there, he picked up a minor in Music, while also enrolling in the dance program at Peridance in Union Square.
Get To Know Dancer / Actor Monica Cioffi backstage at The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, NY
Gina is a Long Island born, actor/singer based in New York City. She most recently appeared as Martha Vail in the York Theater's Mufti production of Subways are for Sleeping and Tanya in Mason Street's production of Mamma
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South Coast Repertory
Equity Theater