THEATER -- Tom Titus

It’s not enough that South Coast Repertory is launching the world

premiere of “Everett Beekin” this weekend and reviving “Entertaining Mr.

Sloane” two weeks hence. The company also has a brand-new musical waiting

in the wings.

This production, however, is aimed at a younger audience. “Bad Water

Blues” is SCR’s annual Educational Touring Production, to be presented to

elementary schools from January through April.

Playwright Richard Hellesen -- who scripted the theater’s productions

of “Once in Arden” and “Moonshadow” some seasons back -- was commissioned

to write a play that would coincide with the curriculum being taught in

Southern California schools.

Few elements are as important as water, so Hellesen came up with a

lively and colorful message about preserving Southern California’s

fragile sea waters.

In his short play -- bolstered by a musical score from Michael

Silversher, a two-time, Emmy-nominated songwriter and composer -- an

underwater group called the Back Bay Boys are mysteriously losing their

voices and need someone to find out why. Undersea detective “Coral Reef”

comes to the rescue, traveling through the various levels of the ocean,

up the beach through the drainage pipes to locate the source of the

problem.

Hellesen began researching material for his script more than a year

ago.

“I was in touch with representatives of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s

educational program, who helped clear up questions about the effect of

human civilization on specific habitats and sea life,” the playwright

said. “I learned that there is not one ocean, but numerous distinct

oceans, including coastal waters, continental shelf waters and mid-ocean

and deep waters.”

As Hellesen researched, news events -- such as the closure of the

beach off of Huntington Beach because of pollution -- occurred, adding

grist to his creative mill.

The result of his studies will be available to local youngsters from

kindergarten to sixth grade. The musical can be set up and ready to go in

30 minutes either inside the elementary school or on the school’s

grounds. Running time is 45 minutes, and the schools will receive a

concise study guide to help teachers and students get the most out of the

production.

The playlet is being directed, as usual, by John-David Keller, who

also has staged all 21 of SCR’s annual presentations of “A Christmas

Carol.” This is Keller’s 29th season as director of the Educational

Touring Production.

The fee to have “Bad Water Blues” performed is $410, plus travel

surcharge for a single performance, with discounts for back-to-back

bookings.

School officials can contact the SCR Education Officer at (714)

708-5549 to book the show from Jan. 17 through April 8.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.