South Coast Repertory is more than just the big shows

Tom Titus

With two large theaters in continuous operation, one might think

that’s all there is to South Coast Repertory. Well, that’s just the

tip of the iceberg -- albeit a very large tip.

You’re probably familiar with the Pacific Playwrights Festival or

the Hispanic Theater Project, which keeps the folks at SCR occupied

during the summer months when the Segerstrom and Argyros stages are

vacant. And, of course, there are plays -- often original -- put on

by the theater’s Youth Conservatory, which captured the attention of

my 10-year-old about 20 years ago.

But South Coast Repertory has made a plethora of programs

available to the community, both for the serious acting student and

youngsters who just want to watch.

If you’re dead set on play acting for a living -- or even nailing

some juicy roles at your neighborhood community theater -- you’ll

want to get into the Professional Conservatory, best described as a

theatrical boot camp. This highly disciplined eight-week, full-time

summer program is for the serious acting student.

Director Karen Hensel has a staff of industry professionals and

well-known seminar guests to help students improve their performing

abilities, establish goals and prepare for careers in theater, film

or television. But you can’t just sign up for this one -- enrollment

is by audition only.

If, like most of us, you’ve gotten into the habit of eating

regularly, but still would like to further your performing skills,

there’s the Theater Conservatory, a year-round program for adults 18

and older, which can be absorbed during the evening.

The current fall session of nine-week evening classes will run

through Nov. 13 and runs the gamut from the fundamentals of acting

for beginners to the Advanced Actors Workshop. You also can study

playwriting, musical theater and improvisation. The winter session

will be held from Jan. 12 through March 11.

The Young Conservatory is a year-round program for children to

explore the creative process at their own rate of study. There are

the Youth Theater (grades three through six) and Teen Theater (grades

seven through 12), with the winter session coming up Jan. 13 through

March 20.

One benefit the Youth Conservatory offers is the opportunity to

appear in SCR’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” which my

son Tim got the chance to do at the age of 11 in 1984. The roles

usually are double cast, but the kid sharing Tim’s “turkey boy” part

got sick, and Tim got to play all performances (and got paid for it,

too).

The Theater Discovery Project is an excellent way for students to

experience the theater at great savings ($10 admission for students

in groups of 15 or more). This season, SCR will add four special

student performances of “Cyrano de Bergerac” at the beginning of the

run.

SCR’s Theater Access programs offer free admission to productions

for students selected with input from the Education and Outreach

Committee. Seniors, full-time students and those enrolled in the

Theater Conservatory qualify for reduced-price tickets.

Then there’s the Neighborhood Conservatory, which provides free

after-school classes at select schools and community centers.

And, speaking of schools, each year, SCR selects an Educational

Touring Production to tour elementary schools in Southern California,

often with a historical theme. This season, it’ll be “The Pride of

Weedpatch Camp” by veteran company playwrights Richard Hellesen and

Michael Silversher.

This show will illuminate the stories of four children who grew up

in farm labor camps and -- with the help of their teachers -- built

their own school. The joy and humor they discovered in the experience

will be reflected in a colorful 45-minute show filled with music and

dance and performed by young professional actors from the company.

“The Pride of Weedpatch Camp” will set out on its tour of local

schools on Jan. 14 and will continue through May 1. School officials

are urged to book the show early.

As South Coast Repertory expands, so do the opportunities the

Costa Mesa regional theater offers to the community. If you’d like to

“put on a show,” that’s the place to go.

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

appear Fridays.