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.
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