Costa Mesa is Alive with The Sound of Music at Segerstrom Center for the Arts! Tune in to KUCI June 3rd at 9:30am when Janeane will be in conversation with Cayleigh Capaldi, who plays Maria!

LISTEN to today's show
with Cayleigh Capaldi,
who plays Maria in The Sound of Music National Tour.

Watch some clips
from the National Tour!

Music by RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II

Book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE

Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp

Directed by JACK O’BRIEN

Tony Award nominee Christiane Noll joins

Cayleigh Capaldi and Kevin Earley at

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

June 2 – 14, 2026

Tickets at scfta.org

CAYLEIGH CAPALDI (Maria Rainer) is honored to be making her National Tour debut bringing this iconic and vital story to life. Off-Broadway & West End: Titanique (Rose, Céline Dion). West End: Figaro (Sienna). Regional: Frozen (Elsa, US regional premiere), Putting it Together (The Younger Woman), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), Into the Woods (Cinderella), and Little Women (Jo March). TV/Film: “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” “Mrs. Fletcher.”

As an influencer and creator, she has garnered over 300K followers and 100M views across socials. Recent honors graduate of Columbia University and Berklee College of Music, Londoner-turned-New Yorker, and fluent Mandarin speaker. Gratitude to M+D+N+G, Kimberly, her Stewart team, Dave, and Beanie for being one of my favorite things. @cayleigh.capaldi www.CayleighCapaldi.com

COSTA MESA, CA | Segerstrom Center for the Arts is delighted to announce the highly anticipated North American tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, June 2 to 14, 2026.

Tickets for THE SOUND OF MUSIC, starting at $39, are available for purchase online at scfta.org, in person at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, and by phone at 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts of 10 or more, call the Group Services offices at 714.755.0236.

Director Jack O’Brien shared, “It is with a profound sense of excitement that our entire creative staff including associate director Matt Lenz, choreographer Danny Mefford, music supervisor Andy Einhorn, set designer Douglas W. Schmidt, costume designer Jane Greenwood, lightning designer Natasha Katz, and the others, reunited to launch this extraordinary new tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

What adds to that excitement is this marvelous company of brilliant new interpreters — Cayleigh Capaldi as Maria, fresh from her recent triumph in the West End, Kevin Earley as the Captain, the brilliant Christiane Noll as the Mother Abbess, Nicholas Rodriguez as Max, Detweiler, Kate Loprest as Elsa Schraeder, Ariana Ferch as Liesl von Trapp, and Ian Coursey as Rolf Gruber -- bringing a new perspective, as well as an astonishingly original interpretation to one of our most beloved works, now seen in the individual light of today.”


O’Brien continued, “You won’t want to miss this thrilling and powerful THE SOUND OF MUSIC!”

The spirited, romantic and beloved story of Maria and the von Trapp family features an unforgettable Tony, GRAMMY® and Academy Award®-winning Best Score, including legendary favorites “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and “The Sound of Music.”

The von Trapp children are played by Torben Mularski as Friedrich, Skylar Matthews as Louisa, Reece Boyle as Kurt, Haddie Mac as Brigitta, Berkeley Waluk as Marta, and Everly Beeson as Gretl. Brady Carville, Rory L. Prichard and Tessa Mae Pundsack understudy the von Trapp children. The principal cast is rounded out by John Adkison as Franz, Corey Greenan as Admiral von Schreiber, Jennifer Malenke as Frau Schmidt, and Daniel Robert Sullivan as Herr Zeller. Completing the cast are Blaire Eilene Baker, Sydney K. Borchers, Dylan Bradford, Steven Grant Douglas, Alli Echelmeyer, Zach Herman, Charlotte Jenkins, Meredith Lustig (Sister Sophia), Mark Bradley Miller (Baron Elberfeld), Tess Primack (Sister Margaretta), and Ruthie Sangster, and Lisa Rosetta Strum (Sister Berthe).

THE SOUND OF MUSIC features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp. The 1965 Oscar®-winning film recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and continues to be one of the most successful movie musicals of all time. Learn more at www.SoundOfMusicOnTour.com.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC tour stage management team is led by production stage manager Brigham Johnson and is supported by stage manager Kali Ashurst and assistant stage manager Megan Belgam. The company management team is led by company manager Jamey Jennings with associate company manager Elle Aghabala. The tour music director/conductor is Jonathan Marro.


Produced by Concord Theatricals and NETworks Presentations, this production is directed by Jack O’Brien (2024 recipient of Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), and choreographed by Danny Mefford (Broadway’s Kimberly Akimbo, Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home). Associate Director is Matt Lenz, and Associate Choreographer is Mark Myars. The design and production team is comprised of Douglas W. Schmidt, Set Design (Tony Award nominee: The Front Page, Into the Woods); Jane Greenwood, Costume Design (2014 recipient of Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), Natasha Katz, Lighting Design (Eight-time Tony Award winner: Sweeney Todd, MJ The Musical, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, An American in Paris); Kai Harada, Sound Design (Dead Outlaw, A Wonderful World, Merrily We Roll Along); Andy Einhorn, Musical Supervisor (Gypsy, Carousel, Hello, Dolly!); Tom Watson, Hair/Wig Design (Spamalot, Harmony, Parade); and Casting by The Telsey Office – Rachel Hoffman, CSA, Rashad Naylor, CSA. Executive producers are Sean Patrick Flahaven for Concord Theatricals and Trinity Wheeler for NETworks Presentations.



THE SOUND OF MUSIC On Tour

Website www.SoundOfMusicOnTour.com

Facebook TheSoundOfMusicOnTour

Instagram SoundOfMusicOnTour

TikTok SoundOfMusicTour


THE SOUND OF MUSIC Worldwide

Facebook TheSoundOfMusic

Instagram SoundOfMusic

X SoundOfMusic

Threads SoundOfMusic



Facts and Figures about THE SOUND OF MUSIC

· The original Broadway production (1959)

o Won five Tony Awards including Best Musical

o Original Cast Album won the GRAMMY Award

· National Tour, 2015-2019

o Toured the US and Canada for four seasons

o Played 224 cities and 1,099 performances

o Seen by more than 2 million theatergoers

· Worldwide

o Tens of thousands of productions worldwide, with over 500 professional, amateur and school productions each year in North America alone

· The motion picture (1965)

o Won five Academy Awards including Best Picture

o One of the most successful movie musicals in history and top-grossing films of all time

· The Music

o Decades of popular artists have recorded songs from THE SOUND OF MUSIC

o Soundtrack ranked as Billboard’s #2 Greatest Album of All Time

o THE SOUND OF MUSIC motion picture soundtrack drives more than 55MM+ streams in the U.S. every year





Everyone knows The Sound of Music! Cayleigh Capaldi and Kevin Earley lead this production as Maria and Captain Georg von Trapp. The Show will be at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from June 2-14.Director Jack O’Brien shared, “It is with a profound sense of excitement that our entire creative staff including associate director Matt Lenz, choreographer Danny Mefford, music supervisor Andy Einhorn, set designer Douglas W. Schmidt, costume designer Jane Greenwood, lightning designer Natasha Katz, and the others, look forward look forward to launching this extraordinary new tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC this fall. What adds to that excitement is this marvelous company of brilliant new interpreters — Cayleigh Capaldi as Maria, fresh from her recent triumph in the West End, the brilliant Christiane Noll as the Mother Abbess, Kevin Earley as the Captain, Nicholas Rodriguez as Max, and Kate Loprest as Elsa — bringing a new perspective, as well as an astonishingly original interpretation to one of our most beloved works, now seen in the individual light of today.”


The spirited, romantic and beloved story of Maria and the von Trapp family features an unforgettable Tony, GRAMMY® and Academy Award®-winning Best Score, including legendary favorites “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and “The Sound of Music.”

Coming up 6/3 at 9:00am - Corinna — medically retired mental health nurse, author, sober warrior and Can-Am solo rider - ✨ Recovery • Healing • Hope • Living Life After Addiction and loss ✨

ABOUT CORRINA

 Positive Recovery with Corinna | CanAmGirlUK 

Wheelchair to Wheels — rebuilding life through adversity, sobriety and riding

I’m Corinna — medically retired mental health nurse, author, sober warrior and solo rider living with FND, Fibromyalgia, arthritis, anxiety and chronic illness.

I am no longer in a wheelchair, but my journey began there in 2020 when FND and alcohol left me unable to walk or talk properly. I got sober in August 2020 and rebuilt my life through mindfulness and positivity.

After losing my partner to leukaemia in 2023, I completed our planned ride around Ireland and Wales solo, on my Can Sm Ryker 600cc, raising money for Maggie’s Cancer Care. Since then, I’ve ridden 38,000 + (mostly solo) miles across 16 European countries.  I’ve ridden 46,000 miles in total and recently upgraded to a Spyder F3s

I vlog about my journey and these include: 

 Can-Am Ryker & F3-S adventures

 Solo travel & long-distance riding

 Sobriety, grief & personal recovery

 Mental health, FND & chronic illness awareness

 Resilience, disability positivity & real-life recovery

I’m not “fixed” — I’m rebuilding, living, and riding forward.

I’m perfect at being me — and I hope my journey helps you too.

 SUPPORT THE JOURNEY

  Buy Me a Coffee
  My Recovery Book

⸻

 FOLLOW THE JOURNEY

  YouTube – Positive Recovery with Corinna
  Instagram – @canamgirluk
  TikTok – @canamgirluk
  Facebook

 Recovery • Healing • Hope • Living Life After Addiction and loss 

YALE, another stellar film Directed and Produced by Jay Silverman makes it's WORLD PREMIERE - OPENING NIGHT FILM AT DANCES WITH FILMS JUNE 18th 7:30pm Chinese Theater Hollywood. Silverman joins Janeane on KUCI 88.9fm June 17th at 9:00am.

 

YALE WORLD PREMIERE OPENING NIGHT FILM AT DANCES WITH FILMS BASED ON A TRUE STORY!!

STARRING CAITLIN MCGEE, KEVIN DUNN,
AND RACHAEL HARRIS





Abandoned by her beloved father, Yale Parker, when she was nine, Mackenzie (MAC) Mitchell’s adult life has been consumed with alcohol and run-ins with the law causing a deep rift with her son, Ryan, 12. When Ryan needs an emergency kidney transplant, his only chance at survival might be the last person Mac wants to ask for help — her father, who she hasn’t seen for thirty years. Their reunion is complicated when Yale reveals a jaw-dropping secret that he has eight other families that he kept hidden from her all her life…and one of them might be a match to save her son. As this odd couple set off on an epic road trip to track down her half-siblings, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, ultimately both learning that ‘genes’ run deep.



YALE is based on a true story about the writer’s maternal grandfather. When he first learned about his family lore as a young teen, he couldn’t believe it was true and knew he had to write about it. The film stars Caitlin McGee (Mythic Quest), Kevin Dunn (Transformers), Rachael Harris (The Hangover), Benjamin Mackey (Paradise), and Dominic Leeder (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning). It was directed by Jay Silverman (Camera) and written by Van Billet (Saving Paradise). The film was produced by Bethany Cerrona, Ian Christian Blanche, Kevin Dunn, and Joe Gamache.



YALE has its WORLD PREMIERE at Dances With Films on June 18, 2026. The film is currently not rated by the MPAA and is available for sale in all territories.



To view the trailer, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOqZtXRbldU&t=1s






For more information, go to:

https://www.jaysilvermanproductions.com/yale









JAY SILVERMAN

For over 40 years, Jay Silverman has excelled as a leading Director, Producer, and Photographer specializing in award-winning films, television, and print.

Jay’s narrative films have been awarded numerous Best Feature and Audience Awards at festivals across the country. His current is the true story dramedy feature ‘Yale’, starring Caitlin McGee, Kevin Dunn, and Rachael Harris. His first was the multi-award-winning dramatic feature “Girl on the Edge”, starring Peter Coyote, Taylor Spreitler, Mackenzie Phillips, Elizabeth Peňa, Gil Bellows, Rex Lee, Amy Davidson, and Amy Price Francis that premiered on Showtime. His second is the charming romantic comedy “Off the Menu” starring Dania Ramirez, Tony Award Winner Santino Fontana, Makenzie Moss, and Maria Conchita Alonso, which premiered on HBO & Amazon. His third is the true story drama “Saving Paradise” starring William Moseley, Johnna Braddy, Mary Pat Gleason, Bill Cobbs, Paul Dooley, and James Eckhouse currently on Tubi and Amazon. His fourth film, the inspiring drama “Camera”, starring Golden Globe winner Beau Bridges, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Scotty Tovar, Bruce Davison, and Miguel Gabriel is available on Amazon and Tubi.

Jay also Co-Created and Executive Produced “The Cleaner." an hour-long drama for Paramount Pictures, which aired on A & E about an extreme interventionist.

For his commercial work, Jay was honored with Belding, Telly, Premix, and Lucy Awards. In addition, he has also been recognized for his achievements in creating and producing many national PSA campaigns for the American Cancer Society, the Foundation for the Junior Blind, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, and the Sierra Club. Jay also produced and directed a one-hour special titled "Inside the Rings with Troy Aikman" airing on Fox before the 2011 Super Bowl to much success. He has worked with renowned celebrities such as Denzel Washington, Beyonce, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Jordan, and Ray Charles. His advertising clients include IBM, Coors, Panasonic, Disney, Budweiser, CBS, ABC, Pepsi & Apple.

A graduate of Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara with a Master of Science Degree, Jay founded Jay Silverman Productions in 1979 in Hollywood, California, and built a 40,000-square-foot facility including 3 sound stages.

Jay currently lives in Los Angeles, California, and has three wonderful daughters.



View Jay’s Career Photography Highlights Here: Photography Portfolio

A Reflection on Pope Leo XIV's Message About AI: A Call to Protect Human Connection

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms our world, Pope Leo XIV has emerged as a prominent voice calling on society to keep human dignity at the center of technological progress. His message is simple but profound: AI should serve humanity, not replace it.

The Pope has raised concerns about the impact of AI on workers, children, decision-making, and authentic human relationships. He reminds us that people are more than data, productivity, or algorithms—they possess inherent dignity that technology must respect.

For those of us working to address loneliness and strengthen belonging, his message is especially timely. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, the challenge is not simply creating smarter technology, but creating a more connected and compassionate society.

At a time when loneliness, disconnection, and mental health challenges are affecting people of all ages, Pope Leo XIV's message serves as an important reminder: technology can support us, but it cannot replace the healing power of human relationships. The conversations we have, the communities we build, and the ways we show up for one another remain essential to human flourishing.

As we embrace innovation, we must also protect the qualities that make us deeply human—empathy, compassion, belonging, and connection.

— Janeane Bernstein
Host, Get the Funk Out

Joining Janeane 5/27 at 9:30am - South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel talk about SCR's most prolific season

 

Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel.

Photo by Scott Smeltzer.

LISTEN to today's show

ABOUT SOUTH COAST REPERTORY: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964, is led by Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel. SCR is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. 

While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern plays and musicals, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program—The Lab@SCR—which includes one of the nation’s largest commissioning programs for emerging, mid-career and established writers. Of SCR’s more than 550 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, CA., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org

COSTA MESA, Calif.—South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) announced its expanded 2026-27 season today, which features nine productions. Season highlights include Raymond Lee returning to SCR as Hamlet, Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s musical masterpiece Into the Woods as the latest installment in the American Icons series and a unique rotating repertory—the recent Off-Broadway hit Mother Russia by Lauren Yee paired with Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest.

SCR’s 63rd season also includes the West Coast Premiere of Blind Runner, the international hit from Mehr Theatre Group and Iranian writer/director Amir Reza Koohestani, and two world premieres that will anchor the 2027 Pacific Playwrights Festival: Three-headed Monster by JuCoby Johnson and The Ingenue by Eleanor Burgess. Family-centered programming includes Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jerry Patch, and the Theatre for Young Audiences and Families production of How I Became a Pirate, book, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman and based on the book “How I Became a Pirate” by Melinda Long with illustrations by David Shannon.

The 2026-27 season reflects programming changes established in SCR’s recently adopted strategic plan, which includes more classics, modern masterpieces and the continuation of an annual musical on the Segerstrom Stage, and a dedication to world premieres and exciting new hits on the Julianne Argyros Stage. In addition, audiences will now enjoy a world premiere in SCR’s most intimate space—the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. Moving one world premiere to the Nicholas Studio not only creates more opportunities to experience the powerful, inspiring storytelling SCR is known for, it also frees up the Segerstrom Stage for an additional spring production.

About David Ivers
David Ivers (Artistic Director) is responsible for the overall artistic operation of the theatre. The 2019-20 season was the first he programmed for SCR and during that season, he directed She Loves Me. In addition, he directed the 2024 production of Joan—both the world premiere at SCR and the 2025 East Coast premiere at Barrington Stage Company—the 2021 Pacific Playwrights Festival reading of Coleman ’72 by Charlie Oh and the 2022 reading of Spenser Davis’ A Million Tiny Pieces. He spent August 2023 directing Guthrie Theater’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest. 

He was last seen onstage at SCR as John in Richard Greenberg’s world premiere of A Shot Rang Out and as part of his SCR tenure, created the theatre’s Outside SCR program in partnership with Mission San Juan Capistrano. Prior to his appointment as Artistic Director, he directed the SCR-Berkeley Repertory Theatre co-production of One Man, Two Guvnors. 

Before arriving to SCR in his current capacity, Ivers was artistic director for Arizona Theatre Company and, before that, served more than 20 years as an actor and director at Utah Shakespeare Festival, with the last six as artistic director. He was a resident artist at Denver Center for the Performing Arts for a decade, acting in and/or directing more than 40 plays, and has helmed productions at many of the nation’s leading regional theatres, including the Guthrie Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and South Coast Repertory. 

Ivers’ early career included serving as associate artistic director of Portland Repertory Theatre and appearing in productions at some of the nation’s most prestigious theatres, including Portland Center Stage and the Oregon, Alabama and Idaho Shakespeare festivals. He has taught at the University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Southern Utah University and Southern Oregon University. He earned his BA from Southern Oregon University and his MFA from the University of Minnesota.

Suzanne Appel

Managing Director & Co-CEO, South Coast Repertory

For more than two decades, Suzanne Appel has pursued a personal mission to bring people together through transformative experiences led by form-challenging artists. Working in partnership with Artistic Director David Ivers and reporting to the Board of Trustees, Appel is responsible for providing strategic leadership for SCR’s long-term sustainability and growth. She oversees SCR’s business operations, including fund-raising, marketing and community relations. 

Her accomplishments as Managing Director of Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre (2017-2024) include expanding the revenue-generating capacity of the organization, bringing on seven new board members, negotiating a two-production, industry-first producing partnership with Audible (David Cale’s Harry Clarke and Ngozi Anyanwu’s Good Grief), and transferring four Tony-nominated productions to Broadway. She is perhaps most proud of working with Artistic Director Sarah Stern to keep all Vineyard Theatre full-time staff employed during the COVID pandemic and developing a 2022-2026 plan raising all arts worker wages. 

Suzanne joined The Vineyard after serving as Director of External Affairs for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Prior to her role at Hubbard Street, she served as Managing Director at Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco, where she nearly doubled the organization’s operating budget and built a two-plus-month operating reserve in four years. 

She was awarded the Alfred Drake Award from Brooklyn College, an honor given to an accomplished theatre professional who has made significant contributions to the American theatre. Her previous positions include roles with Dance Theater Workshop, Yale Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Wesleyan University. Suzanne’s volunteer work includes serving on the Board for Arts Orange County and South Coast Metro Alliance. Previously she served as Chair of the Wesleyan Fund (2020-2024). She is a graduate of Wesleyan University, Yale School of Drama and Yale School of Management (MFA/MBA).

 

South Coast Repertory
South Coast Repertory
655 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Ticket Services/Box Office: (714) 708-5555

Coming up 5/27 at 9:00am pst - Voices: The Danny Gans Story, a Heartfelt Documentary on Cal Poly SLO Alum and Las Vegas Legend Danny Gans directed by his son Andrew Davies Gans

pictures courtesy of Cher Culver PR

VOICES: The Danny Gans Story (TRAILER)

LISTEN to today's show

Voices: The Danny Gans Story is a documentary made by his son as a tribute his dad's legacy. The documentary explores both the public persona and the private complexities of Danny Gans, who left an indelible mark on Las Vegas. A heartfelt, family-directed documentary about Las Vegas legend Danny Gans, blending celebration of his talent with honest exploration of his life and legacy.

Danny Gans was a legendary Las Vegas entertainer, beloved for his extraordinary voice impressions, comedy, and heartfelt performances. For more than a decade, he held the title of “Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year,” performing to sold-out crowds at The Mirage and Encore. Before his rise in entertainment, Danny was a professional baseball player, a background that uniquely informed his underdog spirit. His unexpected passing in 2009 left a deep void in the entertainment world—but his legacy continues to inspire.

Danny Gans attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1976 and played baseball as a left-handed power hitter for two seasons. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox after being named an All-America at Cal Poly.

May 1, 2026 (days after the three screenings) will mark the 17th anniversary of his tragic and sudden death. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month.

Voices: The Danny Gans Story is a 2025 documentary directed by Andrew Davies Gans (pictured), his father’s son, chronicling the life and sudden death of Danny Gans — a celebrated singer, comedian, and impressionist known for his spot-on impersonations of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson, and many others. The film premiered at the Dances with Films festival in Los Angeles and was released in the U.S. on November 9, 2025

About Andrew Davies Gans
Andrew Davies Gans is a Los Angeles based producer, director, and writer. Andrew was once a promising athlete and was Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays at 18 years old, but his Major League Baseball dreams were cut short by injury, redirecting his ambitions into storytelling. As a producer, he has brought bold narratives to prestigious festivals like SXSW (Pink Skies Ahead) and Tribeca (Changing The Game), collaborating with talents such as Anya Taylor-Joy, Michael Shannon, Emma Roberts, and Ewan McGregor. With VOICES, Andrew makes his directorial debut, crafting a layered and intimate documentary that explores the life of his father, Las Vegas legend Danny Gans. This next phase marks a thrilling evolution in his career as Andrew moves beyond producing to embrace writing and directing narrative films. He’s eager to make films that bridge the gap between indie and studio cinema, bringing intimate stories with powerful universal themes to audiences on a grand scale.

Directed by: Andrew Davies Gans

Written by: Andrew Davies Gans

Produced by: Clare Tucker, Andrew Davies Gans

Co-Producers: Katherine LeBlond, Jenn Roman, Jess Berry

Editor: Kate Hackett, Jamie Conklin

Director of Photography: Turner Jumonville

Music by: Will Musser

RUNTIME: 102 minutes

2025

SOUTH COAST REPERTORY ANNOUNCES 2026-27 SEASON Expanded Nine-play Lineup Features Raymond Lee as Hamlet, Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of Into the Woods, Brings Mehr Theatre Group’s Blind Runner to the West Coast for the First Time, Includes a Rotating Repertory of Lauren Yee’s Mother Russia and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, And Premieres of New Plays by JuCoby Johnson and Eleanor Burgess

SOUTH COAST REPERTORY ANNOUNCES 2026-27 SEASON

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.



###



ABOUT SOUTH COAST REPERTORY: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964, is led by Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel. SCR is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern plays and musicals, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program—The Lab@SCR—which includes one of the nation’s largest commissioning programs for emerging, mid-career and established writers. Of SCR’s more than 550 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, CA., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org

COSTA MESA, Calif.—South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) announced its expanded 2026-27 season today, which features nine productions. Season highlights include Raymond Lee returning to SCR as Hamlet, Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s musical masterpiece Into the Woods as the latest installment in the American Icons series and a unique rotating repertory—the recent Off-Broadway hit Mother Russia by Lauren Yee paired with Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest.


SCR’s 63rd season also includes the West Coast Premiere of Blind Runner, the international hit from Mehr Theatre Group and Iranian writer/director Amir Reza Koohestani, and two world premieres that will anchor the 2027 Pacific Playwrights Festival: Three-headed Monster by JuCoby Johnson and The Ingenue by Eleanor Burgess. Family-centered programming includes Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jerry Patch, and the Theatre for Young Audiences and Families production of How I Became a Pirate, book, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman and based on the book “How I Became a Pirate” by Melinda Long with illustrations by David Shannon.


The 2026-27 season reflects programming changes established in SCR’s recently adopted strategic plan, which includes more classics, modern masterpieces and the continuation of an annual musical on the Segerstrom Stage, and a dedication to world premieres and exciting new hits on the Julianne Argyros Stage. In addition, audiences will now enjoy a world premiere in SCR’s most intimate space—the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. Moving one world premiere to the Nicholas Studio not only creates more opportunities to experience the powerful, inspiring storytelling SCR is known for, it also frees up the Segerstrom Stage for an additional spring production.



“As we deepen programming and expand our offerings, I am so grateful to our supportive board of trustees and our unequaled staff,” Ivers said. “I am confident the season has something for everyone,” Ivers said. “An adventurous joyful feast highlighting resilience, empowerment, entertainment and laughter, it’s woven together by some of SCR's favorite returning artists. JuCoby Johnson’s and Eleanor Burgess’ new plays conversing with Lauren Yee, Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare and Sondheim is a combination truly not to be missed. I am certain the shows will engage audiences and artists alike.”

The season is the institution’s largest since 2018-19 and will continue at this level of production into the future. And like this season, The Rep will perform continuously for eight weeks—giving theatregoers the opportunity to see both plays in the same weekend or even back-to-back on the same day.

“The time is right for SCR to expand the season. Audiences have grown substantially over the past two years and subscribers have expressed an appetite for more plays. This expansion, combined with the selection of plays which includes more classics and more comedies, provides wonderful opportunities for connection and community building,” said Appel. “Whether you’re interested in the great works on the Segerstrom Stage or the innovative works on the Julianne Argyros Stage and Nicholas Studio, or all the above, SCR has a subscription that’s right for you. You can give yourself a gift by subscribing and putting more theatre on your calendar.”


The season opens with Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s musical masterpiece Into the Woods, Sept. 12-Oct. 10, 2026 on the Segerstrom Stage, and continues SCR’s American Icons series, which celebrates the artists, opinion leaders and artists who boldly changed our world. Recognizing Sondheim as an American Icon, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy marks its 40th anniversary with its inventive twist on favorite fairy-tale characters. Directed by Peter Rothstein (All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, which won the New York Drama Desk Critics Award), Into the Woods features Sondheim’s enchanting score and Lapine’s relevant, darkly comedic book which continues to captivate audiences.

The West Coast Premiere of Mehr Theatre Group’s international hit, Blind Runner follows, Oct. 18-Nov. 8, 2026 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. With text and direction by Amir Reza Koohestani, Blind Runner tells the story of an imprisoned Iranian activist who convinces her husband to train a blind runner. United Kingdom’s The Guardian praised Blind Runner, calling it “mesmerizing, stunning, deeply moving,” while New York Stage Review described it as, “undeniably powerful.” Critically praised for its poignancy, relevancy, and artful use of video, Blind Runner is performed in Persian with English supertitles. The Farhang Foundation continues their support as Cultural Partner on this production.

An Orange County holiday tradition, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jerry Patch, takes the stage for its 46th season, Nov. 28-Dec. 27, 2026. Once again, SCR Founding Member Richard Doyle entertains audiences as Ebenezer Scrooge. Hisa Takakuwa returns to direct.


For the second consecutive season, SCR welcomes the new year with The Rep—two comedies about love and identity performed in rotating repertory, alternating nightly, with overlapping casts on the same stage. Michael Ray returns as Lead Repertory Producer. It begins with Mother Russia, which brings Lauren Yee back to SCR for the first time since her breakout hit Cambodian Rock Band in 2018. A critical hit during its Off-Broadway run earlier this year, where the Wall Street Journal called it “engaging and fiercely funny,” Mother Russia runs Jan. 22-March 20, 2027 on the Segerstrom Stage.


Mother Russia rotates with The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde’s comedic masterpiece. Directed by Lisa Rothe, who helmed SCR’s critically acclaimed production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and considered one of the greatest comedies in the English language for its delightfully satirical skewering of Victorian England, The Importance of Being Earnest runs Jan. 23-March 20, 2027 on the Segerstrom Stage.


For SCR’s youngest audience members, the Theatre for Young Audiences and Families production of How I Became a Pirate, book, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman takes the Julianne Argryos Stage Feb. 19-March 7, 2027. Directed by Kari Hayter (the Outside SCR production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Into the Woods at Musical Theatre West), How I Became a Pirate is based on the award-winning book written by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon. This fun, imaginative musical follows 10-year-old Jeremy as he learns that home is a treasure you can’t find on any map.



The spring brings two world premieres to SCR stages. The first is Three-headed Monster by JuCoby Johnson, one of the American theatre’s rising stars. Directed by H. Adam Harris, Johnson’s close collaborator and SCR’s Artistic and Audience Engagement Associate, Three-headed Monster tells a gripping, touching story about the power of friendship through the eyes of Kyrie, who returns home from Riker’s Island after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. Three-headed Monster premieres in SCR’s intimate Nicholas Studio April 4-May 2, 2027.

The second world premiere is The Ingenue by Eleanor Burgess, who returns to SCR after her critically acclaimed Galilee, 34 premiered in 2024. In The Ingenue, Burgess takes us inside the life of 18th century playwright Hannah Cowley as she attempts to write a romantic comedy while her own marriage and life disintegrate around her. The Ingenue takes the Julianne Argyros Stage April 18-May 9, 2027.


The subscription season concludes with William Shakespeare’s timeless classic, Hamlet, which runs May 8-June 5, 2027 on the Segerstrom Stage. With Ivers directing, Hamlet returns to the SCR stage after 20 years with Lee playing the title role of Hamlet. 

Lee’s history at SCR runs deep and memorable. He received his Equity card right out of Cal State Long Beach in SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences and Families 2012 production of Robin Hood. Lee went on to play the lead, Quang, in SCR’s 2015 world premiere of Vietgone by Qui Nguyen and re-created the role at Manhattan Theatre Club, for which he received the 2016 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance. 

Lee’s other SCR performances came in Office Hour (2016) opposite Sandra Oh, and Cambodian Rock Band (2018). His TV career includes the recently wrapped second season of "Sugar" opposite Colin Farrell for Apple TV+, "Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” (Apple TV+), the lead role of Dr. Ben Song in the NBC revival of “Quantum Leap,” series regular roles in "Kevin Can F*** Himself" (AMC) and "Here and Now" (HBOMax) and recurring performances in "Made For Love" (HBOMax), "Prodigal Son" (Fox), "Mozart in the Jungle" (Amazon) and "Scandal" (ABC). Lee's film career includes appearing in the independent feature The Unknown Country and as Lt. Logan “Yale” Lee in Top Gun: Maverick.

Into the Woods, Blind Runner, Mother Russia, The Importance of Being Earnest, Three-headed Monster, The Ingenue and Hamlet can be purchased on subscription at this time. Subscribers also get exclusive early access to A Christmas Carol, which is not included in subscriptions and goes on sale to the general public in August.



More offerings will be announced in May when the SCR Presents series is unveiled.

A variety of subscription package options are available now and may be purchased online at www.scr.org or by phone at (714) 708-5555. The six-play Super Subscription ranges from $299- $533, depending on the day and time of performance. Four-play Segerstrom Stage package range from $213-$369, and the three-play Julianne Argyros Stage packages range from $149-$237, with additional discounts for students, seniors, educators and theatregoers age 35 and under. Also available is a special seven-play Opening Night subscription for two people, which includes post-show parties with the cast and artists who create the productions. Opening Night subscriptions start at $4,000 per couple and include a tax-deductible donation of $2,656 benefiting SCR.


Single tickets for the fall and winter plays go on sale Aug. 4.

2026-27 Season


American Icons

Join us over several seasons as we celebrate the artists, personalities and opinion leaders who boldly changed our world – like legendary composer Stephen Sondheim.

Into the Woods

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by James Lapine

Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine

Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

Directed by Peter Rothstein

Sept. 12-Oct. 10, 2026

Segerstrom Stage

When the Baker and his wife venture into the forest to break a witch’s curse, they encounter Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack (of beanstalk fame)—and familiar tales take on clever new lives. But be careful what you wish for, because “happily ever after” is never the whole story. With a Tony Award-winning book and score, this poignant musical comedy masterpiece celebrates its 40th anniversary with a fabulous new SCR production.



Blind Runner

A Mehr Theatre Group production

Text and Direction by Amir Reza Koohestani

Oct. 18-Nov. 8, 2026

Julianne Argyros Stage

Blind Runner interweaves the destinies of three Iranians in an international multi-media hit proclaimed “mesmerizing” by The Guardian. At the insistence of his wife, a political prisoner, a man agrees to help a blind woman train for a race in Paris. After placing third, they take on a second challenge. Can they run the 38-kilometer Channel Tunnel from France to the UK in a few hours to avoid being hit by the first train of the morning? Performed in Persian with English supertitles.



Charles Dickens’

A Christmas Carol

Adapted by Jerry Patch

Directed by Hisa Takakuwa

Nov. 28-Dec. 27, 2026

Segerstrom Stage

Whether it’s your first time or a cherished family tradition, this timeless classic is sure to rekindle your holiday spirit! Gather your loved ones and celebrate the season with festive music, joyful dancing and the heartwarming story of one magical, life-changing night in the life of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Ages 6 and up. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted.



The Rep

Another ambitious centerpiece to our season

Two delightful comedies about love and trading in your old identity. Performed in repertory, alternating nightly, on the same stage with overlapping casts. This is must-see theatre!



Mother Russia

By Lauren Yee

Jan. 22-Mar. 20, 2027

Segerstrom Stage

1992: The Soviet Union has collapsed and McDonald’s is open. Clueless Evgeny takes a surveillance job with his friend Dmitri to spy on Katya, a former pop star with a mysterious past. Deeply in love, Evgeny decides to defy his gangster father and risk everything to win over Katya. A New York Times Critic’s Pick, Lauren Yee’s (Cambodian Rock Band) off-beat comedy about identity and the cost of capitalism is “as funny as it is smart.”



The Importance of Being Earnest

By Oscar Wilde

Directed by Lisa Rothe

Jan. 23-Mar. 20, 2027

Segerstrom Stage

Celebrated as the finest comedy of the English language, this sparkling classic hilariously skewers Victorian England’s upper class. Jack and Algernon are carefree bachelors who’ve created false identities to shirk their responsibilities and have a bit of fun. Jack’s in love with the enchanting Gwendolen, Algernon is falling for Cecily—and both women have sworn to marry only men named Ernest. But their happiness hinges on the approval of Gwendolen’s mother, the unbending Lady Bracknell.



How I Became a Pirate

Book, music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman

Based on the book “How I Became a Pirate” written by Melinda Long and illustrations by David Shannon

Directed by Kari Hayter

Feb. 19-Mar. 7, 2027

Theatre for Young Audiences

Julianne Argyros Stage

Aaarrh! The award-winning picture book is now a fun-filled musical comedy kids and adults will love! Braid Beard and his band of goofy pirates are searching for an expert digger to join their crew. When 10-year-old Jeremy Jacob joins them at sea, he learns their unique pirate ways and helps them look for the perfect spot to bury their booty. Along the swashbuckling adventure, he discovers that home is a treasure you can’t find on any map.



World Premiere

Three-headed Monster

By JuCoby Johnson

Directed by H. Adam Harris

Apr. 4-May 2, 2027

Nicholas Studio

After serving time for a crime he didn’t commit, 21-year-old Kyrie returns to the Bronx and his two best friends. As kids, they were inseparable—lovingly known as the Three-headed Monster. Now, in their cramped apartment, Kyrie fears there’s no room left for him in a trio, and world, that moved on while he was away. A touching drama about the healing power of friendship from one of the theatre’s rising stars.



World Premiere

The Ingenue

By Eleanor Burgess

Apr. 18-May 9, 2027

Julianne Argyros Stage

In 18th century London, neither Letitia nor Doricourt wants to go through with their arranged marriage, and each is determined to make the other call it off. Their hilarious scheming is playwright Hannah Cowley’s latest work-in-progress, which she’s desperately trying to finish while also holding together her own marriage and career. With a nudge and a wink, the writer of Galilee, 34 takes us inside a witty new twist on a classic comedy of manners.



Hamlet

By William Shakespeare

Directed by David Ivers

May 8-June 5, 2027

Segerstrom Stage

When Prince Hamlet returns to Denmark following the suspicious death of his father, he discovers that his uncle has seized the throne—and occupies his mother’s bed. Spurred on by his father’s ghost, Hamlet rages against his own conscience, plots revenge against the new king and spirals deeper into treachery and madness. Artistic Director David Ivers and actor Raymond Lee (SCR: Vietgone, Office Hour. TV/Film: Quantum Leap, Sugar, Top Gun: Maverick) join forces to bring Shakespeare’s haunting psychological thriller to life.



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.



###



ABOUT SOUTH COAST REPERTORY: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964, is led by Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel. SCR is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern plays and musicals, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program—The Lab@SCR—which includes one of the nation’s largest commissioning programs for emerging, mid-career and established writers. Of SCR’s more than 550 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, CA., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org