Collected Stories Added to SCR’s 2008-2009 Season, King Lear Postponed to Next Season

South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California will now present Donald Margulies’ Collected Stories, about two women writers at opposite stages of their careers, as the final play in its 2008-2009 season. The production will run May 15-June 14, 2009 on the Segerstrom Stage, and replaces the previously announced King Lear, to be directed by Daniel Sullivan, which will now open the theater’s 2009-10 season.

As previously announced, the Segerstrom Stage series will kick off with the world premiere of John Strand and Dennis McCarthy’s new musical An Italian Straw Hat (September 5-October 5), based on the classic farce by Eugene Labiche, and directed by Stefan Novinksi. It will be followed by Martin Benson’s production of Ruth and Augustus Goetz’s classic play The Heiress (October 17-November 16), Warner Shook’s production of Michael Frayn’s farce Noises Off (February 6-March 8), along with a fifth play to be announced later.

The Julianne Argyros Stage will host Bart Lorenzo’s production of Sarah Ruhl’s dead man’s cell phone (September 21-October 12), the world premiere of Amy Freed’s comedy You, Nero (January 4-25), directed by Sharon Ott, the world premiere of John Kolvenbach’s bittersweet romantic comedy Goldfish (March 15-April 15), and Lauren Gunderson’s Emilie – The Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight (April 19-May 10), directed by Kate Whoriskey.

The theater will also present its annual holiday favorites A Christmas Carol (November 29-December 27) and La Posada Magica (December 11-23); the Pacific Playwrights Festival (May 1-3); and three productions for young audiences: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (November 7-23), A Year With Frog and Toad (February 13-March 1), and The Brand New Kid (May 29-June 14).

For more information, call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.