Costa Mesa Playhouse

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE Dear Friends & Patrons of Costa Mesa Playhouse, In response to COVID-19 and the notification today from the City of Costa Mesa declaring a local emergency and ordering the postponing or cancellation of gatherings that do not allow social distancing of six feet per person, Costa Mesa Playhouse has chosen to put on hold the remainder of our current season.... We will continue to monitor the situation and hope to announce new dates for "Silent Sky" and "A Streetcar Named Desire" soon. Patrons who have purchased tickets for these productions have a few options: - Donate your ticket and receive a tax deduction for the total ticket value - Contact us for a full refund by e-mailing [email protected] - Choose to have payments held to be applied to a future performance We apologize for the inconvenience but trust our patrons understand the necessity. When this emergency is lifted, Costa Mesa Playhouse will be ready to resume operation. Please check our website, costamesaplayhouse.com, for updates. On behalf of our board of directors, thank you for your patience and understanding. Sincerely, Mike Brown President, Costa Mesa Playhouse

Casting for A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE Costa Mesa Playhouse is holding auditions for A Streetcar Named Desire By Tennessee Williams... Directed by Michael Serna Open auditions: Saturday, March 7th from 1pm - 4pm Invited callbacks will occur during the audition. Performances run May 15 June 7 (Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, one 8pm Thursday performance on May 28th). Rehearsals begin at the end of March: mostly weekday evenings with some possible weekends. There is some pay. Location: Costa Mesa Playhouse, 661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Phone: 949-650-5269 Widely considered his greatest work, Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire is set in a sweltering New Orleans, where a fragile Blanche collides with the dysfunctional marriage of her sister Stella and her brutish husband Stanley. AUDITION PROCESS: Sides will be provided at audition. Actors should ignore preconceived notions of this play and come ready to be challenged. Non-traditional casting will be explored in this production; all ethnicities are strongly encouraged to audition. Headshot/video submissions are welcomed at: [email protected] CHARACTER BREAKDOWN BLANCHE (Female 20’s-30’s) A fragile, delicate and alluring creature. STELLA (Female 20’s) Strong, vivacious, sensual, passionate and kind. ALL MALE ROLES HAVE BEEN CAST

SILENT SKY COMING TO COSTA MESA The Costa Mesa Playhouse’s next production is Lauren Gunderson’s acclaimed play, Silent Sky, the true story of early 20th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, a brilliant, headstrong pioneer who struggled for recognition in the male-dominated world of turn-of-the-century astronomy. "Silent Sky" explores a woman's place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women's ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for... them. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said, Lauren Gunderson’s luminously beautiful play SILENT SKY is an intellectual epic told on an intimate scale. Bottom line: Heavenly. Silent Sky is directed by Kathy Paladino (the Daily Pilot’s Woman of the Year in local theater for 2019. It stars Stephanie Noel Garrison, Sarah McGuire, David Rodriguez, Marlene Galan Woods, and Jennifer Walquist. Performances are March 20 through April 12, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, with one Thursday performance at 8pm on April 2. The first performance, Friday, March 20, is a preview, for which all seats are pay what you can with a $5 suggested minimum. Tickets for the opening night Gala on Saturday, March 21, including a post-show reception, are $25 general admission and $23 for students and seniors 60 or over. For all other performances, tickets are $22 general and $20 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at www.costamesaplayhouse.com or by calling 949-650-5269. The playhouse is located at 661 Hamilton Street in Costa Mesa.

THREE PERFORMANCES LEFT FOR LOST IN YONKERS CMP's critically acclaimed hit, Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers, has three performances left. A handful of seats are left for Friday and Saturday. Sunday is sold out. Thanks, everyone, for supporting local theatre.

The work begins. Last night’s table read with this gorgeous group of artists. Thank you @lalatellsastory for writing the inspirational #silentsky

Neil Simon’s LOST IN YONKERS continues for 2 more weeks at The Costa Mesa Playhouse to full houses and rave reviews. Director Ruthdirects the play with delicacy and an assured hand, eliciting fine performances from an ideally chosen cast that functions beautifully as a true ensemble. Chris Daniels, The Show Report. Also: Ms. Noft’s volcanic characterization is so charismatic Mr. Correa gives an exceptional scene-stealing performance Ms. Bartlett’s Bella in a gut ...wrenching, powerful and inspirational performance Mr. Henderson and Mr. Pernia... both seem like they were born on stage. Performances Thursday, Feb. 6 8pm Friday 2/7 8pm, followed by a talkback with cast and director Saturdays 2/7 & 2/15 8pm Sunday 2/9 2pm Friday 2/14 8pm Sunday 2/16 SOLD OUT $22 adults, $20 seniors/students Tickets www.costamesaplayhouse.com, or 949-550-5269 Neil Simon’s play Lost in Yonkers, winner of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for best drama. Set in Yonkers in 1942, it is a tale of family dysfunction at its best. After their mother’s death, teenage brothers Arty and Jay are forced to live with their mentally challenged aunt and stern, bitter grandmother while their financially strapped father becomes a traveling salesman to pay off his debts to a loan shark. Lost in Yonkers is directed by Wendy Ruth and stars Jude Henderson, Brock Joseph, Jami Bartlett, Phyllis M. Nofts, Angel Correa, Alexandria Moniz, with Vincent Pernia and Ellie Adria Smallwood sharing the role of Arty. 661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; 949-650-5269

AUDITIONS FOR SILENT SKY Written by Lauren Gunderson Directed by Kathy Paladino Auditions dates: January 27th or 28th, 7-9pm... Call Backs: January 29th, 7-9pm Please prepare a monologue of your choosing. Sides will be available at auditions. There is some pay. Performances: March 20th - April 12th, 2020 Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm. Sunday afternoons at 2:00 pm. Thursday April 2nd at 8:00 pm. Location: The Costa Mesa Playhouse 661 Hamilton Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 STORY The poignant true story of a woman's dedication to the stars, and the human touch that makes life under a vast universe beautiful and timeless. 20th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt was a brilliant, headstrong pioneer who struggled for recognition in the male-dominated world of turn-of-the-century astronomy. "Silent Sky" explores a woman's place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women's ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. A celestial romance and true story of discovery. CHARACTERS, open to all ethnicities. Henrietta Leavitt - this part has been pre-cast. Margaret Leavitt - 25-35, home-body, creative, sweet, sister. Must be a singer. Piano Player is desired, but not required. Annie Cannon 35-50, the leader, tense and sure Williamina Fleming 45-55, smart as a whip, Scottish stock, and fun (Note that the role of Peter Hampstead has been pre-cast) For additional information contact the Director, Kathy Paladino [email protected]

READ ABOUT CMP'S NEXT SHOW https://www.octheatreguild.org//lost-in-yonkers-at-costa-m

CASTING "SILENT SKY" UPDATES The dates listed on the earlier casting notice are wrong. The correct audition dates are January 27 & 28th 7-9pm, callbacks January 27, 7-9pm.

The Costa Mesa Playhouse is holding auditions for Lauren Gunderson’s drama about female astronomers at the turn of the 20 century, SILENT SKY Directed by Kathy Paladino Auditions dates: January 27th or 28th, 7-9pm Call Backs: January 29th, 7-9pm... Please prepare a monologue of your choosing. Sides will be available at auditions. All ethnicities encouraged to audition. There is some pay. Performances: March 20th - April 12th, 2020 Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm. Sunday afternoons at 2:00 pm. Thursday April 2nd at 8:00 pm. Location: The Costa Mesa Playhouse 661 Hamilton Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-650-5269 STORY The poignant true story of a woman's dedication to the stars, and the human touch that makes life under a vast universe beautiful and timeless. 20th century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt was a brilliant, headstrong pioneer who struggled for recognition in the male-dominated world of turn-of-the-century astronomy. "Silent Sky" explores a woman's place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women's ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. A celestial romance and true story of discovery. AVAILABLE CHARACTERS (Note that the character of Peter Hampstead has been cast): Henrietta Leavitt - 25-35, brilliant, meticulous, dedicated Margaret Leavitt - 25-35, home-body, creative, sweet, sister. Must be a singer. Piano Player is desired, but not required. Annie Cannon 35-50, the leader, tense and sure Williamina Fleming 45-55, smart as a whip, Scottish stock, and fun For additional information contact the Director, Kathy Paladino [email protected]

NEIL SIMON’S LOST IN YONKERS OPENS JANUARY 24 Winner of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for best drama, Neil Simon’s play about family dysfunction at its best, Lost in Yonkers, plays January 24 through February 16 at the Costa Mesa Playhouse, now in its 55th season. Set during World War II, after their mother’s sudden death, teenage brothers Arty and Jay are forced to live with their stern, bitter grandmother and mentally challenged aunt while their financiall...y strapped father becomes a traveling salesman to pay off his debts. Lost in Yonkers is directed by Wendy Ruth and stars Jude Henderson, Brock Joseph, Jami Bartlett, Phyllis M. Nofts, Angel Correa, and Alexandria Moniz. Ellie Adria Smallwood, a 12-year-old girl, plays 13-year-old brother Arty February 7-9, while Vincent Pernia plays Arty for all other performances. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, with one Thursday performance at 8pm February 6. The first performance, Friday, January 24, is a preview, for which all seats are pay what you can with a $5 suggested minimum. Tickets for the opening night Gala on Saturday, January 25, including a post-show reception, are $25 general admission and $23 for students and seniors 60 or over. For all other performances, tickets are $22 general and $20 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at www.costamesaplayhouse.com or by calling 949-650-5269. The playhouse is located at 661 Hamilton Street in Costa Mesa.