Jen Silverman's Funny and Dark Comedy, THE ROOMMATE, Has West Coast Premiere at SCR

Can a person really change? And, once they break the mold, can they ever stop? Playwright Jen Silverman takes on these questions in The Roommate, a funny and dark comedy that has its West Coast premiere at South Coast Repertory on the Julianne Argyros Stage, Jan. 3-22. Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson directs. Tickets are available now at www.scr.org.

The story is set in Iowa and follows Sharon. She's sensible, an empty-nester, curious and very, very talkative. For the first time in her life, at age 54, she takes in a roommate to make ends meet. That's where Robyn comes in, a new arrival from the Bronx who is hiding a lifetime of secrets. But Sharon has a way of getting to the truth-the fascinating, shocking truth. This intriguing play proves it's never too late to shake things up-for better or worse.

Silverman said she wrote The Roommate because she didn't see enough roles for more mature women. She wanted them to be able to take on very active, vibrant and dangerous lives. Sharon and Robyn "make decisions that require a lot of boldness and recklessness, out of both desperation and desire for life," Silverman added.

Benson said he fell in love with the story the moment he read Silverman's script. "It's simply hilarious," he said. "It's about finding our skills and awakening to a purpose-driven life."

SCR veterans Linda Gehringer and Tessa Auberjonois portray Sharon and Robyn, respectively. Gehringer's most recent SCR appearance was last season's world premiere of Going to a Place where you Already Are by Bekah Brunsetter. Auberjonois last appeared in SCR's production of the 2015 world premiere of Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph.

The design and creative team includes John Iacovelli, scenic design; Angela Balogh Calin, costume design; Brian Gale, lighting design; Michael Roth, original music/soundscape; and Joanne DeNaut, CSA, casting. the show's production manager is Jackie S. Hill, with Kathryn Davies, stage manager. The dramaturg is Kimberly Colburn.

The Roommate has generous support from Honorary Producers Barbara Roberts and Brooke Roberts-Webb. The media sponsor is the Orange County Register.

Tickets start at $22. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, fulltime educators, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For complete information, visit: www.scr.org.

Related Information for The Roommate

Tickets: May be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the Box Office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances run Jan. 3-Jan. 22. Ticket prices start at $22. Low-priced previews run Jan. 3-Jan. 5. SCR's performances run Tuesdays-Sundays; there are no performances on Mondays.

Performance Dates, Times:
· Previews
o Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 3-5, at 7:45 p.m.
Note: Friday, Jan. 6, is an invitation-only performance

· Regular performances
Special note: There are no Monday performances.
Evenings:
o Tuesdays-Sundays, Jan. 7-8; Jan. 10-15; and Jan. 17-21, at 7:45 p.m.
§ There is no evening performance on Sunday, Jan. 22

Matinees:
o Saturdays-Sundays, Jan. 7-8; Jan. 14-15; and Jan. 21-22 at 2 p.m.

· ASL-interpreted: Saturday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m.

Special Events:
· Post-Show Discussions: Tuesday, Jan. 10, and Wednesday, Jan. 11. Discuss the play with The Roommate cast members during free post-show discussions led by South Coast Repertory's literary team. Julianne Argyros Stage.

· Inside the Season: Saturday, Jan. 14, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Led by members of SCR's literary staff, this lively two-hour session features in-depth interviews with cast members and artists from SCR's production staff, offering insights into SCR's production of The Roommate. The morning includes a guided tour of the set. Julianne Argyros Stage. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased in advance or at the door.

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.

Current and Upcoming Productions: A Christmas Carol adapted by Jerry Patch, through Dec. 24; The Roommate by Jen Silverman, Jan. 3-22; Lookingglass Theatre Company's Moby Dick adapted by David Catlin, Jan. 20-Feb. 19; Orange by Aditi Brennan Kapil, March 5-26; Flora & Ulysses by John Glore, adapted from the book by Kate DiCamillo (Theatre for Young Audiences), Feb. 3-19; The Siegel by Michael Mitnick, March 24-April 23; A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath, April 9-30; Yoga Play by Dipika Guha, April 19-30; 20th Pacific Playwrights Festival, April 21-23; The Monster Builder by Amy Freed, May 5-June 4; and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing adapted by Bruce Mason from the book by Judy Blume (Theatre for Young Audiences), May 19-June 4. More information is available at www.scr.org.

ABOUT South Coast Repertory: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964 by David Emmes and Martin Benson, is led by Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei. 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 theatre, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program, which includes the nation's largest commissioning program for emerging and established writers. Of SCR's 504 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, Calif., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org

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