World Premiere: Modern Love and Marriage with a Twist in THE SIEGEL by Michael Mitnick

South Coast Repertory will produce the world premiere of The Siegel by Michael Mitnick (March 24-April 23, Segerstrom Stage).

The cast is led by Ben Feldman and Mamie Gummer and features Amy Aquino, Matthew Arkin, Devon Sorvari andDominique Worsley.

The Siegel, directed by Casey Stangl, is part of the Pacific Playwrights Festival, the theatre's annual new-play showcase. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

The story follows Ethan Siegel (Feldman), who's in love. Tonight he's going to ask Alice's parents for permission to marry her. There's just one hitch: Ethan and Alice (Gummer) broke up two years ago-and she's in a serious relationship with someone else. But Ethan is undaunted. His journey makes for an irresistible comedy about modern love and the need to go back in order to move forward.

"I love this quirky, yet very human, comedy," said Stangl, whose SCR credits include Venus in Fur and In the Next Room or the vibrator play, as well as the recent young audiences play, Flora & Ulysses. "In addition to being funny, there's this kind of lovely nostalgia or slight somethingunderneath. Michael is a joy and a delight as a writer and his characters are very real and amazing."

Mitnick's plays include Sex Lives of Our Parents, Spacebar: A Broadway Play by Kyle Sugarman and Fly by Night. He also writes songs, musicals, film and television including The Giver and HBO's "Vinyl." His screenplay, The Current War, features Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon. About the variety of his work, Mitnick told Signature Reads, "I like doing different projects in different mediums for different audiences. That's what keeps the writing both fresh and fun. I'd rather not be 'the guy who adapts X kind of book.' If I have to be pegged as something, can I be, 'the guy who is just too handsome to be a writer'? Does that come across clearly as a joke if they don't hear my intonation?"

Feldman is currently in NBC's "Superstore;" his other television and film credits include HBO's "Silicon Valley," "A to Z", "Mad Men" ("Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Emmy Award nomination, 2012), "The Mindy Project," "Drop Dead Diva," "Children's Hospital," "The Mindy Project," As Above So Below and Between Us. His theatre work includes the Broadway revival of The Graduate, opposite Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone. This is his SCR debut.

Gummer is featured in the Amazon / BBC series, "The Collection;" her other television and film work includes "The Good Wife," The End of the Tour, Echo Park and Ricki and the Flash. Her theatre work includes Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre, Drama Desk nomination); Uncle Vanya (Lucille Lortel nomination); and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway revival of Les Liasisons dangereuses (Roundabout). She is in the upcoming film, An Actor Prepares, opposite Jeremy Irons and Jack Houston. This is her SCR debut.

Arkin was previously seen in SCR's season-opener, All the Way, as well as The Whale and The Prince of Atlantis. His television and film credits include "Aquarius" and Spaceman.

Aquino was previously seen at SCR in A Feminine Ending. On television, she has been in numerous shows including "Bosch" and "Being Human."

Sovari is making her SCR debut. Her credits include the first national tour of The Graduate, as well as "The Mentalist" and "Gilmore Girls."

Worsley is making his SCR debut. His credits include Animal Farm and Grand Concourse, both at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

The design and creative team includes Michael B. Raiford, set designer; David Kay Mickelsen, costume designer; Elizabeth Harper, lighting designer; Cricket Myers, sound designer; and Joann DeNaut, CSA, casting. The production manager is Jackie S. Hill and the stage manager is Roxana Khan. Jerry Patch is the dramaturg.

The Siegel has generous support from Honorary Producers Laurie and Steve Duncan. The play is the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, which provides extra time in the development and rehearsal of new works. The media partner is Jlife.

The Pacific Playwrights Festival is a three-day showcase of new plays, featuring four staged readings and three full productions. This is the festival's 20th year.

The Avenue of the Arts Hotel and Silver Trumpet Restaurant & Bar are First Night sponsors for The Siegel.

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

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