SCR Presents 'Imagine' for Young Audiences

Children of all ages will be transported to a world of imaginary friends when South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) presents the World Premiere of Imagine.  The SCR-commissioned new musical features a book and lyrics by renowned children's author Doug Cooney and music by award-winning composer David O.  Directed by Stefan Novinski, Imagine will run from May 30 through June 15 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.  Low-priced previews are available from May 30 through June 6.  Opening day is June 7.  Press performance is June 1 at 2:00 p.m.  All children who attend the 11:00 a.m. Target Family Performance on Saturday, June 7 will receive a free gift.  Tickets to Imagine may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Imagine an imaginary friend (who doesn't even know he's imaginary) who gets dumped by his "real boy."  And he's not the only one.  It's the first day of school - the end of make-believe - and the playground is filled with discarded imaginary friends.  T-Rex (his real boy was into dinosaurs) goes on an adventure to find a new friend in this musical delight about the wonder of imagination.

Doug Cooney is a playwright, screenwriter and novelist.  His play The Final Tour was workshopped at Sundance Theater Labs with Moises Kaufman directing John Neville and Mary Lou Rosato.  He collaborated with composer David O on an original youth musical, The Legend of Alex, produced by the Mark Taper Forum P.L.A.Y., and the musical adaptation of George Saunders' The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, developed at the Kennedy Center's New Visions/New Voices for the Taper P.L.A.Y. production. Cooney is also the author of a series of books published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, including The Beloved Dearly, I Know Who Likes You and No Such Thing as Magic.  Cooney has been honored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacArthur Foundation, the Lila-Wallace Readers Digest Fund, the MacDowell Colony and the State of Florida.

David O is an award-winning composer, performer, and musical director.  He has been a featured pianist at Walt Disney Concert Hall in concerts with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, including his recently premiered commission, A Map of Los Angeles, and also "The New Broadway" and "Toon Tunes," for which he created the original arrangement "Princess Dreams," a medley of songs from Disney movies.  His work has also been featured at The Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, and the Hollywood Bowl, as well as other venues around the U.S.  His choral composition "Dadme" was commissioned by the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, and performed at the opening of "The Rock is Art" installation.  He is known to thousands of Los Angeles children as 'The Professor,' as composer and performer in The Voyage of the Global Harmony, part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's "Summersounds at the Hollywood Bowl."  His original musicals include The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip and The Legend of Alex, both collaborations with Doug Cooney and commissioned by Center Theatre Group's P.L.A.Y. Program.  His other original musicals include Atalanta, Focus Today, Duel, and The Trial of Persephone.

The cast of Imagine features Jimmy Lambert as Sam and Ensemble.  Lambert has been seen most recently in SCR's Educational Touring Production of You're Getting Warmer.  Diana Burbano (Lullabelle, Ensemble) appeared previously at SCR in Charlotte's Web, The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and James and the Giant Peach.  Dawn-Lyen Gardner (Rachel) appeared previously in SCR's A Naked Girl on the Appian Way and The BFG (Big Friendly Giant).  Meaghan Boeing (Tullabelle, Ensemble) is making her SCR debut, along with Brett Ryback (T-Rex) and Jamey Hood (Little Debbie).

The creative team for Imagine includes Donna Marquet(set design), Angela Balogh Calin (costume design), Tom Ruzika(lighting design), Drew Dalzel (sound design), Deborah Wicks La Puma (musical director/arranger) and Kathryn Davies (stage manager).

SCR's Theatre for Young Audiencespresents three professional productions each season designed especially for children and their families.  In addition to the public performances, TYA hosts 12,000 students from elementary schools annually in an effort to introduce the next generation to the magic of live theater.  The TYA series is made possible in part by generous grants from The Nicholas Endowment, The Segerstrom Foundation, Pacific Life Foundation and Altria Group Inc., with additional support from Robert and LaDorna Eichenberg.

TICKETS to Imagine can 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 begin on May 30 and continue through June 15.  Ticket prices range from $15 to $27.  Low-priced preview performances are available from May 30 through June 6.  Performance times:  Previews:  Friday, May 30 & June 6 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, May 31 at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m.  Regular Performances:  Saturday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. (Target Family Performance), 2:00 and 4:30 p.m., Sunday, June 8 at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 14 at 2:00, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 15 at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m.  Discounts are available for children 12 years and younger.  The Target Family Performance is Saturday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. with an earlier performance time and lower ticket price thanks to Target, title sponsor of the Target Family Performances.

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 Folino Theater Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.  Parking is available off Anton Blvd. on Park Center Drive.

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