Melanie Lora News

Molly Smith Metzler's ELEMENO PEA features a pair of sisters: down-to-earth Devon and status-seeking Simone. Simone works as a personal assistant to Michaela Kell, the trophy wife of a wealthy ad executive, and she's planned a sisters' weekend in the Kells' gorgeous beachfront mansion. But within minutes of the girls' arrival, Michaela crashes the party. She and her husband have had a fight, and she's counting on Simone to help her keep from becoming Ex-Wife Number Two. The ensuing chaos brings to light old wounds and explosive secrets that turn everyone's worlds upside-down. Get a first look at the production below!

While laughing fairly consistently throughout Molly Smith Metzler's funny new American play ELEMENO PEA--now having its West Coast premiere engagement at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through February 26--you'll probably feel like you're sitting in a live studio taping of a fresh new sitcom about the rich and the spoiled in the posh enclave of Martha's Vineyard. Unfolding in real time, the play is refreshingly of-the-moment, making it quite entertaining and approachable to contemporary audiences no matter where someone stands in the economic spectrum.

South Coast Repertory takes audiences to Martha's Vineyard in Elemeno Pea, a new comedy about 'the rich behaving badly' that will have its West Coast premiere Jan. 27 through Feb. 26 on the Segerstrom Stage.

South Coast Repertory takes audiences to Martha's Vineyard in Elemeno Pea, a new comedy about 'the rich behaving badly' that will have its West Coast premiere Jan. 27 through Feb. 26 on the Segerstrom Stage.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fourth production of their 2010-2011 season of shows, the blood-thirsty musical comedy LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, music by Alan Menken, book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, musical direction by David O, choreography by Dana Solimando, directed by La Mirada Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite and starring Brett Ryback, Lesli Margherita and Bob Amaral. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will open on Friday, April 15 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 16) and run through Sunday, May 1 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Between the Southern California arrivals of Lincoln Center Theatre's impressive SOUTH PACIFIC revival and the Tony-winning NEXT TO NORMAL tour starring Alice Ripley, to the incredibly entertaining offerings from regional and smaller theaters in the area, 2010 was a banner year in musicals and plays.

All the wrong men chase all the wrong women in Misalliance, an exuberant comedy from George Bernard Shaw that opens South Coast Repertory's 47th season. This witty classic, helmed by SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson, runs Sept. 10 through Oct. 10 on the Segerstrom Stage.

With its hilarious exchanges, high-brow pedigree, brisk direction, and impressively gorgeous set, South Coast Repertory's new revival of George Bernard Shaw's classic comedy MISALLIANCE-with performances continuing through October 10-is one sophisticated delight, a witty set of back-and-forth arguments punctuated by a plethora of very charming, winning performances. Somehow, though lacking a real plot in the traditional sense, MISALLIANCE creates a thoroughly engaging environment for multiple debates of ideas, which in turn produces a wonderful timeline for absurd comedy and droll contentions to play out over two very verbose acts.

All the wrong men chase all the wrong women in Misalliance, an exuberant comedy from George Bernard Shaw that opens South Coast Repertory's 47th season. This witty classic, helmed by SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson, runs Sept. 10 through Oct. 10 on the Segerstrom Stage.

All the wrong men chase all the wrong women in Misalliance, an exuberant comedy from George Bernard Shaw that opens South Coast Repertory's 47th season. This witty classic, helmed by SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson, runs Sept. 10 through Oct. 10 on the Segerstrom Stage.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season, the Pulitzer Prize-winning DINNER WITH FRIENDS, written by Donald Margulies and directed by La Mirada Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite (Proof, Steel Magnolias).

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season, the Pulitzer Prize-winning DINNER WITH FRIENDS, written by Donald Margulies and directed by La Mirada Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite (Proof, Steel Magnolias).

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season, the Pulitzer Prize-winning DINNER WITH FRIENDS, written by Donald Margulies and directed by La Mirada Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite (Proof, Steel Magnolias).

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season, the Pulitzer Prize-winning DINNER WITH FRIENDS, written by Donald Margulies and directed by La Mirada Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite (Proof, Steel Magnolias).

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season, the Pulitzer Prize-winning DINNER WITH FRIENDS, written by Donald Margulies and directed by La Mirada Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite (Proof, Steel Magnolias).

COLLECTED STORIES by Donald Margulies directed by Martin Benson Plays SCR.

COLLECTED STORIES by Donald Margulies directed by Martin Benson starring Tom Buderwitz (Set Design), Angela Balogh Calin (Costume Design), Tom and Donna Ruzika (Lighting Design), Mark Johnson (Sound Design), John Glore (Dramaturg), Jamie Tucker (Stage Manager) and Chrissy Church (Assistant Stage Manager).

Kandis Chappell and Melanie Lora take on the celebrated roles of Professor Ruth Steiner and Lisa Morrison in Donald Margulies? Collected Stories at South Coast Repertory. Margulies? Pulitzer Prize-nominated play about two women writers at opposite stages of their careers is one of SCR?s best-known commissions and has achieved worldwide success. Directed by Artistic Director Martin Benson, Collected Stories will run from May 15 through June 14, 2009 on the Segerstrom Stage. Low-priced previews are available from May 15 through May 21. Opening night is May 22. Press night is Saturday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to Collected Stories may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.