1. Describe the founding
and historical development of this company
In the beginning Emmes and Benson
were convinced there was a future for them in theatre. They sketched out a plan to create a theatre company. The first step
would involve touring to rented stages. In November 1964, SCR's first production, Moliere's Tartuffe, opened at the
Newport Beach Ebell Club. The next step would be their own location, which would expand over the years. They chose to locate
it in Orange County, a great area for major arts institution. Emmes and Benson addressed the question of SCR's future and
the long-anticipated Fourth Step Theatre. They formed a new board of community leaders to address the realities of funding,
designing, and building Orange County's first resident theatre facility. *scr.org website -Sylvia
2. Discuss one of its most important productions--any major awards or honors?
South Coast Repertory Artistic Directors
David Emmes and Martin Benson have been named the recipients of the 2007-08 Margo Jones Medal. The award honors those
who have demonstrated a significant impact, understanding and affirmation of the craft of playwriting, with a lifetime commitment
to the encouragement of the living theater everywhere. They have guided South Coast Repertory from a small touring company
into one of the country's leading professional theaters, now approaching its 45th season and known world-wide for its development
of new work for the stage. The Ohio State University Libraries and College of the Arts presented the award to Emmes
and Benson on May 1 at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California, kicking off the theater's nationally-renowned Pacific
Playwrights Festival. *scr.org website -Sylvia
3. How is it organized? What kind of business structure does it have? Who makes decisions?
Martin Benson and David Emmes are the ones who make the decisions because they
operate the theatre.*Sylvia spoke to a representative (714) 708-5560
4. A brief biography of its most important current leader(s).
David Emmes and Martin Benson attended San Francisco State University. After
graduation, Emmes and Benson gathered a few San Francisco friends in summer 1963 to stage Arthur Schnitzler’s La Ronde
at the off-Broadway Theatre in Long Beach, California. After that experience, Emmes and Benson were convinced there was a
future for them in the theatre and they had a plan to create a theatre company. The first step would involve touring to rented
stages. In November 1964, SCR’s first production, Moliere’s Tartuffe, opened at the New Beach Ebell Club. The
next step would be their own location. They chose to locate it in Orange County,
virgin territory for a major arts institution. *scr.orgwebsite-sylvia
