Seven times a year, Charlie Costello gets into her car and drives 270 miles from Bullhead City, AZ to Fountain Valley, and then to Costa Mesa. It’s Costello’s labor of love.

When she arrives at Jan Heistermann’s Fountain Valley home, the weekend officially begins. There’s dinner at Maggiano’s—where “some of the waiters are our new best friends”—Costello said, followed by theatre at SCR. Eventually, Costello also faces a 270-mile return trip home.

“There were two things that drew me to SCR,” said Costello, a retired flight attendant. “It was and still is reasonably priced and affordable. The other thing was it was only 10 minutes from my home. Once I got into the habit of going, I was hooked. There have been productions I have felt completely drawn into where I felt like I was participating in what was happening on the stage. …

“I made up my mind after I moved that I was still going to do this as long as it’s possible. It’s good for my soul.”

This is a story about friendship and how a shared love of theatre kept two women going through the toughest parts of their lives. It’s also a story about how anyone can make a difference by donating to SCR.

Heistermann and Costello met when both were flight attendants for United. They did grievance work for their union and flew together a lot. They lived a couple blocks from each other in Fountain Valley and their husbands were friends, too.

In 2003, Costello’s husband passed away. Looking for something to do, on a whim, she checked SCR’s schedule one day and without giving it a second thought, decided she was going to the theatre.

“I can’t remember what I saw or why I went. I just took myself to the theatre,” she said. “I happened to mention it to Jan one day that I saw this play and it was fun. She said, ‘This sounds interesting. The next time you go, let’s go together.’”

Heistermann didn’t need her arm twisted. She grew up adoring theatre in small-town Illinois, actively participating in her high school theatre classes, where she proudly talks about her big role as Rumpelstiltskin’s mother.

“I’ve always been interested in the theatre. I tried out for something in college and was told I had a lisp, so I wouldn’t be much of a success,” she laughed.

What began as two or three plays a year became four, then became five—then became two subscriptions in 2011. In 2010, Heistermann lost her husband. And her theatre outings turned into theatre escapes.

“It’s something that comes along with being a widow,” she said. “You find different avenues to keep yourselves occupied and busy. Theatre was one of the main functions that Charlie and I got involved in. It helped me get over joining a club you never want to join.”

There was another club for Heistermann to join, one infinitely more satisfying. She became an SCR donor. More importantly, she became one at a level perfect for her.

“I don’t have a lot of money, but I got a call from my financial advisor one day. He told me I need to think about contributing to non-profits for a tax credit,” she said. “The first one I thought of was South Coast Repertory.”

In the meantime, they relish seeing the variety of SCR productions, “From Shakespeare to August Wilson,” as Heistermann put it.

“I’m so excited about Lillian Hellman this season,” Costello said, referring to The Little Foxes.

“Where I live, I don’t have access to things like this. The closest big city is Vegas and that’s not my favorite place in the world,” she said. “It’s 270 miles to Jan’s house. For me, it’s way worth it to make the trip to see what I consider to be really quality theatre.”

For the record, Costello is the subscriber here. After all, she’s the one logging the miles.

“Charlie’s the subscriber. I’m the one who supports the philanthropic side,” Heistermann said.

“It’s a nice, symbiotic relationship we have going here. If it weren’t for people like Jan who donate, things wouldn’t be as good as they are at SCR,” Costello said.

You too can join Heistermann by donating to SCR’s annual fund. Donate before Aug. 31 and take advantage of the matching challenge from Richard and Lisa de Lorimier, who will match all donations up to $35,000. By doing so, you’ll help support the world-class theatre and award-winning conservatory SCR is known for. 

Last Chance to Renew Your SCR Season Subscription

Is your SCR Season Subscription notice sitting on your table? You have until this Friday, Aug. 26 to renew it and keep your seats.

After that date, your seats become available for sale to the public. Renewing your subscription assures you the same seats, along with the familiarity of your seats being available to watch the world-class theatre you expect.

And you’re not going to want to miss the adventurous and entertaining 2022-23 season.

SCR subscriptions come with a host of other benefits, including fee-free ticket exchanges—where you pay only the difference in ticket price, if any—discounts at local restaurants and more. 

NewSCRipts Starts in September With Fantasma

The 2022-23 NewSCRipts play reading series—part of The Lab@SCR—begins Monday September 12 with Fantasma by Benjamin Benne.

NewSCRipts provides a forum for talented writers to showcase their plays in front of an audience, while giving patrons the opportunity to not only see those plays in their early development, but be a part of SCR’s play-development process.

The readings are free and open to the public.

An SCR commission directed by Cat Rodriguez, Fantasma takes place in a Southern California home on Christmas Eve. Rosa’s family gathers in her newly renovated kitchen to make chuchitos, the traditional Guatemalan dish she has prepared her entire life. Her grandchildren are eager to learn her recipe and document every measurement and ingredient. But Rosa’s daughters know their mother’s cooking has more to do with intuition than metrics—and that recording and remembering are entirely different things. This imaginative, bittersweet journey spans two decades as it explores what we keep, what we lose and the cost of letting go.

One night later, on Tuesday, September 13, Fantasma will also be part of the NewSCRipts in Schools series, with a subsequent reading at Cal State Fullerton.

Specialized Classes for Advanced Students

Completing the first two years of Youth Conservatory classes not only instills skills that go beyond the stage, but it opens the door to a wealth of advanced options for students who want further development and new skills.

Advanced class offerings start with Year III Ensembles. Broken up by grade, these classes allow students to explore characterization, emotional truth and availability, along with ensemble storytelling and active pursuit of an objective. Ensembles fortifies these important skills while nurturing the desire to take further risks.

For those students with a flair for comedy, there’s Improvisation and Sketch Comedy. This class for 8-12 graders gives students experience working within “writers groups” to create narrative-based sketches and improvised stories. Students are encouraged to find truth in acting while bringing out their comedic voice.

The recent Summer Players production of Matilda The Musical played to enthusiastic audiences who appreciated the role Musical Theatre classes played in preparing the Summer Players for their dynamic performances. Year III students can take either Standard Musical Theatre or Advanced Musical Theatre.

Open to grades 8-12, Standard Musical Theatre teaches students what it means to act a song and sing a scene, with emphasis on music and text interpretation. Open to grades 9-12, Advanced Musical Theatre takes this process deeper, diving more thoroughly into the character development and script analysis of a song. Note: Acceptance into Advanced Musical Theatre is by instructor permission or audition.

All of these classes have one thing in common: they develop and nurture body, voice and imagination, the three tools all successful actors have in common.

It All Leads Up To Act III

This week, we want to acquaint you with another of our most popular Adult Conservatory offerings: Act III: Advanced Scene Study and Characterization. It’s the most advanced and challenging class offered at SCR.

Taught by the experienced Emily Heebner, Advanced Scene Study and Characterization takes you deeper into the art of character development. You learn techniques such as relaxation, commitment, listening, authentic response, script analysis and characterization, all the while creating believable characters and building powerful onstage relationships with your fellow actors.

Students in Act III already built a comfort level with basic acting techniques. Those techniques start in Act I: Basic Skills. Taught by the energetic Richard Soto, Basic Skills introduces you to the fundamentals of acting: scene study, monologues and basic improvisation, along with the go-to skills professional actors rely on throughout their careers. You learn those skills in a high-energy, fun, supportive atmosphere that promotes interaction.

Act III: Advanced Scene Study and Characterization begins Sept. 27 and runs to Nov. 15. Act I: Basic Skills runs the same dates.

Memorable Monday Flashback to SCR’s Gala 2021

Today’s Memorable Monday takes us to SCR’s 2021 Gala.

Co-chaired by Samuel and Tammy Tang and Michael Ray, the 2021 Gala marked the first in-person Gala since 2019.

This photo shows entertainers Rustin Cole Sailors (Once, Million Dollar Quartet at SCR) and Sarah Stiles (Avenue Q, Hand to God, Tootsie on Broadway) performing selections from Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical.

This year’s Gala returns to the Newport Beach Country Club Friday, Sept. 30 with a special performance to be announced.

Credit on Your SCR Account? 

Do you have credit on your SCR account from a canceled performance? How about using it toward a season subscription?

You can even use it toward a donation to SCR’s annual fund campaign, which is tax-deductible. That way, your gift helps bring the world-class theatre and conservatory classes to the community.

Put your credit to work watching or supporting world-class theatre today.

If you have any questions, or for more assistance, you may call Ticket Services at (714) 708-5555. Subscribers may call the Subscriber Hotline at (714) 708-5599.

How to Contact Us

• Box Office: Call (714) 708-5555 or email BoxOffice@scr.org. Reach us Sundays-Mondays, noon-6 p.m. and Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Administration: Call (714) 708-5500 or email theatre@scr.org. The administrative office hours are Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Education: Call (714) 708-5510 or email education@scr.org. The education office hours are Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.