Photo Flash: South Coast Rep to Present TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, 10/21-11/20

Founding Artistic Director Martin Benson will direct the work of an old friend when South Coast Repertory presents Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful Oct. 21 through Nov. 20 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Bountiful follows the heartwarming journey of Carrie Watts, a widow who escapes the confines of her son's cramped city apartment to make one last trip to her old homeplace in the tiny town of Bountiful.

"Horton captures so beautifully what it means to need a sense of home," says Benson, who knew the late Horton Foote for years and directed the world premiere of Foote's Getting Frankie Married-and Afterwards as well as the West Coast premiere of The Carpetbagger's Children. "He is, quite simply, an American treasure."

Lynn Milgrim (SCR's The Heiress) plays feisty Carrie; Daniel Reichert (The Weir) is her meek son, and Jenn Lyon (Noises Off, Crimes of the Heart) is her bossy daughter-in-law. Among the characters Carrie meets on her journey are two SCR Founding Artists-Richard Doyle and Hal Landon, Jr. as a ticket agent and a sheriff, respectively. Joining them are Lily Holleman (Circle Mirror Transformation) as Thelma and Tom Shelton (In the Next Room or the vibrator play) and Mark Coyan (The Beard of Avon) as ticket agents. Rounding out the ensemble are Sam Carter, Sharyn Case, Debbie Fry and Greg Ungar.

The artistic team is comprised of Thomas Buderwitz (set design), Angela Balogh Calin (costume design), Tom and Donna Ruzika (lighting design), Cricket S. Myers (sound design) and Chrissy Church (stage manager).

Mary Beth Adderley and Elizabeth and Ryan Williams are the Honorary Producers. Haskell & White is the Corporate Honorary Producer, and PBS SoCal and COAST Magazine are the media partners.

SHOW TIMES: Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday nights, with matinees starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

IMPORTANT DATES: Opening night is Friday, Oct. 28, and press night is Saturday, Oct. 29.

TICKETS: 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. $20-$68.

BOX OFFICE WINDOW HOURS: 10 a.m. to showtime Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to showtime Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and non-performance days. American Express, VISA and MasterCard accepted.

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

POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS: Wednesday, Nov. 2, and Tuesday, Nov. 8. Discuss the play with members of the cast following the performance. Free.

"INSIDE THE SEASON:" Saturday, Nov. 5, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. A two-hour interactive session featuring set tours and Q&A's with creative personnel. Tickets: $12. (Tickets to the show are sold separately.)

COMING UP: A Christmas Carol (Nov. 26 - Dec. 24), Topdog/Underdog (Jan. 8 - Jan. 29).