There is much afoot at South Coast Repertory these days. Tonight marks the opening of SCR’s newest world-premiere production, “Cloudlands,” an edgy musical collaboration by Octavio Solis, and Adam Gwon.
The story of a teenage girl who stumbles upon her mother’s clandestine rendezvous with a mysterious stranger, “Cloudlands” explores the many types of love, from innocent to forbidden.
We follow Monica, a young girl who is earnestly trying to find her place in the world, and her path in love, as she discovers her mother’s dirty secret. The more she digs, the more secrets she finds, and the more life begins to unravel for everyone involved.
As the first entirely original musical to ever be commissioned, developed, and premiered by SCR, “Cloudlands” has itself been on a journey of self-discovery. Much like its young protagonist, its story began with a chance encounter between two strangers,
Back in 2005, playwright Octavio Solis attended a workshop in New York at which five playwrights were matched up with five composers and asked to create an original song.
Enter composer Adam Gwon. The two worked together to create a song that told the story of a young girl who finds out that her mother is having an affair. Having described the song as “exquisitely beautiful,” Solis knew there was a story just waiting to be born from that song.
Fast forward to 2009, when Solis was offered his fifth commission from SCR. He shared his feeling that the seed to a storyline was contained in that song, then shared the song. After hearing it, the folks at SCR agreed, and invited Gwon to sign on as composer and co-lyricist. Thus, “Cloudlands” was born.
Since then, it has gone through extensive development – four workshops and three public presentations, including a reading at last year’s Pacific Playwrights Festival. Along the way, characters have changed and songs have been dropped, including, ironically, the song that inspired it all.
Through it all, the show has taken on an emotional edge, and it seems as though it has finally found its voice. Now, Orange County audiences get to be the first in the nation to hear that voice as this brand new musical premieres.
“Cloudlands” runs through May 6, and along with “Prince of Atlantis”, anchors the other big event happening at SCR – the Pacific Playwrights Festival.
PPF is an annual event showcasing readings of new plays. The three-day festival attracts theatre professionals from across the nation, who are drawn by the chance to be the first to see some of the best new plays in the country.
These artistic leaders, along with SCR’s devoted new play audiences, take advantage of the opportunity to take in seven new plays that traverse the theatrical spectrum. It is also an opportunity to rub elbows with others in the theatrical community, share ideas, and both make and renew friendships.
This year, SCR and the Pacific Playwrights Festival are celebrating their 15th anniversary. Over the last 15 years, PPF will have presented 99 new plays, representing the work of 78 playwrights, and is considered to be one of the best venues for new work in the country.
This years readings include:
- “Warrior Class” by Kenneth Lin
- “You are Here” by Melissa Ross
- “I and You” by Lauren Gunderson
- “The Few” by Samuel D. Hunter
- “Smokefall” by Noah Haidle
The festival runs from Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29, and will also include performances of both plays currently in production at SCR. Tickets are available on a per-reading basis, or in a package that includes all five. Tickets for full productions may be purchased separately.
For more information on the PPF reading and, ”Cloudlands” or to purchase tickets, visit www.scr.org
