| The Costa Mesa Playhouse Presents
2011-2012 Season
The Costa Mesa Playhouse is proud to announce its 2011-2012 Season. This represents our 46th season and we've got a lot planned. We're presenting five fabulous shows as well as our annual fund-raiser revue. Stay tuned for details!
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Book by John Cameron Mitchell,
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Trask
Directed & Musical Directed by Stephen Hulsey
The cult rock musical about outrageous transgender singer Hedwig and his rock-n-roll band, the Angry Inch, a name inspired by Hedwig’s own botched sex change operation, this hilarious play is performed by Hedwig as a rock gig/stand-up comedy routine, backed by his band. A brutally honest musical theatre experience, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is a roller-coaster ride; funny, touching, emotionally draining and ultimately inspiring to anyone who feels life has given them an inch when they deserved a mile.
June 8th - July 8th, 2012
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The Following Shows Have Closed
Thank You
 Murder Most Sweet!
by Richard Taylor
Directed by Cynthia Milenkovich
The world premiere of a first play by published novelist and produced screenwriter Richard Taylor, presented as a special event, performing one weekend only. A comedy-murder-thriller in the vein of DEATHRAP, “Murder Most Sweet” is Richard’s first play and will be directed by Cynthia Milenkovich.
Richard Taylor’s Showtime Premier film DECEPTIONS was nominated for a CableACE Best Picture Award, and the SciFi Channel Original TV movie ENCRYPT was produced from his spec screenplay. His debut novel THE HAUNTING OF CAMBRIA, published by St. Martin's Press/TOR in 2004, was received with rave reviews. He has published two more novels since.
July 15th, 16th & 17th, 2011
CAST LIST
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Costa Mesa Playhouse Musical Revue Fundraiser:
 That Was Then... This is Now!
Directed by Jason Holland
Music Directed by Stephen Hulsey
A chronological journey through the hits of Broadway from the 1940s through today, with a cast of over 20 sensational singers.
CALL FOR DONATIONS: If you have something you would like to donate to our silent auction, such as gift certificates, services or special items, please call 949-650-5269.
August 5th, 6th & 7th, 2011
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 Blithe Spirit
by Noel Coward
Directed by David Anthony Blair
A smash hit on London and Broadway stages, this much beloved classic from the cleverly outrageous mind of playwright-director-actor-composer-singer and flamboyant wit Noel Coward spins the tale of novelist Charles Condomine, whose late first wife, Elvira, is summoned during a séance by eccentric clairvoyant Madame Arcati. Seen only by Charles, Elvira’s spirit remains to haunt him and destroy his current marriage with Ruth.
September 2nd - 25th, 2011
Cast List
Download a Program (pdf) 3.8M
Tom Titus's Review in The Daily Pilot
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 Earthlings Beware!
Written & Directed by Michael Dale Brown
SEE flying saucers invade Nevada
SEE a giant mutant destroy whole cities
SEE a killer robot reduce man to skeleton
They came from outer space to invade our minds and steal our atomic secrets! Mercury, Nevada, early 1950s. An atomic bomb test gone bad... or something bigger? Scientist Peter Carlson finds himself caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between two alien races. His colleague, Tom Morrow, has mutated into a rampaging 100-foot giant and there’s something peculiar about his beautiful fiancée, Rachel. This revised revival of our 2007 hit, Earthlings Beware! is a savvy and silly homage to those unintentionally hilarious B-grade sci-fi flicks of the 1950s, with hokey dialogue, stiff acting and cheesy special effects intact.
"Who knew atomic radiation could be this much fun?" said Long Beach Press-Telegram reviewer John Farrell of the play's 2006 premiere production at the Found Theatre.
Read a review of the 2006 premiere production.
Read a review of the 2007 production from the OC Register.
Read a review of the 2007 production from the Daily Pilot.
October 28th - November 20th, 2011
Special Guest Appearance:
Saturday, Oct. 29 and Nov. 12.
“Alien Actor” Bill Blair, recently recognized by the Guinness World Records for “most special effects characters portrayed in a career,” will attend the Gala Opening Night performance, Oct. 29, and the Nov. 12 performance and will be available to autographs his photos. He has appeared in numerous episodes of three different Star Trek series, “Babylon Five,” “Alien Nation” and “Sliders.” |
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 Nunsense (All Female Cast)
& Nunsense A-Men (All Male Cast)
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Dan Goggin
Directed by Jason Holland
Musical Directed by Stephen Hulsey
Choreographed by Michael Wallot
When 52 nuns from of the Little Sisters of Hoboken are accidentally poisoned by their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God’s tainted vichyssoise, the surviving nuns discover they only have enough money to bury 48 of them, so Mother Superior decides that, to raise the necessary funds, the sisters will put on a variety show, with madcap dance routines, solo star turns and an audience quiz. A smash hit since its premiere in 1985, the enduring popularity of “Nunsense” and its six sequels have made it a true theatrical phenomenon
February 10th - March 11th, 2012
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The Crucible
by Arthur Miller
Directed by John McQuay
A revolutionary work of theatre by one of the world’s greatest playwrights, “The Crucible” dramatizes the 17th-century Salem witch trials, and was written in 1953 as an angry allegory to the anti-Communist hysteria of the time. Miller himself was questioned by the House Un-American Activities Committee, found guilty of communist beliefs and convicted of "contempt of Congress" for refusing to identify others. “The Crucible” is a central work in the canon of American theater. Its themes continue to resonate in today’s political climate.
April 13th - May 6th, 2012
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