Friday, April 11, 2014

"Rest" Touches Hearts

There was a soft glow in the air following the world premiere of Rest, playwright Sam Hunter’s powerful play with its seamless blend of sadness and humor.

According to Andy Johnson, honorary producer with his wife, Olivia, "First in The Whale and now in Rest, Sam Hunter always manages to find that thin line between the dark and the light sides of our humanity. We're honored to be a part of sharing his talents with our SCR audiences."

As they gathered on a candlelit Ela’s Terrace, with its white, snowy look reminescent of the play’s setting, First Nighters and their guests congratulated the playwright, Director Martin Benson, the actors and designers for unforgettable evening of theatre.

In the days since First Night, critics and audiences alike have agreed, with the Los Angeles Times calling Hunter “a welcome theatrical voice from the American West,” adding that Benson “elicits terrific ensemble work from his cast.”

Honorary Producers Olivia and Andy Johnson with actor Hal Landon Jr.


Playwright Sam Hunter and Director Martin Benson


Sam and Martin


Actor Lynn Milgrim, her husband Richard Green and Elaine Weinberg


Actor Richard Doyle and Maria Hall-Brown, of Season Media Partner PBS SoCal


Actor Wyatt Fenner and Olivia Johnson


Alan Benaroya and Sam Hunter


Olivia Johnson, actor Richard Doyle, visiting actor Jennifer Parsons and Andy Johnson


Olivia Johnson and actor Sue Cremin


Sam Hunter, center, with Tammy and Sam Tang


Sally Anderson, Tom Rogers, actor Libby West, Olivia and Andy Johnson


Andy Johnson and actor Rob Nagle


Actor Lynn Milgrim and Vince LaBarbera


The Johnson family, Andy, Alyssa and Olivia, with Sam Hunter


Tom and lighting designer Donna Ruzika with Martin Benson


Olivia Johnson and Martin Benson


Hunter with visiting actor Blake Lindsley


Visiting staff member John Mouledoux, actor Richard Doyle, Molly Lynch and Alan Edwards


Eric Greenwood, Caroline Landon and her parents Janis Morrisette and actor Hal Landon Jr


Joanne DeNaut and Sam Hunter


Actor Rob Nagle, visiting director Casey Stangl and Marc Masterson


Don Carnegie, Ardelle St. George, actor Wyatt Fenner, Elaine Krajanowski



Elaine Weinberg, Tom and Marilyn Sutton


Joanne DeNaut and visiting actor Jenny O'Hara


Mary Roosevelt, second from left, and friends


Bart and Laurie Brown, Margie and John Murray


Nancy Dahan and her daughter Olivia


Nancy Meyer and Olivia Slutzky


Ralph and Sue Stern


Susan and Bob Ehrlich, Carolina and John Prichard


Visiting director Casey Stangl and visiting actor Bill Brochtrup


Visiting actor Nike Doukas and Arthur Hanket


Visiting former staff member Hilde McNeil, Marvin McNeil, Paula Tomei and David Emmes


Visiting former staff member Laura MacAdam and her husband Scott.