Sourced from the press release

 ‘The Next Stage’ Places UCI’s Drama Students Into SCR’s Professional Environment,

Providing Real-World Experience, Mentorship and More

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.— Bridging the gap between the classroom and the stage, UC Irvine’s (Claire Trevor Dean of the Arts Tiffany López and Department of Drama Chair Joel Veenstra) and South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) are partnering on a new program—“The Next Stage”—that immerses MFA theatre students in professional theatre. “The Next Stage” will pair mentorship from SCR’s artists and leaders with invaluable onstage experience, classroom instruction and theatre attendance opportunities.

The collaboration provides UC Irvine Department of Drama graduate students with paid, hands-on experience in acting, design, dramaturgy and stage management, equipping students with practical experience in real-world productions, mentorship from professional artists and invaluable insight into the operations of one of the country’s leading regional theatres.

The program serves as a model for partnerships nationwide, replicating and innovating a template that has worked for a small number of professional theatres nationally that partner with Masters of Fine Arts programs.

“Since 2019, it’s been one of my goals to formalize this vitally important and mutually beneficial relationship between UC Irvine and South Coast Repertory,” Ivers said. “The Next Stage program will offer both institutions a predictable and reliable partnership to advance learning in theatre. It’s also beautiful example of collaboration on the institutional level, as well as for individual artists—both students and professionals. Along my decades-long career path, I’ve had the great privilege of creating theatre with the stellar faculty, students and alumni of The Claire Trevor School of the Arts. I’ve been directed by Robert Cohen and Eli Simon, and I’ve worked extensively with Andrew Borba, Philip Thompson, Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz and many others. Together, we’ll make a great impact on tomorrow’s artists and artistic leaders. Go Anteaters!”

“The Next Stage represents the very best of what we strive to do at UCI Arts, creating professional pathways that connect our students to Orange County’s thriving creative economy,” said López. “We are deeply committed to expanding access to hands-on experiences that prepare students for meaningful careers in the arts. This partnership with South Coast Repertory exemplifies how higher education and professional organizations can work together to cultivate the next generation of artists and leaders who will shape the future of live theatre and creative communities.”

“The Next Stage” begins in January 2026 with a residency program in SCR’s rotating repertory of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza. UCI MFA., PhD and undergraduate students will immerse themselves fully into the theatre’s 2025/26 season centerpiece, while receiving hands-on instruction from Ivers, directors Marco Barricelli (God of Carnage) and Lisa Rothe (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), designers and stage managers and SCR Theatre Conservatory Teaching Artists. God of Carnage runs Jan. 23-March 21, 2026 and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? runs Jan. 24-March 21, 2026, both on the Segerstrom Stage.

“The Next Stage is a hope-and joy-filled step forward for the future of MFA. education and the theatre field. Universities across the country are cutting back on professional training programs while theatres are searching for sustainable models,” Appel said. “This pilot program addresses those challenges and brings productions of the classics and other great plays on a large scale to audiences. This will help us attract audiences, particularly young people. Expanding South Coast Repertory’s 50-plus year education mission to include professional training for MFA. students from UCI is the kind of investment that will provide generations of dividends, paid in spectacular live theatre experiences for our audiences.”

The program will engage more than 500 UCI students. Two UCI MFA. students will serve as understudies, while between three and eight MFA. students in design, stage management or PhD students in dramaturgy will be immersed in those disciplines during the productions. In addition, 40 undergraduate actors will receive course credits for instruction and 400 undergraduate and graduate students will attend performances of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and God of Carnage.

Along with those practical experiences, Ivers will provide coaching and audition tips to MFA. acting students and professional teaching artists from SCR’s highly respected Theatre Conservatory will teach acting classes for undergraduates.

“The Next Stage” embodies UCI’s mission to advance knowledge through research, teaching and creative expression by documenting the program as a research-based model for arts education, while delivering applied, experiential learning within a professional environment. It also fosters creativity and innovation through live theatre practice.

The $1.5 million program, inclusive of the repertory productions at SCR, is supported by funding from a number of donors, including The Nicholas Endowment, The Claire Trevor School of the Arts and Department of Drama, SCR Season Producers Apriem Advisors, Lead Repertory Honorary Producer Michael Ray, Repertory Honorary Producers Richard and Lisa de Lorimier and Timothy and Jean Weiss, Honorary Producers of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Elaine and Mike Gray, the Honorary Producers of God of Carnage.

“We’re thrilled about the partnership between SCR and UCI, which opens up exceptional opportunities for students,” said Daniel T. Stetson, trustee and executive director of The Nicholas Endowment, whose mission is to enrich our community and the world by supporting the performing and visual arts, assisting in the advancement of science and education, and engaging other charities to make a difference in people’s lives. “Through this collaboration, students will receive top-tier training from some of the most respected professionals in the industry. They’ll also have the chance to apply and refine their newly developed acting skills on stage at SCR.”