South Coast Repertory's 2026 PEEK raises more than $539,000
by: Brian Robin
Published: October 12, 2026
James Moye and Carmen Cusack. Photo by Steve Morissette.
COSTA MESA...South Coast Repertory (Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel) celebrated the theatre social event of the season on Saturday, Oct. 3 by raising more than $539,000 at its annual fundraising event—PEEK! The proceeds from the unique evening of immersive theatrical experiences provide vital support for the Tony Award-winning theatre company to create world-class productions and serve more than 8,000 students through free or deeply discounted ticketing and educational programs during the 2026-27 season.
Lea Kong and Sarah J. McElroy chaired PEEK!, supported by Committee members Talya Nevo-Hacohen, Susan Shieldkret, Tammy Tang and Nickie Williams. The event was managed by Patricia Ann Johnson of Patrician Company.
"It’s truly a privilege to be part of a theatre that prioritizes the community and the youth. The resounding success of this year’s PEEK! gala signifies that South Coast Repertory will be better equipped to serve the diverse audiences, artists, and the upcoming generation of artists and art enthusiasts in Orange County. As a Trustee, I am filled with excitement for the promising future of SCR and its profound impact on the theatre community,” Kong said.
“It was such a thrill to hear from my guests that it was the most fun that they had ever had at a gala, and that they thoroughly enjoyed seeing how a production is created behind the scenes. It was a magical night from start to finish,” McElroy said.
From start to finish, SCR’s Emmes/Benson Theatre Center was transformed by event designer Sarah Kranin and lighting designer Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz. Backstage hallways and other rarely seen spaces were decorated with vibrant florals, glowing lanterns and forest greenery, as though the critically acclaimed production of Into the Woods currently playing on stage had overtaken the entire theatre.
The performance is about to begin. Photo by Matthew Morgan.
Guests dressed in enchanting cocktail attire arrived to a glittering champagne and hors d’oeuvres reception before embarking on an immersive backstage experience that traveled through the costume and scene shops and into the rehearsal hall to learn a musical number.
Following the backstage tour, guests dined on the Julianne Argyros Stage, which had been converted into a fairy tale forest nightclub, where intimate cabaret tables provided the unique view of the theatre that only actors usually experience. Gourmet food stations created by Mix Mix served Into the Woods
-themed dishes:
· A Cow-Carving Station, featuring Herb-roasted Prime Rib, Robuchon Mashed Potatoes with au jus and horseradish
· Jack and the Beanstalk offerings included a Salad Station with farmer’s market-provided lettuce, green beans, snap peas, squash and cucumbers, with cheese, nuts and dressings.
· A Witches’ Stew, featuring Fall Harvest Vegetable and White Bean Stew in spicy tomato broth, along with Corn Agnolotti pasta in brown butter
· The Market. Here, guests dined on a top-load lobster roll with lemon aioli on a toasted brioche and Hamachi crudo, Aji Amarillo and pickled peaches
After dinner, guests were welcomed by SCR Artistic Director David Ivers, Managing Director Suzanne Appel and PEEK! Chairs Lea Kong and Sarah McElroy.
“We are so grateful to our Gala Chairs Lea Kong and Sarah McElroy for leading our immersive fundraiser, PEEK!,” Appel said. “It was extraordinary—our patrons followed the journey of an actor from costume fitting to rehearsal and performance alongside our artisans and technicians, and then were moved to raise their paddles in support of South Coast Repertory.”
Vocalists Carmen Cusack and James Moye then took the stage for a performance of four songs. Moye led off with “Feeling Good,” followed by Cusack performing “If You Knew My Story” from the Broadway production of Bright Star and “Back to Before” from Ragtime. They closed with a duet of the Dolly Parton classic “Islands in the Stream.” Earlier, the pair performed for VIP guests, treating them to a duet of “Move On” from Sunday in the Park with George and Moye performing “I Rise Again” from On the Twentieth Century.
Cusack starred on Broadway in Flying Over Sunset, earning a second Tony Award nomination in as many Broadway shows. She was previously nominated for her acclaimed lead performance in Bright Star. Her Off-Broadway/Tour credits include Call Me Madam (Encores!), Carrie (MCC), South Pacific (Tour) and Wicked (Tour).
A veteran of 10 Broadway shows, including Dear Evan Hansen, Aladdin, Tootsie, Million Dollar Quartet, Bullets Over Broadway, Ragtime, A Tale of Two Cities, Urinetown and The Full Monty, Moye is no stranger to SCR audiences. He directed both the 2022 Outside SCR and 2025 Segerstrom Stage productions of Million Dollar Quartet and played Rita’s Dad in SCR’s 2024 world premiere of Prelude to a Kiss, The Musical.
Cusack and Moye were joined on stage by advanced students from SCR’s award-winning Theatre Conservatory for a stirring rendition of “Children Will Listen” from Into the Woods. The guests, who had learned the song earlier in the evening during their immersive backstage experience, joined in, making for a powerfully moving sing-along.
After the performance, a live auction and paddle raise, guests moved into the Nicholas Studio for an after-party featuring dancing with a live DJ and enjoyed an espresso martini bar in the lobby lounge. Guests also took home treats that included a ticket to an opening-night performance at South Coast Repertory and a collection of mini-tarts from The Baker’s Delight.
“Once again we are grateful to the entire SCR community and our fantastic loyal supporters,” Ivers said. “This year’s gala, PEEK!, was an exceptional evening featuring fantastic performances by Carmen Cusack, James Moye and the cast of SCR’s Into the Woods. It was a joyful celebration that succeeded in raising funds for Orange County’s Tony Award-winning theatre!”
The live auction items included a Malibu Coast and South Coast five-night stay at a secluded ocean-view Malibu villa, which came with dinner for two with Ivers, Appel and a director of an SCR production. Donated by SCR Board of Trustees Vice President, Community Relations Susan Shieldkret and David Dull, the package also included a South Coast Plaza $1,000 gift card, plus annual valet and ACCESS suite pass.
Next came a Weekend in Chicago—SCR Style, an always-popular item. The package included joining Ivers and Appel in Chicago for an unforgettable theatre insider experience, including house seats at the best Chicago theatres, fine dining and extraordinary cultural events.
Following that came The Ultimate South Coast Repertory Experience, an exclusive, immersive and unforgettable journey through SCR’s season:
· Meet & Greet with Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, star of the SCR Presents production Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares
· Four tickets to every remaining show in the 2026/27 season
· Complimentary parking and drink vouchers
· Invitations to exclusive season-long events
· Deluxe two-night stay at Avenue of the Arts Hotel-Costa Mesa
· Afternoon tea for four at Knife Pleat in South Coast Plaza
· Exclusive stage management booth experience during Into the Woods and A Christmas Carol
Luminaries who attended included Harmon and Lea Kong, McElroy, Giulia Newton, President of SCR’s Board of Trustees and Schalon Newton; Past Board Presidents Talya Nevo Hacohen and Samuel Tang and Barbara Cline. Trustees Tammy Tang, Paula Orologas, Laura Cushing, Jennifer Sternshein, Tim Kay, Felix Yan, Bill Schenker, Julia Voce, Michael Gray and Michelle Williams, former Trustee Rick Keller, Orange Community Arts Guild President Britt Samuels and Board member Kim Stemper, Claire Trevor Dean of the Arts at UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts Dr. Tiffany Ana López and ArtsOC President Patrick Brien.
The Gala Underwriters included Platinum Supporters Apriem Advisors; Gold Supporters Talya Nevo-Hacohen and Bill Schenker, Pacific Life, Susan Shieldkret and David Dull and Samuel and Tammy Tang; Silver Supporters Schalon and Giulia Newton, Sarah McElroy and South Coast Plaza. The After Party Underwriter is Capital Group. The Bar Underwriters are Tyler Holcomb and BOB Rivet, the Valet Underwriter is Ducere Wealth and the Performer and Volunteer Underwriter is Wayne Wolfe.
A group of donors came together to provide matching funds for the paddle raise with lead gifts from Rhonda and James Ducote, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Socorro and Ernesto Vasquez and Jean and Tim Weiss.
2026-27 Upcoming Productions: Into the Woods, Sept. 12-Oct. 18, 2026; Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, Oct. 8-11, 2026; Blind Runner, Oct. 18-Nov. 8, 2026; A Christmas Carol, Nov. 28-Dec. 27, 2026; Mother Russia, Jan. 22-March 20, 2027; The Importance of Being Earnest, Jan. 23-March 20, 2027; How I Became a Pirate, Feb. 19-March 7, 2027; Three-headed Monster, April 4-May 2, 2027; The Ingenue, April 18-May 9, 2027; Hamlet, May 8-June 5, 2027; Hershey Felder’s Great American Songbook Sing-Along!, July 3, 2027; Hershey Felder, BEETHOVEN, July 6-18, 2027; Hershey Felder, Love Notes, July 21-Aug. 1, 2027.
ABOUT SOUTH COAST REPERTORY: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964, is led by Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel. SCR is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern plays and musicals, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program—The Lab@SCR—which includes one of the nation’s largest commissioning programs for emerging, mid-career and established writers. Of SCR’s more than 550 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, California, SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio.