SCR TO LOAN STAGE FOR BLACK ACTORS THEATRE MUSICAL

The South Coast Repertory Theatre will give extended use of one of its stages to another group for the first time when Orange County Black Actors Theatre stages a musical in the Costa Mesa facility.

The actors group will present “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf” at SCR for two weekends beginning July 24.

“To us, this is a cooperative venture,” SCR’s producing artistic director, David Emmes, said Thursday “We’re providing a lot of in-kind services in marketing, technical assistance and other areas, in addition to donating the hall. We see it as an extension of our efforts in recent years to emphasize multicultural themes and creativity.”

The rent-free use this summer of SCR’s 161-seat second stage by the black troupe was previously announced in January, but actual dates were not scheduled until this week, said Adleane Hunter, founding director of the 6-year-old Black Actors Theatre.

She said the musical play by Ntozake Shange will be performed July 24-26, 30 and 31 and Aug. 1 and 2. A preview will be performed July 23.

(Evening performances will be at 8 p.m., matinees at 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets for the July 24 and 25 “premiere benefit” nights will be $25. For the other dates, tickets will be $8.50 for general admission, $6.50 for students and senior citizens. Call (714) 957-4033 for information.)

Richard Gordon is directing the seven-member cast: Hunter, Robyn Hastings, Regina Herod, Zondra Marshall, Eulynda Porter, Regenia Wimbish and Violette Wings.

The production of “For Colored Girls . . .” then will move to the Santa Ana City Hall’s annex auditorium for the next two weekends: Aug. 7-9 and 14-16. (For performance times and ticket prices, call (714) 667-7090.)

Hunter said the troupe has already raised about half of the $19,000 needed to mount the production. The troupe has also applied for a $2,000 grant this year under a state program supporting multicultural arts programs and is looking ahead toward the next production.