COSTA MESA, CA -- Two days after SCR received a Best New Play Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain , South Coast Repertory's Founding Artistic Directors David Emmes and Martin Benson were honored by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology for their "lifetime contribution to the performing arts." Emmes and Benson received USITT's Thomas DeGaetani Award, named for the first president of the 38-year-old association of design, production and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry. Prior to receiving the award on March 18, the two leaders gave the keynote address to several hundred in attendance at the national conference.

This event concluded the southern California awards season and capped a year of national recognition for the SCR, which premiered four plays in 1997: BAFO (Best and Final Offer) by Tom Strelich; Golden Child by David Henry Hwang; Freedomland . by Amy Freed; and Three Days of Rain .

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent