The American ideal of success is at the heart of Making It, a world premiere comedy by Joe Hortua, opening Jan. 25 on South Coast Repertory Theatre's Second Stage. SCR's producing artistic director David Emmes (The Beard of Avon, Freedomland) directs.

Set in a Manhattan restaurant, Making It collects a wide range of American Dreams in one place. The eatery's owner was once an actor, while his waiter still wants to be. The immigrant busboys have their own desires and the young couple, sitting down to dinner, have the new, intense ambitions of the next generation. Other works by Hortua include Two, Burning and the short screenplay "Sick."

Making It features Assaf Cohen as Haji, JD Cullum (Joe Louis Blues) as Paolo, Heath Freeman as Jack, Jennifer Griffin (Elektra Fugues) as Dora, Laura Hinsberger as Claire, Nicholas Horman (Olivier in Orson's Shadow) as Leonard and Dileep Roa as Mo.

Making It plays through Feb. 24. Tickets are $19-$51. South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For reservations, call (714) 708-5555. South Coast Repertory is on the web at http://www.scr.org.

— By Christine Ehren