63 and 65 ... Co-founded South...

63 and 65 ... Co-founded South Coast Repertory in the mid-1960s

... Today are the co-artistic directors of the theater ... Well-known

story of their beginnings includes drawing up their theater plans on

a restaurant napkin ... What began as doodles turned into a small

theater on Balboa Peninsula ... Now SCR is a Tony Award-winning

facility in Costa Mesa looking forward to a huge expansion ... Emmes

lives in Laguna Beach, Benson lives in Huntington Beach ... Two first

met at San Francisco State College in 1960 ... Both are married ...

Emmes has four children, Benson has four step-children ... Emmes’

favorite show this past season was “School for Wives” ... Benson’s

was “The Dazzle” ... Both chose shows they themselves didn’t direct

... Benson says the building of their third theater and renovations

of existing facilities is nearing completion and on schedule ...

Emmes likes to travel ... Benson likes to fly his restored antique

airplane, a 1941 U.S. Navy Open Cockpit Biplane Trainer ... Last

year’s ranking: 5