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AMERICANCONSERVATORYTHEATER
ANNOUNCESCOMPLETELINEUPFORTHE2017–18SEASON
NewlyannouncedproductionsincludeWilliamShakespeare’sHAMLET,starringObieAward
winnerJohnDouglasThompsoninthetitleroleandjoinedbystageandscreenstarCarl
Lumbly;BessWohl’scriticallyacclaimedcomedySMALLMOUTHSOUNDS;SimonStephens’s
hitplayHEISENBERG;andtheworld-premieremusicalAWALKONTHEMOON,basedonthe
1999movieofthesamename
Theyjointhreepreviouslyannouncedproductions–HaroldPinter’sclassicdramaTHE
BIRTHDAYPARTY;QuiNguyen’snewhitcomedyVIETGONE;andPulitzerPrizewinner
Suzan-LoriParks’sFATHERCOMESHOMEFROMTHEWARS(PARTS1,2&3)
2017–18seasonmarksA.C.T.ArtisticDirectorCareyPerloff’s25th—andfinal—year
SANFRANCISCO(April28,2017)—AmericanConservatoryTheater(A.C.T.)ArtisticDirectorCareyPerloff
announcedtodaythefinalfourproductionsthatwillcomprisethelineupofthecompany’s2017–18subscription
season.The2017–18seasonmarksthe25thanniversaryofPerloff’sarrivalatA.C.T.;thelongtimeartistic
directorrecentlyannouncedshewoulddepartfollowingthe2017–18season.
Joiningthethreepreviouslyannouncedproductions—HaroldPinter’sclassicdramaTheBirthdayParty,Qui
Nguyen’sirreverentnewcomedyVietgone,andPulitzerPrizewinnerSuzan-LoriParks’sFatherComesHome
fromtheWars(Parts1,2&3),anepicAmericantakeontheOdysseysetagainstthebackdropoftheCivil
War—areWilliamShakespeare’sHamlet,starringObieAwardwinnerJohnDouglasThompsoninthetitlerole
andjoinedbystageandscreenstarCarlLumbly;BessWohl’scriticallyacclaimedcomedySmallMouthSounds;
SimonStephens’shitplayHeisenberg;andtheworld-premieremusicalAWalkontheMoon,basedonthe1999
movieofthesamename.
Full-season(7-play)subscriptionswillbeavailableinmid-Mayfor$91–$679andofferincrediblesavings,
unparalleledaccess,exclusivebenefits,andpersonalizedcustomerservice.Atthistime,onlycurrentfull-season
A.C.T.subscriberscanrenewtheirsubscriptionsforthe2017–18season.Toreceiveprioritynoticewhen
packagesbecomeavailabletonewsubscribers,patronscanjoinA.C.T.’se-clubatact-sf.org/ecluborcallthe
A.C.T.SubscriptionsOfficeat415.749.2250.
“FromHamletandSmallMouthSoundstoHeisenbergandAWalkontheMoon,thisisaseasonofplaysin
whichlarger-than-lifecharacters—filledwithlongingandappetite—suddenlystrivetotrysomethingnew,”
saysPerloff.“Thisbeingmy25thanniversaryatA.C.T.,itistheperfectmomenttocontemplatethefuture
andtocelebrateourfavoritecollaborators.Iamespeciallythrilledtolaunchtheseasonwiththe
astonishingJohnDouglasThompsoninHamlet,aprojectIhavelongedtotackleforsometime.Thefierce
solitudeandpsychicconfusionofamanrobbedofhisfatherandthenofeveryonehetrustsinatoxicworld
gonehopelesslywrongisaheartbreakingandimportantstoryforourtime.Thisseason,filledwithfavorite
actors—includingThompson,MarcoBarricelli,CarlLumbly,ScottWentworth,andJudithIvey—exciting
newdirectors,visionarydesigners,andgreatmusicwillstretchusinwonderfulwaysandfillourmultiple
spaceswithjoyandcelebration.”
The2017–18seasonkicksoffwithWilliamsShakespeare’stragicmasterpieceHamlet(September20–October
15,2017),starringObieAwardwinnerJohnDouglasThompsoninthetitlerole,andjoinedbystageandscreen
starCarlLumbly.Twoseasonsago,ThompsondazzledGearyaudiencesinthevirtuosoone-manshowSatchmo
attheWaldorf.Now,tokickoffA.C.T.’s2017–18season,ThompsoncomesbacktoSanFranciscototakeonfor
thefirsttimeoneofShakespeare’smostcomplexandheartbreakingcharacters.Inthestoryofamanwho
wakesuptofindhisworldupendedandhisclosestfriendsunworthyoftrust,Shakespeareshowsushowquickly
changecanhappen—howanorderlykingdomruledbyalovingkingcan,inonestroke,becomeunrecognizable.
HamletwillbeA.C.T.’sfirstShakespeareproductionsinceTheTempestreopenedtheGearyin1996.
PerformancesofHamletwilltakeplaceatA.C.T.’sGearyTheater.(PressnightwillbeheldonWednesday,
September27,2017).
Next,A.C.T.willpresentBessWohl’sfresh,perceptivecomedySmallMouthSounds(October11–December10,
2017).Onaweeklongsilentretreatinthewoods,sixwildlydisparatesoulslookingforanswersfindthatstaying
quietdoesn’tnecessarilybringtheinner-peace.AnacclaimednewcomedyfromDramaDeskAward–winning
playwrightBessWohl,SmallMouthSoundsisawickedlysharplookatmindfulnessandthewellnessindustry.
Undertheeyeofanunseenguru,thesesixhavegatheredtogetawayfromitall.Butastheylistentotheir
leader’sruminations(andtrytohookupwhilestrugglingtomeditatewithoutsnacks),theylearnthatsilence
canindeedbegolden.Itcanalsobefunny,frustrating,erotic,comforting,andprofoundlypassive-aggressive.
PerformancesofSmallMouthSoundswilltakeplaceatA.C.T.’sStrandTheater.(Pressnightswillbeheldon
Thursday,October26andFriday,October27,2017).
Thiswinter,A.C.T.ishappytowelcomebacktheBayArea’sfavoriteholidaytradition,AChristmasCarol
(December1–24,2017),afteranothersuccessfulrunlastseason.Featuringalivelycastofdozens,delightful
music,gorgeouscostumes,anddeliciouslyspookyghosts,thisversionofAChristmasCarol,adaptedbyPaul
WalshandCareyPerloff,staystruetotheheartofDickens’stimelessstoryofredemptionandbringsaplayful
sensibilitytohisrichlanguage.AChristmasCarol—nowinits40thyear—isacornerstoneoftheA.C.T.repertory
andhasbecomeaholidaytraditionforfamiliesaroundtheBayArea.PerformancesofAChristmasCarolwill
takeplaceatA.C.T.’sGearyTheater.(PressnightwillbeheldonFriday,December8,2017).
Ringingin2018,A.C.T.returnstotheworldofHaroldPinterforitsfirststagingofhisclassicdramaTheBirthday
Party(January10–February4,2018),featuringA.C.T.favoriteMarcoBarricelli,TonyAwardwinnerJudithIvey,
andStratfordFestivalstarScottWentworth.InanundisturbedEnglishseasidetown,theinhabitantsofa
ramshackleboardinghousereacttothearrivaloftwounsettlingstrangers.WheredothemysteriousGoldberg
andMcCanncomefrom?Whosentthem?Andwhydotheykeepaskingaboutthesoleboarder,pianoplayer
Stanley?Asthepartyguests,includingflightyLulaandflirtylandladyMeg,gatherforStanley’sbirthday,the
desperatepianistisforcedtoconfrontasurrealinterrogation.Seethingwithmystery,danger,andsudden
humor,thisissignaturePinter,aplayof“tantalizingtheatricality”(TheNewYorkTimes).PerformancesofThe
BirthdayPartywilltakeplaceatA.C.T.’sGearyTheater.(PressnightwillbeheldonWednesday,January17,
2018).
Next,A.C.T.willpresentQuiNguyen’sirreverentroad-tripcomedyVietgone(February21–April22,2018).Ahit
offBroadwayandatOregonShakespeareFestival,Vietgoneisamoderntwistontheclassicstoryofboymeets
girl.Inthisirreverentnewcomedy,threeyoungVietnameseimmigrantsleaveawar-torncountryforaneyeopeningjourneyacrossthebewilderingandforeignlandscapeof1970sAmerica.Avibrantmash-upofpop
culturereferences,audaciousdialogue,andanaction-packedroadtripthatinstantaneouslymovesfromhilarity
toheart-wrenchingdrama,Vietgoneplayedtosold-outhousesat2016’sOregonShakespeareFestivalandNew
York’sManhattanTheatreClub.Thissexy,sassy,freewheelingride,backedbyitship-hopandMotownrhythms,
willrollintoTheStrandspring2018inanall-newproduction.PerformancesofVietgonewilltakeplaceat
A.C.T.’sStrandTheater.(PressnightswillbeheldonThursday,March8andFriday,March9,2018).
Inspring2018,A.C.T.willpresentSimonStephens’shitplayHeisenberg(March14–April8,2018).Inabustling
Londontrainstation,free-spiritedAmericanGeorgieunexpectedlykissesmid-70sBritishbutcherAlex,andsets
hisworldreeling.Whensheturnsupinhisshopafewdayslater,heissuspicious.Isshereallyattractedtohim
oristherealongercongameinthecards?AsAlexisdrawnintoGeorgie’sanarchicworld,hisconventionallife
becomeschaotic,uncertain,andundeniablyricher.Inthis“vibrantandemotionallycharged”(TheNewYork
Times)newplay,TonyAward–winningplaywrightSimonStephens(TheCuriousIncidentoftheDogintheNightTime)craftsacomedythatrethinksthepolarmagnetismofoppositesattracting,aswellastheconventionsof
modern-dayplaywriting.Withitsperfectcollisionofstrangersandstrangeness,Heisenbergwasanelectrichit
onBroadwayfromoneoftheater’smostoriginalvoices.PerformancesofHeisenbergwilltakeplaceatA.C.T.’s
GearyTheater.(PressnightwillbeheldonWednesday,March21,2018).
Hailedas“masterpiece,”byNewYorkmagazine,A.C.T.willnextpresentFatherComesHomefromtheWars
(Parts1,2&3)(April25–May20,2018),PulitzerPrizewinnerSuzan-LoriParks’s(Topdog/Underdog)explosively
powerfulandlyricalnewplaysetagainstthebackdropoftheCivilWar.InthisepictakeontheOdyssey,
SouthernslaveHerofacesaterriblechoice:toearnhisfreedombyfightingfortheConfederacyalongsidehis
masterortostayhomewiththewomanandfamilyhelovesbutremainaslave.Thispoignantandmusic-infused
journeymixescontemporarywit,folkballads,andclassicaltraditionstotellatimelessstoryoffreedom,
heroism,andbelonging.Byturnscomicandheartbreaking,FatherComesHomefromtheWars(Parts1,2&3)is
amythicjourneythroughtheAmericansoulfromoneofourmostaccomplishedcontemporaryplaywrights.
PerformancesofFatherComesHomefromtheWars(Parts1,2&3)willtakeplaceatA.C.T.’sGearyTheater.
(PressnightwillbeheldonWednesday,May2,2018).
Closingoutthe2017–18season,A.C.T.willpresenttheworld-premieremusicalAWalkontheMoon(June5–
July1,2018),basedonthe1999movieofthesamename.Inthefinalsummerofthe60s,Americaisachingfor
change.Inthecities,crowdsareprotestingtheVietnamWar.Intheskies,Apollo11isspeedingtowardsman’s
firstencounterwiththemoon.AndataCatskillsresortnearWoodstock,housewifePearlKantrowitzisbusy
balancingherrebelliousteenagedaughter,heroverworkedtelevisionrepairmanhusband,andkeepingherhead
inthedailymah-jongggame.Butachancemeetingwithafree-spiritedtravelingsalesmanawakensanewfound
spiritofexplorationandsexuality—andtherealizationoflostopportunities.Basedontheaward-winningfilm,
thisstunningnewmusicalwedsthelandscapeofBorschtBeltcomedy,theradicalspiritofsixtiesrevolution,and
thepassionoftwobreathtakinglovestoriesintoasoaringandoriginalrockandrollscore.PerformancesofA
WalkontheMoonwilltakeplaceatA.C.T.’sGearyTheater.(PressnightwillbeheldonWednesday,June13,
2018).
Subscriberssaveasmuchas50%offsingle-ticketprices.Studentsandeducatorsareeligibletosaveuptohalfpriceonsubscriptions,andseniordiscountsareavailableforcertainseries.Tomakesubscriptionsmore
affordable,A.C.T.alsooffersallsubscribersanextendedpaymentplanthatallowspaymentintwoeasy
installments.A.C.T.’scompetitivesubscriberbenefitsincludefreeticketexchangesuptothedayofyour
scheduledperformance,guaranteedbestseating,ticketinsurance,accesstoconvenientprepaidparkingone
blockawayfromthetheater,discountsforneighborhoodrestaurants,andtheopportunitytosubscribeto
WordsonPlays,A.C.T.’sin-depththeaterguideforeachshow.TorenewacurrentA.C.T.subscription,please
call415.749.2250orlogontowww.act-sf.org/renew.
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COMPLETE2017–18SEASON
HAMLET
September20–October15,2017
Pressnight:Wednesday,September27,2017
byWilliamShakespeare
StarringJohnDouglasThompson
DirectedbyCareyPerloff
A.C.T.’sGearyTheater
JohnDouglasThompsonis“ourgreatestclassicalactor”—TheNewYorker
JohnDouglasThompsonreturnstoTheGearytotakeononeoftheater’smosticonicroles:Hamlet.Twoseasons
ago,ThompsondazzledGearyaudiencesinthevirtuosoone-manshowSatchmoattheWaldorf.Now,tokickoff
the2017–18season,ThompsoncomesbacktoSanFranciscototakeonforthefirsttimeoneofShakespeare’s
mostcomplexandheartbreakingcharacters.Inthestoryofamanwhowakesuptofindhisworldupendedand
hisclosestfriendsunworthyoftrust,Shakespeareshowsushowquicklychangecanhappen—howanorderly
kingdomruledbyalovingkingcan,inonestroke,becomeunrecognizable.FeaturingstageandscreenstarCarl
Lumbly,HamletmarksA.C.T.’sfirstShakespeareproductionsinceTheTempestreopenedtheGearyin1996.
SMALLMOUTHSOUNDS
October11–December10,2017
Pressnights:Thursday,October26andFriday,October27,2017
byBessWohl
DirectedbyRachelChavkin
A.C.T.’sStrandTheater
2016Critic’sPick!—TheNewYorkTimes,TimeOutNewYork,NewYorkmagazine
“Wit,compassion,andsparkle...thesoundofsilenceonstagehasrarelymadesuchsweetmusic!”
TheNewYorkTimes
“Aspoignantasitisuproarious”—TheGuardian
“Aplayunlikeanyother”—TheHuffingtonPost
Onaweeklongsilentretreatinthewoods,sixwildlydisparatesoulslookingforanswersfindthatstayingquiet
doesn’tnecessarilybringinnerpeace.TheacclaimednewcomedyfromDramaDeskAward–winningplaywright
BessWohl,SmallMouthSoundsisawickedlysharplookatreflectionandself-discovery.Undertheeyeofan
unseenguru,thesesixhavegatheredtogetawayfromitall.Butastheylistentotheirleader’sruminations(and
trytohookupwhilestrugglingtomeditatewithoutsnacks),theylearnthatsilencecanindeedbegolden.Itcan
alsobefunny,frustrating,erotic,comforting,andprofoundlypassive-aggressive.
ACHRISTMASCAROL
December1–24,2017
Pressnight:Friday,December8,2017
byCharlesDickens
AdaptedbyPaulWalshandCareyPerloff
DirectedbyDomeniqueLozano
A.C.T.’sGearyTheater
“ThebestChristmasCarolever...aguaranteedgoodtime!”—KCBSAM&FM’sJanWahl
Thiswinter,A.C.T.ishappytowelcomebacktheBayArea’sfavoriteholidaytradition,AChristmasCarol,after
anothersuccessfulrunlastseason.Featuringalivelycastofdozens,delightfulmusic,gorgeouscostumes,and
deliciouslyspookyghosts,thisversionofAChristmasCarol,adaptedbyPaulWalshandCareyPerloff,staystrue
totheheartofDickens’stimelessstoryofredemptionandbringsaplayfulsensibilitytohisrichlanguage.A
ChristmasCarol—nowinits40thyear—isacornerstoneoftheA.C.T.repertoryandhasbecomeaholiday
traditionforfamiliesaroundtheBayArea.
THEBIRTHDAYPARTY
January10–February4,2018
Pressnight:January17,2018
byHaroldPinter
FeaturingMarcoBarricelli,JudithIvey,andScottWentworth
DirectedbyCareyPerloff
A.C.T.’sGearyTheater
“Delicious,impalpableandhair-raising”—TheSundayTimes
“Terrifyingandfunny...anextraordinaryplay”
TheNewYorkTimes
A.C.T.returnstotheworldofHaroldPinterforourfirststagingofhisclassicdramaTheBirthdayParty,featuring
A.C.T.favoriteMarcoBarricelli,TonyAwardwinnerJudithIvey,andStratfordFestivalstarScottWentworth.In
anundisturbedEnglishseasidetown,theinhabitantsofaramshackleboardinghousereacttothearrivaloftwo
unsettlingstrangers.WheredothemysteriousGoldbergandMcCanncomefrom?Whosentthem?Andwhydo
theykeepaskingaboutthesoleboarder,pianoplayerStanley?Asthepartyguests,includingflightyLulaand
flirtylandladyMeg,gatherforStanley’sbirthday,thedesperatepianistisforcedtoconfrontasurreal
interrogation.Seethingwithmystery,danger,andsuddenhumor,thisissignaturePinter,aplayof“tantalizing
theatricality”(TheNewYorkTimes).
VIETGONE
February21–April22,2018
Pressnights:Thursday,March8andFriday,March9,2018
byQuiNguyen
DirectedbyJaimeCastañeda
A.C.T.’sStrandTheater
“Hip,high-wiretheatricality...sultrysexiness...quirkyplayfulness”—TheSeattleTimes
“Inventive...Subversivelycomic”—TheNewYorkTimes
AhitoffBroadwayandatOregonShakespeareFestival,Vietgoneisamoderntwistontheclassicstoryofboy
meetsgirl.Inthisirreverentnewcomedy,threeyoungVietnameseimmigrantsleaveawar-torncountryforan
eye-openingjourneyacrossthebewilderingandforeignlandscapeof1970sAmerica.Avibrantmash-upofpop
culturereferences,audaciousdialogue,andanaction-packedroadtripthatinstantaneouslymovesfromhilarity
toheart-wrenchingdrama,Vietgoneplayedtosold-outhousesat2016’sOregonShakespeareFestivalandNew
York’sManhattanTheatreClub.Thissexy,sassy,freewheelingride,backedbyitship-hopandMotownrhythms,
willrollintoTheStrandinspring2018inanall-newproduction.
HEISENBERG
March14–April8,2018
Pressnight:Wednesday,March21,2018
bySimonStephens
DirectedbyHalBrooks
A.C.T.’sGearyTheater
“Wondrouslystealthy...resonatesinyourmindlongafteritsover.”—TheNewYorkTimes
“Insightful,unforgettable”—EntertainmentWeekly
InabustlingLondontrainstation,free-spiritedAmericanGeorgieunexpectedlykissesmid-70sBritishbutcher
Alex,andsetshisworldreeling.Whensheturnsupinhisshopafewdayslater,heissuspicious.Isshereally
attractedtohim,oristherealongercongameinthecards?AsAlexisdrawnintoGeorgie’sanarchicworld,his
conventionallifebecomeschaotic,uncertain,andundeniablyricher.Inthis“vibrantandemotionallycharged”
(TheNewYorkTimes)newplay,TonyAward–winningplaywrightSimonStephens(TheCuriousIncidentofthe
DogintheNight-Time)craftsacomedythatrethinksthepolarmagnetismofoppositesattracting,aswellasthe
conventionsofmodern-dayplaywriting.Withitsperfectcollisionofstrangersandstrangeness,Heisenbergwas
anelectrichitonBroadwayfromoneoftheater’smostoriginalvoices.
FATHERCOMESHOMEFROMTHEWARS(PARTS1,2&3)
April25–May20,2018
Pressnight:Wednesday,May2,2018
bySuzan-LoriParks
DirectedbyLizDiamond
AcoproductionwithYaleRepertoryTheatre
A.C.T.’sGearyTheater
“Extraordinary...epic...endlesslystimulating”—TheNewYorkTimes
“Thrilling...amasterpiece”—NewYorkmagazine
FromPulitzerPrizewinnerSuzan-LoriParks(Topdog/Underdog)comesanexplosivelypowerfulandlyricalnew
playsetagainstthebackdropoftheAmericanCivilWar.InthisepictakeontheOdyssey,SouthernslaveHero
facesaterriblechoice:toearnhisfreedombyfightingfortheConfederacyalongsidehismasterortostayhome
withthewomanandfamilyhelovesbutremainaslave.Thispoignantandmusic-infusedjourneymixes
contemporarywit,folkballads,andclassicaltraditionstotellatimelessstoryoffreedom,heroism,and
belonging.Byturnscomicandheartbreaking,FatherComesHomefromtheWars(Parts1,2&3)isamythic
journeythroughtheAmericansoulfromoneofourmostaccomplishedcontemporaryplaywrights.
AWALKONTHEMOON
June5–July1,2018
Pressnight:Wednesday,June13,2018
AWorld-PremiereMusical
MusicandLyricsbyPaulScottGoodman
BookandAdditionalLyricsbyPamelaGray
DirectedbySherylKaller
A.C.T.’sGearyTheater
Inthefinalsummerofthe60s,Americaisachingforchange.Inthecities,crowdsareprotestingtheVietnam
War.Intheskies,Apollo11isspeedingtowardsman’sfirstencounterwiththemoon.AndataCatskillsresort
nearWoodstock,housewifePearlKantrowitzisbusybalancingherrebelliousteenagedaughter,heroverworked
televisionrepairmanhusband,andkeepingherheadinthedailymah-jongggame.Butachancemeetingwitha
free-spiritedtravelingsalesmanawakensanewfoundspiritofexplorationandsexuality—andtherealizationof
lostopportunities.Basedontheaward-winningfilm,thisstunningnewmusicalwedsthelandscapeofBorscht
Beltcomedy,theradicalspiritofsixtiesrevolution,andthepassionoftwobreathtakinglovestoriesintoa
soaringandoriginalrockandrollscore.