Tales of illicit passion weave through ancient power struggles as the world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival joins A.C.T. for this gripping premiere. Making her West Coast debut, internationally acclaimed Stratford actor Seana McKenna portrays the legendary Phèdre, the wife of King Theseus. As passions erupt, will her desire for a younger man overwhelm her duty to her husband, her son, and her kingdom? A new adaptation by Timberlake Wertenbaker (A.C.T.'s Hecuba and Antigone, Our Country's Good), Phèdre is a potent mix of rich poetry, political intrigue, and sexual jealousy.
"A smoldering tale of erotic obsession" —BackStage.com
"A thrilling theatrical experience . . . A.C.T. scores another triumph with this production."
—San Francisco Examiner
"Strikingly staged . . . a rather rare chance in this country to see one of the great classics" —San Francisco Chronicle
"Brilliant . . . it's dazzling. This is work of the highest caliber. If you want to see a fine tragic actress at the height of her powers tackling one of the great dramatic roles in the canon, now is your chance." —The Toronto Star
"Gorgeous, disturbing, sinister, and absorbing . . . a remarkable accomplishment that is close to perfect" —BeyondChron.org
A "skilled cast finds Phèdre's emotional core." —The Beacon Herald (Stratford)
"McKenna gives a strong performance, treading the arc of her character's descent into madness and more with sure-footed skill. . . . Perloff imposes an elegant sense of understatement on the high drama of the tale." —Toronto Sun
Seana McKenna as Phèdre. Photo by David Hou.
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Prologue*
January 19, 5:30 p.m.
Get inside the artistic process—come early for a preperformance discussion with the director and a member of the A.C.T. artistic staff.
Theater on the Couch*
January 22, 8 p.m.
Join members of the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis for an exciting postperformance discussion that explores the psychological aspects of the show and addresses audience questions.
Audience Exchanges*
January 26, 7 p.m.
Pulitzer Prize–winning composer David Lang will appear in conversation with A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff and members of the cast following the performance.
January 31, 2 p.m.
Timothy Hampton, professor of French and comparative literature at UC Berkeley, will join A.C.T. Dramaturg and Director of Humanities Michael Paller and members of the cast for a conversation following the matinee performance.
February 3, 2 p.m.
After the show, stick around for a lively Q&A session with the actors, moderated by a member of the A.C.T. artistic staff.
OUT with A.C.T.
January 27, 8 p.m.
LGBT night at A.C.T. features a catered afterparty and a cast meet and greet. Visit www.act-sf.org/out for more information about how to subscribe to OUT nights.
*Discussions are free for ticket holders. Please note that performance times vary.
Insight into the Play, the Playwright, and the Production
Each entertaining and informative issue of Words on Plays, A.C.T.'s in-depth performance guide series, contains a synopsis, advance program notes, study questions, and additional background information about the historical and cultural context of the play.
Words on Plays is available for purchase in the lobby of the theater during performances or online ($12 each + postage and handling). To subscribe to the full season ($70), call 415.749.2250.
Words on Plays Prepared by
Elizabeth Brodersen, Publications Editor
Michael Paller, Resident Dramaturg
Dan Rubin, Publications & Literary Associate
Katie May, Publications Intern
Ellen Cassidy, Dramaturgy Interns
Shelley Carter, Artistic Intern
Table of Contents
Adobe Reader is required to view A.C.T. publications.
Production Photos
Click to view larger images from Phèdre. All photographs by Erik Tomasson.
On the A.C.T. Blog
Thursda, January 14, 2010
Re-envisioning a Set Design
posted by Christina Poddubiuk, Scenic and Costume Designer for Phèdre
Friday, January 8, 2010
Traveling for Phèdre
posted by Seana McKenna, cast member of Phèdre
Friday, December 18, 2009
Revisiting Phèdre
posted by Claire Lautier, cast member of Phèdre
Thursday, August 27, 2009
A Mad Dash to Stratford
posted by Marilee K. Gardner, A.C.T. Trustee
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Phèdre in Canada—Week Two
posted by Carey Perloff, A.C.T. Artistic Director
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Phèdre in Canada—Week One
posted by Carey Perloff, A.C.T. Artistic Director
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Mastering Uncertainty
posted by Carey Perloff, A.C.T. Artistic Director
A History of Tragic Heroines
Stratford star actor Seana McKenna takes on the title role in Phèdre, joining a long legacy of great dramatic actresses who have appeared in tragic roles on the American Conservatory Theater stage. Although this production is the first Racine play in the history of A.C.T., both A.C.T. and its historic home have hosted many distinguished tragic actresses in some of the most demanding roles of the dramatic canon. McKenna joins this pantheon of talent, which includes Sarah Bernhardt, Vivien Leigh, Dame Judith Anderson, Elizabeth Peña, and Olympia Dukakis.
Click to view larger images of the actresses who have appeared in tragic roles on the A.C.T. stage.
Top 10 Tragic Heroines of the American Conservatory Theater Stage
1. Juliet
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1940 and 1979
2. Medea
Medea by Euripides
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1948
3. Joan of Arc
Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1970 and 1989
4. Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1971
5. Cordelia
King Lear by William Shakespeare
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1987
6. The Duchess
The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1993
7. Antigone
Antigone by Sophocles
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1993
8. Hecuba
Hecuba by Euripides
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1995 and 1998
9. Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I
Mary Stuart by Friedrich Schiller
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 1998
10. Annabella
'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 2008
Bonus:
11. Phèdre
Phèdre by Jean Racine
Produced at the American Conservatory Theater in 2010
Press Releases
Phèdre Audience Exchanges to Feature Pulitzer Prize–Winning Composer
David Lang and UC Berkeley Professor Timothy Hampton
January 20, 2010
A.C.T. Takes on Great Tragic Heroine with Racine's Phèdre
December 9, 2009
Visionary New Works, Master Artists, and Reimagined Classics Fill
A.C.T.'s 2009–10 Season
March 26, 2009
Reviews and other press
'Phèdre' packed with politics, passion
Georgia Rowe, San Francisco Examiner
A.C.T. to run rare and racy Phèdre
Regan McMahon, San Francisco Chronicle
Canadian theater star Seana McKenna reprises role of doomed heroine in 'Phèdre'
Karen D'Souza, San Jose Mercury News
Perloff promotes power of 'Phèdre'
Janos Gereben , San Francisco Examiner
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