A.C.T. Announces David Mamet Writing Contest in Conjunction with the West Coast Premiere of November
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Winning Scripts Presented in Public Readings at A.C.T.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 30, 2009—American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is proud to announce its fourth David Mamet Writing Contest in conjunction with its West Coast premiere production of November, Mamet's newest satire on the buffoonery of presidential politics. With a voice all his own, Mamet is one of the best-known modern American playwrights, and A.C.T. is now accepting submissions of short original work in his unique writing style. The submission deadline is Wednesday, October 28, 2009. The ten winning scripts, selected by a panel of judges that includes members of A.C.T.'s artistic staff and announced by Friday, November 6, 2009, will be presented at an open reading by members of A.C.T.'s world-renowned M.F.A. Program in Fred's Columbia Room, at the American Conservatory Theater, on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2009. Winners will receive two tickets to November on the evening their work is performed and have their scripts signed by the cast. Winners also have the chance to win tickets to future A.C.T. productions, movies at Landmark Theatres, dinner at Ponzu, and more. The general public is welcome to attend these late-night events. Submission guidelines and exact information about the contest and the readings can be found on A.C.T.'s website at www.act-sf.org/mametcontest.

The guidelines for the contest are simple: submissions must be no more than one scene, a maximum of three pages in length; written as drama, in script form; include no more than four characters; and fit within one of three themes: 1) a famous moment in U.S. history dramatized in the style of Mamet (e.g., the signing of the Declaration of Independence or the Watergate scandal); 2) a concession speech a Mamet character might give (e.g., Ricky Roma's failed bid for California governor); or 3) an adaptation of a political-themed television show, movie, or play in the Mamet style (e.g., Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or The West Wing, as written by Mamet).

Mamet's works, including Glengarry Glen Ross and American Buffalo, have become American classics in their own time. "At their considerable best," says the New York Times, "Mr. Mamet's plays provide shots of full-strength theatrical adrenaline." The founder of the Mamet Writing Contest, A.C.T. Associate Director of Marketing and Promotions Randy Taradash, comments, "I'm thrilled to be reviving our David Mamet Writing Contest as we begin production on his brilliant political satire, November. Having received more than 300 submissions for our last contest in 2007 from as far away as Norway, we're looking forward to seeing a wide range of scripts this year honoring one of our favorite playwrights and his legendary style." The winners of past contests have come not only from all over the Bay Area to hear their works read at A.C.T., but also from Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Hilarious winning scripts from past years have included Green Eggs and Ham as written by Mamet and American Survivor, which imagined the three characters from American Buffalo as the three finalists vying to win $1 million on TV's Survivor.

Contest Dates at a Glance:
Submission deadline: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Winners announced: Friday, November 6, 2009
Performance dates: Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2009

Fact Sheet

American Conservatory Theater presents
West Coast premiere
NOVEMBER
by David Mamet
Directed by Ron Lagomarsino

David Mamet's fiendishly funny, over-the-top new comedy November, fresh from its smash-hit success on Broadway, offers no mercy in its satirical stab at American politics. Meet President Charles Smith, the most corrupt, inept buffoon ever to sit in the Oval Office. It's the final days of his bid for a second term, but the country is a mess and his poll numbers are "lower than Gandhi's cholesterol." Toss in a lesbian speechwriter longing to marry her sweetheart on national television, a cynical chief of staff, Thanksgiving turkeys awaiting pardon, and enough shady backroom scheming to make even a Glengarry Glen Ross con man blush, and you've got a new Mamet masterpiece.

Cast: René Augesen (Clarice Bernstein), Manoel Felciano (Representative of the National Association of Turkey and Turkey Products Manufacturers), Anthony Fusco (Archer Brown), Steven Anthony Jones (Dwight Grackle), and Andrew Polk (President Charles Smith)

Creative Team: Cliff Caruthers (sound designer), Erik Flatmo (scenic designer), Alex Jaeger (costume designer), Alexander V. Nichols (lighting designer)

Performance Dates: October 23–November 15, 2009

Performance Times: Tuesdays–Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Additional 7 p.m. performance on Sunday, November 1
Tuesday, November 3, performance is at 7 p.m.
Additional 2 p.m. matinee performances on Wednesdays, November 4 and November 11

Location: American Conservatory Theater
415 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Pricing: $10–$82
($10–$57 previews; $10–$71 Tue.–Fri. and Sun. evenings; $10–$82 Sat. evenings and weekend matinees)

Tickets: A.C.T. Ticket Services
405 Geary Street at Mason
415.749.2228
www.act-sf.org