"Cliff-hanging drama . . . as magical as a fairy tale" —The New York Times
"Exciting and suspenseful . . . beautifully staged by director Frank Galati" —Sarasota Magazine
The new season begins with passionate (and patriotic) fireworks as A.C.T. presents the West Coast premiere of acclaimed director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of 1776, one of the most beloved musicals of all time. More than 230 years ago, our founding fathers wrestled with infighting, held heated debates, and negotiated compromises while drafting the Declaration of Independence. In this exhilarating work, the political skirmishes that played out centuries ago have surprising contemporary resonance. Hailed by critics as "brilliant," "thrilling," and "utterly riveting"—and filled with glorious music and unforgettable characters—1776 takes us on a vivid, rousing, and suspenseful adventure into the fascinating first chapter of American history.
"A theatrical miracle . . . a cosmic puzzle that makes The Da Vinci Code seem like a game of
hide-and-seek" —Variety
"[Filled with] intelligent writing and quirky humor" —Los Angeles Times
Academy Award nominee David Strathairn (Lincoln; Good Night, and Good Luck; Scorched at A.C.T.) returns in the captivating solo drama Underneath the Lintel. In this riveting ghost story, an eccentric librarian finds a weather-beaten book in a return bin—and discovers that it is 113 years overdue. Sparked by a message left in its margins, he sets off on a quest to unravel the secrets of the book and the person who borrowed it. From the hallways of his library, he follows a chain of clues that spans the globe and dates back thousands of years. With astonishing twists and turns, Underneath the Lintel is a magical piece of storytelling that draws us into an unforgettable odyssey that is both "powerfully human and ultimately sublime" (Variety).
|
|
Performances sell out quickly. Act now for the best seats and prices!
"A smash hit! Holiday traditions don't get any better." —Stark Insider
"The best Christmas Carol ever!"—Jan Wahl, KCBS
Featuring a lively cast of dozens, gorgeous costumes, and those deliciously spooky ghosts, the Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition returns with a sparkling, music-infused production of A Christmas Carol. Bring your family, bring your friends, and check your "humbugs" at the door!
|
"Elegant, eloquent, and very funny" —The New York Times
"A genteel firebomb of a play" —Variety
A.C.T. continues its tradition of presenting brilliantly reimagined classic works with a sumptuous production of Shaw's great political comedy Major Barbara. In this intriguing tangle of religion and business, a Salvation Army officer becomes disillusioned when her church accepts money from a whiskey distiller and armaments manufacturer—her own father. If the price of supporting the poor is complicity with the country's most successful gun factory, what is Barbara to do? As it explores timely themes of business, faith, family, and morality, Major Barbara remains one of Shaw's most topical and richly invigorating works. Coproduced with one of A.C.T.'s favorite Canadian collaborators, the show will be directed by Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum, featuring an international cast of both Canadian and American actors. |
"Filled with earthy spirit and comic gusto" —The New York Times
"[Barricelli is] gifted with one of the grand vocal instruments of the American theater." —San Francisco Chronicle
A.C.T. favorite Marco Barricelli (artistic director of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Vigil at A.C.T.) and Stratford Festival star Seana McKenna (Phèdre at A.C.T.) return to lead the cast of Napoli!, a vivid new translation of Eduardo De Filippo's poignant Italian comedy. During the chaotic days of World War II in Naples, an enterprising woman sets up a small-time black market business to keep her family afloat. She prospers, but maybe a bit too much—compelling her husband to ask hard questions about morality, civility, and the state of their society. De Filippo's masterful blend of humor and pathos tells the story of an unforgettable and wildly entertaining family determined to survive at any cost. |
"Seriously smart and very funny . . . a suspense-packed study of the erotics of power" —The New York Times
"A sexy and dangerous tango" —Time Out New York
After seducing New York audiences and critics, "Broadway's hottest date night!" (Liz Smith) arrives at A.C.T. in an electrifying new production. When a young actress auditions for a gifted but demanding playwright/director's adaptation of a classic novel about sexual domination, their encounter explodes into a playful, witty, and erotic game of cat and mouse, dangerously blurring the lines between fantasy and reality—and seduction and power.
|
“Brims with a gentle effervescence and musicality . . . [and] juicy, appetizing life.” —The New York Times
“A bittersweet and beautifully performed fable” —New York Daily News
When a husband catches his wife in the arms of her lover, the lover flees—but leaves his suit behind. As her penance, the husband makes his wife “treat the suit as an honored guest”; accompanying her wherever she goes, the suit becomes a whimsical yet cruel reminder of her infidelity. African melodies interweave with jazz standards to underscore this simple yet surprising tale, set in Apartheid-era Johannesburg, in a haunting production that integrates virtuosic musicians directly into the action. |
"Haunting . . . [a] drama hewn out of a myth that speaks across the centuries" —The Guardian
"An emotionally piercing marvel" —The Times of London
The season expands to global dimensions with The Orphan of Zhao, James Fenton's beautiful reinvention of a classic Chinese legend that has its roots back in the fourth century BCE. The inimitable stage and film star BD Wong (M. Butterfly, Law & Order: Special Victim Unit) will make his A.C.T. debut in this luminous production. In the aftermath of a violent coup, an epic story of self-sacrifice and revenge plays out as a young orphan discovers the shattering truth behind his origins. Often described as the Chinese Hamlet, this gripping tale was the first Chinese play to be translated in the West and has inspired countless operas, plays, and movies.
|
Plays, artists, theaters, and schedules are subject to change.
|
