About the A.C.T. Conservatory
The Company
Established in 1965,
American Conservatory Theater is a Tony
Award–winning theater and training institution
whose work is energized and informed by a
profound commitment to developing the next
generation of theater artists. A.C.T. is the largest
theater company in the San Francisco Bay
Area and employs more than 800 people each
season, from teachers and artists to technicians
and administrative staff. During the past four
decades, more than 300 A.C.T. productions have
been seen by close to 7 million playgoers in the
company's magnificent Beaux Arts–style theater
located in the heart of San Francisco's Union
Square theater district.
The Vision
A.C.T. continues to nurture
its legacy as one of America's most respected
regional theaters and to expand its reach
to include new areas of dramatic literature,
new communities, and new international
collaborations, as well as innovative
interpretations of classical work. Central to
A.C.T.'s vision is the philosophy of lifelong
education. A.C.T. is committed to nurturing
artists from diverse backgrounds, and to
embracing the challenging dynamics of
training and performance that lie at the heart
of the institution.
The City
Famed for its energetic
individualism, its sophisticated cultural
landscape, and its breathtaking beauty, San
Francisco is home to more than 300 resident
theater companies, from new-play repertories
to acclaimed Shakespeare festivals to Broadway
touring houses. An ideal location for actors
beginning their careers, the Bay Area theater
scene is both large enough to be noticed
nationally and intimate enough to ensure
that you'll soon be a familiar face. Actors in
the Bay Area are involved in all levels of the
entertainment industry, from developing
contacts to attending auditions and industry
gatherings, and frequently make the
successful transition to thriving theatrical
and cinematic careers.
The Location
Located in the heart of
Union Square, A.C.T.'s conservatory boasts
10 studios and a black box studio theater,
and shares its rehearsal spaces with A.C.T.'s
mainstage productions. Classrooms, studios, and
administrative offices are fully integrated—
student life is an integral part of A.C.T.'s
life—and students have the opportunity to
interact daily with company actors and staff. A
few blocks away is A.C.T.'s historic and dazzling
theater—one of San Francisco's famed cultural
landmarks. In addition, Zeum Theater, at Yerba
Buena Gardens, is A.C.T.'s additional stage for
readings, workshops, rehearsals, and other
aspects of new play and production development.
Nearby, students can explore the theater district,
museums, parks, Chinatown, North Beach, and
the Embarcadero waterfront.
Download the A.C.T. Emergency Response Plan 2010–2011.
For other important student documents, please visit the Student Right-to-Know page.
