Scott Alan Evans & Jenn Thompson Co-Artistic Directors VOLUME 22 No. 1 SUMMER 2014 the actors company theatre COMPANY NEWS SUMMER HAPPENINGS The s we head into our 22nd Season, Killing of TACT moves into a brave new era as AFounding member and Co-Artistic Director, CYNTHIA HARRIS, steps down Sister from her artistic director duties and moves abundance into her new role as the Chair of the newly formed Advisory Council (more about that in a moment). In addition, Cynthia will George by Beth Henley remain an active member of the Acting Company, and a member of the TACT Board of Directors. She writes: “These last 21 years have been quite extraordinary by Frank Marcus and I feel privileged to have been able to help build the company to its present state. It is remarkable how much the company has accomplished and how we have gone from a little known entity to a company of excellence - one that is recognized for its fine artistic values.” The artistic direction of the company will continue this year under the guidance of the remaining two Co- Artistic Directors, Founding member Scott Alan Evans and Jenn Thompson. 2014-15 SEASON LAUREN MILLER recently joined TACT’s full-time staff as Development Associate & The Killing of Sister George, Abundance Outreach Coordinator, and is now spending her days working with her artistic mentors. TACT’s newly formed ADVISORY COUNCIL serves as an idea-engine for TACT, ithout a doubt, TACT’s 2014/15 in the UK in 1965. Provincial audiences season will be the year of the were shocked by the frankness of the play’s CONTINUES ON PAGE 4 Wwoman. The two dynamic and depiction of the central character’s lesbian powerful plays we are presenting focus relationship and walked out in droves. But on aspects of female love and friendship when the production reached the West with laser-like intensity and surprising hu- End, all that changed. What London audi- mor. Though widely dissimilar in style and ences were able to see was a comedy that tone - and from two very different eras and didn’t pull its punches – both literally and about two very different times - both works figuratively – and they reveled in the play’s examine fascinating and complex relation- bald-faced roughhouse ribaldry. The play ships: one captured in a moment and one centers on June Buckridge, an actress who examined through the lens of time. TACT has gained considerable fame playing the is delighted to announce its 2014/15 Sea- character of “Sister George,” beloved ru- son: Abundance by Beth Henley and The ral district nurse, on the BBC Radio folksy Killing of Sister George by Frank Marcus. soap opera, “Applehurst.” Warm-hearted, caring, and kind, Sister George tends to The Killing of Sister George by Frank Mar- cus caused quite a stir when it premiered Cynthia Harris, TACT Founding Member CONTINUES ON PAGE 2 THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE : 2 ABUNDANCE: 3 COMPANY NEWS: 4-5 SALON SERIES: 6 her flock, dispensing home remedies and newTACTics SPECIAL PROGRAMS common sense advice, while keeping every- one on the straight and narrow. In private, The June Buckridge is none of those things: Killing of neither warm-hearted, caring, or kind. Or TACT INSIDER ver wondered what it takes to move a play straight. And her cigar chomping, gin drink- ing antics have caused her producers con- Efrom the page to the stage? In the TACT siderable public relations backlash and her Sister George Insider program, you’re invited to join us for live-in “roommate/companion,” the much rehearsals and watch the creative process younger “Childie,” suffers considerably as newTACTics Talk-Back, June 2014 for TACT’s Mainstage productions in action. well, dealing with June’s bouts of despair and by Frank Marcus Attend the first read-through and design pre- abuse. So, what’s to be done? Well, that’s sentation at the TACT Studio and a technical ewTACTics’ 4th Annual New Play Fes- human and artificial consciousness, the play. And in it, Mr. Marcus examines the tival returned in June, with four pre- private life and public service, equality and rehearsal at the theater just before previews nature of sexual identity, power, and politics Directed by DREW BARR mieres of contemporary works-in-de- freedom, or childhood and adulthood, these begin, where you’ll see all the pieces come in a changing world order with a shockingly n Previews PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE velopment. Each week, a new play under- skillful writers exposed the gray areas that together. Available with a tax-deductible con- contemporary point of view. Sept 23 to Oct 6, 2014 Tuesday - Thursday 7:30 PM went a concentrated rehearsal process to can exist between the concrete boundaries tribution of $100, TACT Insider provides a rare Though The Killing of Sister George was Opens October 7 Friday, Saturday 8:00 PM closely examine the text before it received that keep us together and pull us apart. opportunity for the true theatre lover to take a Frank Marcus’s most successful work - and Saturday, Sunday 2:00 PM two public presentations at the TACT Stu- With unprecedented audience numbers behind-the-scenes look at TACT productions it was quite a success, having been named Performances through TALK-BACKS with the cast fol- dio. and engaging post-show Talk-Backs with before they premiere to audiences. “Best Play of the 1965-66 Season” by the November 1, 2014 lowing every Sunday Matinee. This summer’s plays included: Uncanny the artists and the audiences, this season’s Theatre Critics Variety Poll and voted “Best FIRST FRIDAY, September 26 by Thomas Gibbons; playwrights received a great deal of valuable Play” by the London Theatre Critics and the Valley A Public by TACT Company member feedback as they continued to hone their London Evening Standard. Mr. Marcus was Education every way, become fast friends, through des- caping their fate and manifesting their own Jeff Talbott; by Kenneth work. FIRST FRIDAY quite a man of the theatre; actor, director and Alabama Story peration, loneliness, and an unusual but un- destiny together. Either way, it’s clear that Jones; and playwright, Marcus worked in all aspects of The Wonderful Mr. & Mrs. We thank the Harold and Mimi Steinberg ake your premium seat at the first Friday deniable kinship. They are lucky to find each their lives are intertwined and one’s fortune by Matte O’Brien. Though these the theatre and was instrumental in London’s O’Leary Foundation for their generous support, performance of our Mainstage production, other, because their husbands are not quite will affect the others. The question that re- four compelling works varied in subject and T experimental Fringe theatre movement of and all who attended and made the 2014 then come celebrate with the cast, creative what these two eager brides expected to find mains through all their shared struggles is: style, several unifying themes emerged. the 60s. Later in his career, he established newTACTics NEW PLAY FESTIVAL such an team, and TACT Company members over waiting for them. Macon’s husband, Will, are the bonds of friendship enough to sustain Whether investigating the line between himself as an influential theatre critic for The though kind and industrious, doesn’t exact- them? invigorating success. cocktails and conversation! Our First Friday Sunday Telegraph, where he contributed re- ly inspire her passion. And Bess’s intended program invites audience members to get up TACT’s Spring production of Abundance views for over ten years. close and personal with the company at a fes- husband, Michael, a poetic man who wooed will be directed by Co-Artistic Director Jenn TACT’s Fall production of The Killing of her with letters about the beauty of the west- Thompson. Performances run from February tive reception, where you’ll have the unique Sister George will be directed by Company ern sky, has died just before her arrival. His 17th through March 28th, 2015. experience of mingling with actors out-of-char- Member Drew Barr. Performances begin rude, lazy, and possibly predatory brother, acter. Join us for a fun and festive evening to We are excited to have found plays that September 23rd and will run through No- Jack, shows up to claim her for himself. raise a glass to TACT’s Off-Broadway shows! complement one another so provocatively, vember 1, 2014. TACT’s Fall First Friday takes place on Sep- While Macon and Will make a profitable, if and we are looking forward to exploring these bundance dispassionate, home of the fertile land on n the Spring, our look at the lives and re- two very different times and two very different a tember 26th. which they’ve settled, Bess and Jack fail at lationships of women continues with Beth worlds that examine the close and complex every turn, fighting off starvation and mad- by Beth Henley Henley’s Abundance. Unseen in New York relationships between these amazing women I ness in a bitter landscape. The women have City since its commercial Off-Broadway pre- with such power and panache. Directed by JENN THOMPSON to decide whether to face the wilderness and miere in 1990, this play, which spans across bear their difficult home lives, or to keep Previews Opens March 3 TACT SOCIAL 25 years of the late 19th century, displays pushing onward towards the setting sun, es- Feb 17 to March 2, 2015 eared towards early-career theatre pro- all of Henley’s keen proclivity for creating Performances through substantial roles for women, but places this FIRST FRIDAY, February 20 March 29 Gfessionals and young theatre enthusiasts, particular saga far from her usual milieu of TACT SOCIAL offers a web-only ticket discount ABOUT THE AUTHOR: FRANK MARCUS ABOUT THE AUTHOR: BETH HENLEY the Southern family.