dead metaphor SAN FRANCISCO’S THEATER COMPANY AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER, San Francisco’s Perloff’s 20-season tenure has been marked by Tony Award–winning nonprofit theater, nurtures the art of groundbreaking productions of classical works and new live theater through dynamic productions, intensive actor translations creatively colliding with exceptional contemporary training, and an ongoing engagement with our community. theater; crossdisciplinary performances and international Under the leadership of Artistic Director Carey Perloff collaborations; the reintroduction of a core acting company; and Executive Director Ellen Richard, we embrace our and “locavore” theater—theater made by, for, and about responsibility to conserve, renew, and reinvent our relationship the San Francisco area. Her fierce commitment to audience to the rich theatrical traditions and literatures that are our engagement ushered in a new era of InterACT events and collective legacy, while exploring new artistic forms and new dramaturgical publications, inviting everyone to explore what communities. A commitment to the highest standards informs goes on behind the scenes. every aspect of our creative work. Founded by pioneer of the Perloff also put A.C.T.’s conservatory and educational regional theater movement William Ball, A.C.T. opened its programs at the center of our work. A.C.T.’s 45-year-old first San Francisco season in 1967. Since then, we’ve performed conservatory, led by Conservatory Director Melissa Smith, more than 320 productions to a combined audience of more serves 3,000 students every year. Our three-year, fully accredited than seven million people. We reach more than 250,000 Master of Fine Arts Program has moved to the forefront of people through our productions and programs every year. America’s actor training programs. Our M.F.A. Program The beautiful, historic Geary Theater—rising from the students often grace our mainstage and perform around the rubble of the catastrophic earthquake and fires of 1906 and Bay Area as alumni. Other programs include the world-famous immediately hailed as the “perfect playhouse”—has been Young Conservatory for students ages 8 to 19; Studio A.C.T. our home since the beginning. When the 1989 Loma Prieta for adults; and the Summer Training Congress, an intensive earthquake ripped a gaping hole in the ceiling, destroying the program that attracts enthusiasts from around the world. proscenium arch and dumping tons of debris on the first six A.C.T. also brings the benefits of theater-based arts education rows of orchestra seats, the San Francisco community rallied to more than 8,000 Bay Area school students each year. Central together to raise a record-breaking $30 million to rebuild it. to our ACTsmart education programs, run by Director of The theater reopened in 1996 with a production of The Tempest Education Elizabeth Brodersen, is the longstanding Student directed by Perloff, who took over after A.C.T.’s second artistic Matinee (SMAT) program, which since 1968 has brought tens director, gentleman artist Ed Hastings, retired in 1992. of thousands of young people to A.C.T. performances. We also provide touring Will on Wheels Shakespeare productions, teaching artist residencies, in-school workshops, and in-depth study materials to Bay Area schools and after-school programs. With our increased presence in the Central Market DID YOU neighborhood marked by the opening of The Costume Shop theater and the current renovation of The Strand Theater across from UN Plaza, A.C.T. is poised to continue its leadership role in KNOW? securing the future of theater for San Francisco and the nation. q George F. Walker’s work was last seen at Our next world premiere, A.C.T.’s hip new second stage, The Strand A.C.T. when we did Nothing Sacred in 1989. Stuck Elevator, opens in April! Theater, will open in Central Market in 2014. WHAT’S INSIDE CALENDAR OF EVENTS Activities are FREE for ticket holders. For more about InterACT events, ABOUT THE PLAY visit act-sf.org/interact. PROLOGUE | 5:30pm Go deeper with a fascinating preshow discussion. Dead Metaphor | Mar 5 Stuck Elevator | Apr 9 THEATER ON THE COUCH | 8pm Discuss the minds and motives of the characters with Dr. Mason Turner, chief of psychiatry at San Francisco’s Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. Dead Metaphor | Mar 8 12 Stuck Elevator | Apr 12 12 / Laugh Lest You Go Insane AUDIENCE EXCHANGES | 2pm & 7pm A Conversation with Playwright George F. Walker by Dan Rubin Join in a lively Q&A with the cast following the show. Dead Metaphor | Mar 12, 7pm INSIDE A.C.T. Mar 17, 2pm; Mar 20, 2pm Stuck Elevator | Apr 16, 7pm 7 / Letter from the Artistic Director Apr 21, 2pm; Apr 24, 2pm OUT WITH A.C.T. | 8pm SPECIAL DONOR EVENTS The best LGBT party in town! Mingle with the cast and enjoy drinks and treats. DEAD METAPHOR STUCK ELEVATOR Dead Metaphor | Mar 13 OPENING NIGHT OPENING NIGHT DINNER Stuck Elevator | Apr 17 RECEPTION Celebrate with the creators of Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres this unique music-theater work. WINE SERIES | 8pm Apr 10, 5:30 p.m. with director Irene Lewis. Raise a glass before the show at this wine A.C.T.’s Geary Theater Mar 6, 6 p.m. tasting event featuring leading sommeliers Producers Circle, Directors Circle A.C.T.’s Geary Theater from the Bay Area’s hottest local wineries. Producers Circle, Directors Circle Dead Metaphor | Mar 19 Stuck Elevator | Apr 23 DEAD METAPHOR COSTUME SHOP TOUR SATURDAY SALON Take a tour behind the scenes PLAYTIME | 2pm Enjoy lunch and conversation of our costume shop. Get hands-on with theater at these with the artistic team. Apr 11, 5:30 p.m. interactive preshow workshops. Mar 16, 11:45 a.m. A.C.T.’s Costume Shop | Mar 23 A.C.T.’s Geary Theater Producers Circle, Directors Circle, Dead Metaphor Producers Circle, Directors Circle, Annual Members, Prospero Society Stuck Elevator | Apr 27 Prospero Society To support A.C.T. and receive invitations to donor events, please contact VOLUNTEER! Allison Day at [email protected] or 415.439.2482. A.C.T. volunteers provide an invaluable Dan Rubin, Editor; Amy Krivohlavek, Contributor service with their time, enthusiasm, and © 2013 American Conservatory Theater, a nonprofit organization. All rights reserved. love of theater. For more information, A.C.T.’s hip new second stage, The Strand visit act-sf.org/volunteer. Theater, will open in Central Market in 2014. DEAD METAPHOR / 5 February 2013 A.C.T. YOUNG CONSERVATORY Volume 11, No. 6 ACT OUT AND DREAM BIG! From acting and improv to Shakespeare and musical Paul Heppner theater, join us for fun and dynamic classes and Publisher Susan Peterson performance opportunities for students ages 8–19. Design & Production Director Go online to register today! Ana Alvira, Deb Choat, Robin Kessler, Kim Love, Jana Rekosh SPRING SESSION: MAR 19–MAY 11 Design and Production Artists Mike Hathaway Advertising Sales Director ACT-SF.ORG/YC | 415.439.2350 Gwendolyn Fairbanks, Marty Griswold, Ann Manning, Lenore Waldron Seattle Area Account Executives Staci Hyatt, Marilyn Kallins, Terri Reed San Francisco/Bay Area Account Executives Denise Wong Sales Assistant Jonathan Shipley Ad Services Coordinator www.encoreartsprograms.com Paul Heppner Publisher Leah Baltus Editor-in-Chief Scott Wagner Vice President Dan Paulus Art Director Jonathan Zwickel Senior Editor www.cityartsonline.com Forks. Corks. Action! 2013 Throughout the year Pacifi c’s Edge and Sunset Lounge will play host to an extraordinary calendar of events sure Paul Heppner President to delight the senses with food, wine and fun. 2013 starts Mike Hathaway out with our California Winemakers Dinners followed by Vice President Deborah Greer our Meet the Farmer Lunch Series, Shake, Rattle and Roll Executive Assistant and Hello Sunshine Thursdays. For more information visit Erin Johnston Communications Manager hyattcarmelhighlands.com or call 831 622 5445 and ask for April Morgan a calendar of events. Hyatt. You’re More Than Welcome. Accounting Jana Rekosh Project Manager/Graphic Design Corporate Office HYATT CARMEL HIGHLANDS BIG SUR COAST 425 North 85th Street Seattle, WA 98103 120 Highlands Drive p 206.443.0445 f 206.443.1246 Carmel, California, USA 93923 [email protected] T + 1 831 620 1234 800.308.2898 x105 www.encoremediagroup.com hyattcarmelhighlands.com Encore Arts Programs is published monthly by Encore Media Group to serve musical and theatrical events in The trademark HYATT and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2012 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved. Western Washington and the San Francisco Bay Area. All rights reserved. ©2013 Encore Media Group. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited. 6 / AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER ACT-SF.ORG | 415.749.2228 HCH 112012 SFJ023 1_2v.pdf FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Dear Friends, Many of you know how happily we have collaborated with our need the theater more than ever when it deals with tough issues. Canadian counterparts over the years: from Morris Panych’s Dead Metaphor is the first of two world premieres happening Vigil and The Overcoat to the Electric Company Theatre’s No here this winter. It will be followed by Stuck Elevator, the Exit to Michel Tremblay’s For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, remarkable new Chinese American musical about a deliveryman Canadian drama has brought us rich new perspectives on the trapped in an elevator for 81 hours, who relives his life in China world. So it was with great pleasure that I received an email and fantasizes about his life in America while he hopes to get from one of my favorite Canadian agents containing a new play rescued without being arrested. These two works—so different by George F. Walker. Walker was already a legendary writer one from the other and so incredibly brave—showcase the when I first moved to New York in the early 1980s; outrageous extraordinary ways in which major new and returning voices are comedies like Escape from Happiness and beautiful adaptations wrestling with the messy, complicated world in which we find like Nothing Sacred (performed at A.C.T.