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ACT Theatre history
ACT Theatre company history timeline
And on opening night, June 29, 1965, it also turned out to be a critical and popular hit.
Here you will find highlights dating back to 1965 when A.C.T was founded.
So in January 1966, he took the next logical step, incorporating the theater as a non-profit organization with a board of directors.
1966 In White America by Martin B. Duberman The Typist/The Tiger by Murray Schisgal Tiny Alice by Edward Albee A Thurber Carnival by James Thurber The Physicists by Freidrich Duerrenmatt Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring The Collection/The Room by Harold Pinter
1967 Luv by Murray Schisgal The Deputy by Rolf Hochhuth Out at Sea/Striptease by Slawomir Mrozek After the Fall by Arthur Miller The Great Divide by William Vaughn Moody The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt The Caretaker by Harold Pinter
The 1967 season began with two shows that drew strong crowds, Luv, a comedy by Murray Schisgal and The Deputy, by Rolf Hochhuth, about the Vatican's failure to take action on the Holocaust.
Yet despite expanding to 21 weeks, attendance was about 24,000, lower than the 25,640 total in 1967.
Since 1968, more than half a million students have seen A.C.T. productions; for many, it is their first theater experience.
Encouraged by such strong support, ACT embarked on an expanded season in 1968.
The first two plays in its 1968 season, Slow Dance on the Killing Ground and Eh? -- both characterized by critics as "grim" -- were lukewarmly received and sparsely attended.
The 1969 season also featured a world premiere play, Crabdance, by Beverly Simons, partly financed by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
1970 The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter and The Balcony by Jean Genet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Jay Presson Allen Endgame by Samuel Beckett Your Own Thing by Hal Hester and Danny Apolinar
1972 The Me Nobody Knows by Gary William Friedman and Will Holt What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel Echoes by N. Richard Nash (World Premiere) The Trial of the Catonsville Nine by Fr.
1975 Sleuth by Anthony Schaffer The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht When You Comin’ Back, Red Rider? by Mark Medoff Quiet Caravans by Barry Dinerman (World Premiere) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Oh Coward! by Roderick Cook
In 1976, ACT inaugurated an annual Seattle holiday tradition with Gregory Falls’s own adaptation of A Christmas Carol, the classic script by Charles Dickens and has continued every holiday season since.
1976 Sizwe Bansi Is Dead by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona The Time of Your Life by William Saroyan Scapino by Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O’Neill Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn Boccaccio by Kenneth Cavander
A.C.T. presents John Guare's Rich and Famous, in its first major revival since the play's 1976 New York debut, featuring significant rewrites made to the original script for the A.C.T. production directed by John Rando.
By 1976, ACT had expanded its season to more than five months.
1977 As You Like It by William Shakespeare Travesties by Tom Stoppard Ladyhouse Blues by Kevin O’Morrison Streamers by David Rabe The Club by Eve Merriam Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
1979 Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw Fanshen by David Hare Otherwise Engaged by Simon Gray Holy Ghosts by Romulus Linney The Water Engine by David Mamet The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
1980 For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange Catholics by Brian Moore (World Premiere) Artichoke by Joanna Glass Wings by Arthur Kopit Buried Child by Sam Shepard Starting Here, Starting Now by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire
In 1980, the Young ACT Company won the American Theater Association's Jennie Heiden Award for excellence in professional children's theater.
1981 Custer by Robert E. Ingham Getting Out by Marsha Norman Billy Bishop Goes to War by John Gray with Eric Peterson Night and Day by Tom Stoppard Loose Ends by Michael Weller Whose Life Is It, Anyway? by Brian Clark
1983 The Dresser by Ronald Harwood The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley Educating Rita by Willy Russell A Soldier’s Play by Charles Fuller Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill
1984 Amadeus by Peter Shaffer Top Girls by Caryl Churchill Angels Fall by Lanford Wilson Thirteen by Lynda Myles (World Premiere) Fool for Love by Sam Shepard The Communication Cord by Brian Friel
1985 King Lear by William Shakespeare True West by Sam Shepard Maydays by David Edgar Other Places by Harold Pinter End of the World by Arthur Kopit Quartermaine’s Terms by Simon Gray
Jeff Steitzer, who had been resident director at ACT since 1985, replaced him.
As early as 1985, it was clear that ACT either had to launch a thorough renovation of the theater or start looking for a new space.
1986 On the Razzle by Tom Stoppard Painting Churches by Tina Howe Tales from Hollywood by Christopher Hampton Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs by David Edgar Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken
1987 March of the Falsettos by William Finn A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard The Diary of a Scoundrel by Erik Brogger The Marriage of Bette and Boo by Christopher Durang Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon
A.C.T. presents the mainstage world premiere of Food and Shelter, developed at A.C.T. by playwright Jane Anderson during the 1989 Plays in Progress series, directed by Joy Carlin.
In recognition of the strides the company has made toward fiscal stability in the wake of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation awards A.C.T. a $300,000 challenge grant.
1990 An American Comedy by Richard Nelson Lloyd’s Prayer by Kevin Kling A Normal Life by Erik Brogger (World Premiere) Born in the RSA by Barney Simon and The Market Theatre Company Four Our Fathers by Jon Klein Hapgood by Tom Stoppard
Formed in 1990 by a merger of its predecessor companies, Theatre Tesseract and Next Generation Theatre, Next Act continues its tradition of creating high-quality, professional theatre in Milwaukee.
1991 My Children! My Africa! by Athol Fugard The Illusion by Tony Kushner Tears of Rage by Doris Baizley (World Premiere) Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker Willi: An Evening of Wilderness and Spirit by John Pielmeier (World Premiere) Halcyon Days by Steven Dietz (World Premiere)
By 1992, ACT had produced 19 West Coast premieres and 14 world premieres.
1993 The Red and the Black by Jon Klein (World Premiere) The Cover of Life by R.T. Robinson Lonely Planet by Steven Dietz Life During Wartime by Keith Reddin Agnes Smedley: Our American Friend by Doris Baizley (World Premiere) Dreams From a Summer House by Alan Ayckbourn and John Pattison
1994 Betty the Yeti by Jon Klein Gray’s Anatomy by Jim Leonard, Jr. (World Premiere) Keely and Du by Jane Martin Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn Fish Head Soup by Philip Kan Gotanda Voices in the Dark by John Pielmeier (World Premiere)
1995 The Gospel at Colonus by Lee Breuer and Bob Telson Hospitality by Allan Havis Handing Down the Names by Steven Dietz (World Premiere) Later Life by A.R. Gurney Tea by Velina Hasu Houston The Language of Flowers by Edit Villarreal (World Premiere)
The theater is reopened on January 10, 1996, with the gala event A Galaxy on Geary.
ACT's new venue, called Kreielsheimer Place after a major donor, was launched mid-season with a comedy titled Cheap on September 6, 1996.
Over the decades, ACT outgrew its Queen Anne space and in 1996 moved to a new $30 million, multi-venue space in downtown Seattle in the former Eagles Auditorium.
A.C.T. opens the 1997–98 season with the world premiere of the Broadway-bound Cole Porter musical High Society, which becomes the company's biggest financial success at the Geary Theater.
Gordon Edelstein, a well-connected New York director, replaced Shannon in 1997 as artistic director.
1998 Thunder Knocking on the Door by Keith Glover Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Collected Stories by Donald Margulies Scent of the Roses by Lisette Lecat Ross (World Premiere) The Summer Moon by John Olive (World Premiere) Quills by Doug Wright Violet by Jeanine Tesori
1999 The Crucible by Arthur Miller Goblin Market by Polly Pen & Peggy Harmon Stonewall Jackson’s House by Jonathan Reynolds Temporary Help by David Wiltse (World Premiere) Side Man by Warren Leight (West Coast Premiere) Communicating Doors by Alan Ayckbourn
2000 God of Vengeance by Donald Margulies (World Premiere) Talley’s Folly by Lanford Wilson 2.5 Minute Ride by Lisa Kron A Skull in Connemara by Martin McDonagh In the Penal Colony by Philip Glass (World Premiere) The Odd Couple by Neil Simon
The Oakland Ensemble Theatre joins with A.C.T. to present a rousing San Francisco first: The Gospel at Colonus, Lee Breuer and Bob Telson's retelling of the Oedipus legend, as part of San Francisco's Multicultural Festival 2000.
Also, arts organizations everywhere began to struggle in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
2001 Big Love by Charles L. Mee (West Coast Premiere) Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies Polish Joke by David Ives (World Premiere) Waiting to Be Invited by S.M. Shephard-Massat A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim Grand Magic by Eduardo de Filippo
The class of 2001 becomes the first ensemble of M.F.A. Program students to appear on the Geary stage in A Christmas Carol.
2002 Mourning Becomes Electra by Eugene O’Neill Dirty Blonde by Claudia Shear Yellowman by Dael Orlandersmith Wintertime by Charles L. Mee Fuddy Meers by David Lindsay-Abaire The Education of Randy Newman by Randy Newman, Michael Roth & Jerry Patch (World Premiere)
The M.F.A. Program Class of 2002 appears in individual roles on the Geary stage in A Christmas Carol.
Edelstein departed in 2002 to eventually become the artistic director of the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut Meanwhile, a financial crisis was slowly building at ACT. The gap between revenue and expenses was growing every year.
2003 Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? By Edward Albee (West Coast Premiere) A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O’Neill Omnium-Gatherum by Theresa Rebeck and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros (West Coast Premiere) The Syringa Tree by Pamela Gien
Kurt Beattie, then the associate artistic director, said in a 2003 interview that "the place was almost moribund when he (Edelstein) arrived, and he filled it with life and theater" (Berson, "Drama").
It came to a head in early 2003 when the ACT made a shocking announcement: It was laying off most of its staff and posting a $1.7 million debt.
2004 Alki by Eric Overmyer (World Premiere) Enchanted April by Matthew Barber Jumpers by Tom Stoppard Good Boys by Jane Martin (West Coast Premiere) Fiction by Steven Dietz (West Coast Premiere)
The Robert Wilson, William S. Burroughs, and Tom Waits collaboration The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets—featuring Marianne Faithful and Matt McGrath and produced by BITE:2004, Cultural Industry, the Sydney Festival, and A.C.T.—opens A.C.T.'s 2004–05 season.
A landmark piece of musical theater, the show extends twice, becomes the San Francisco Chronicle's choice for best theatrical production of 2004, and becomes the new single ticket sales recordholder at A.C.T.
2005 Bach at Leipzig by Itamar Moses (West Coast Premiere) The Ugly American by Mike Daisey (World Premiere) Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin The Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams Vincent in Brixton by Nicholas Wright Flight by Charlayne Woodard
In February, A.C.T. acquires The Strand Theater, a historic cinema at 1127 Market Street that had been shuttered since 2006, with the intention of renovating it as a 300-seat second stage.
2006 The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh Miss Witherspoon by Christopher Durang Wine in the Wilderness by Alice Childress (by The Hansberry Project) Mitzi’s Abortion by Elizabeth Heffron (World Premiere) A Number by Caryl Churchill The Underpants by Steve Martin
2007 The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl Souvenir by Stephen Temperley Stuff Happens by David Hare First Class by David Wagoner (World Premiere) The Mojo and the Sayso by Aishah Rahman (by The Hansberry Project) The Women by Clare Boothe Luce
Becky's New Car, by longtime ACT collaborator Steven Dietz, was one of the theater's smash successes in 2008.
2010 The Trip to Bountiful by Horton Foote The Female of the Species by Joanna Murray-Smith Yankee Tavern by Steven Dietz The Lady With All the Answers by David Rambo The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh
The theater has also entered into a partnership with the nearby 5th Avenue Theatre to co-produce musicals, including the 2011 world premiere of Vanities: A New Musical, by David Kirshenbaum and Jack Heifner.
Stephen Buescher's M.F.A. Program production of The House of Bernarda Alba is selected by the Moscow Art Theatre School to perform at Moscow Art Theatre School's 2012 Stanislavsky Festival in October; A.C.T. is the only theater school selected to represent the United States.
2016 Assassins | Book by John Weidman, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Stupid F#@*ing Bird by Aaron Posner The Mystery of Love & Sex by Bathsheba Doran Daisy by Sean Devine (World Premiere) The Royale by Marco Ramirez Dangerous Liaisons by Christopher Hampton
Our 2017 Season premiered Moby Pomerance’s play Alex & Aris, a play that was commissioned by ACT, developed, workshopped and then produced.
©2021 American Conservatory Theater A.C.T. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit.
Yussef El Guindi’s fifth World Premiere at ACT, Hotter Than Egypt premiered on our stage during the 2022 season
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| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Rep | 1963 | $10.8M | 300 | 1 |
| Huntington Theatre | 1982 | $11.9M | 100 | 2 |
| Arena Stage | 1959 | $25.7M | 192 | 17 |
| South Coast Repertory | 1964 | $9.9M | 50 | - |
| Roundabout Theatre | 1965 | $86.8M | 750 | - |
| Artists Repertory Theatre | 1982 | $5.0M | 52 | - |
| The Play Company | 1998 | $999,999 | 5 | - |
| Aurora Theater | 1992 | $5.0M | 42 | - |
| Atlantic Theater | 1985 | $10.0M | 5 | - |
| Northlight Theatre | 1974 | $5.0M | 56 | - |
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ACT Theatre may also be known as or be related to A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC, ACT Theatre, Act Theatre and Contemporary Theatre Inc, A.