Melissa Smith News

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smith announced today the 2017-18 production lineup and schedule for the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced today that applications for the fall 2017 San Francisco Semester (SFS) are now being accepted. The study-away program brings undergraduate students, recent college graduates, and international students into an active, ongoing engagement with the eclectic and energetic arts community of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. Grounded in a rich academic curriculum, the San Francisco Semester focuses on the practical aspects of the craft of acting and life in the professional theater. The 15-week program features a 17-credit core curriculum enhancing students' study with rigorous, upper-level classes in acting styles, voice/dialects, physical theater, and devised (student-created) work. Fall semester classes run August-December 2017. For additional information, visit act-sf.org/sfsemester.

???????The Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park presents its annual musical revue, 'Best of Broadway: 2006-2010', from January 20-February 13, 2017.

American Conservatory Theater announced today the Spring 2016 Performances featuring students from A.C.T.'s Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program. The works are Richard O'Brien's cult classic musical, The Rocky Horror Show (May 12-15, 2016) in The Rembe Theater at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater and Cardenio (May 6-14, 2016), inspired by The Cardenio Project by literary scholar Stephen Greenblatt and playwright Charles Mee, in The Rueff at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater.

American Conservatory Theater announced today the Spring 2016 Performances featuring students from A.C.T.'s Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program. The works are Richard O'Brien's cult classic musical, The Rocky Horror Show (May 12-15, 2016) in The Rembe Theater at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater and Cardenio (May 6-14, 2016), inspired by The Cardenio Project by literary scholar Stephen Greenblatt and playwright Charles Mee, in The Rueff at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater.

American Conservatory Theater's Master of Fine Arts Program, Class of 2016, will present Dan LeFranc's The Big Meal-a delicious comedy about eight diners, four generations and one family-February 24-27, 2016 in The Rueff at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater (1127 Market Street, San Francisco). Family is not a word, it's a seating chart in this delicious and provocative comedy. Playwright Dan LeFranc orients the drama around four generations of a single family loving and laughing, fighting and yelling over a series of meals. While the passing of time in LeFranc's world is fluid (this feels like a modern cousin of Thornton Wilder's The Long Christmas Dinner), the meals are quick and casual-a moveable feast. One moment, two young lovers are hooking up over cocktails, the next moment, they're middle-aged and clashing about their kids. With characters that develop, flip, and shift, The Big Meal serves up a thought-provoking feast for audiences.

American Conservatory Theater's Master of Fine Arts Program, Class of 2017, will present I'm Through with Love-a musical revue featuring a lineup of performances that encompass what it is to be in (and out of) love. Set against the backdrop of an art museum in 1959, patrons contemplate their love lives, conjure romantic fantasies, end torrid affairs, and forge new relationships. Performances of I'm Through with Love will take place this week, December 9-12, 2015 at The Garret at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary St., San Francisco).

With the help of Tony Award winner Alan Cumming and students from the Master of Fine Arts Program, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) raised over $800,000 at its 2015 Season Gala, GET STRANDED!, which celebrated the soon-to-be-opened Strand Theater, A.C.T.'s brand-new performance venue and education center.

Southern Rep Theatre has announced the companies donating to its upcoming Southern Rep Celebrates Louisiana Annual Gala today, June 3, 2014 at the Windsor Court Hotel (300 Gravier Street, New Orleans, LA 70130) at 6:30 pm. Proceeds from the Gala (including all auction items) will go toward supporting the award-winning regional theatre company's 2014-15 Mainstage Season and Arts Education Programs for underserved New Orleans students.

Southern Rep Theatre has announced the companies donating to its upcoming Southern Rep Celebrates Louisiana Annual Gala on June 3, 2014 at the Windsor Court Hotel (300 Gravier Street, New Orleans, LA 70130) at 6:30 pm. Proceeds from the Gala (including all auction items) will go toward supporting the award-winning regional theatre company's 2014-15 Mainstage Season and Arts Education Programs for underserved New Orleans students.

With the help of students from the Master of Fine Arts and Young Conservatory programs, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) raised over $670,000 at its 2014 Season Gala, FLEISHHACKER, MAGNIN, SWIG -- A.C.T.'s MAD, MAD MEN, which honored the three founding fathers of A.C.T. -- Mortimer Fleishhacker, Jr., Cyril Magnin, and Melvin Swig -- and celebrated the past, present, and future of the organization. The Gala took place on Sunday, May 18, at the historic Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. The proceeds from the Gala support A.C.T.'s actor training and arts education programs.

American Conservatory Theater announced today the Spring 2014 Repertory featuring students from A.C.T.'s acclaimed Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program, as well as a coproduction featuring students from A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory (YC) Program. The three works in repertory this May are Stephen Adly Guirgis' scorching comedy, Our Lady of 121st Street; Georges Feydeau's madcap farce The Girl from Maxim's; and Rob Ackerman's hilarious and heartbreaking Teach for America. Tickets for each performance are $20 and are available online at www.act-sf.org or by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228. Two and three-show packages are available. Pick any two shows for $30 (a savings of $10) or purchase all three shows for $40 (a savings of $20). Packages are available for purchase by visiting https://tickets.act-sf.org/online/ (select M.F.A. Program Spring Repertory Package).

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2013-14 Conservatory Awards, which recognizes and honors outstanding alumni of A.C.T.'s award-winning actor training program and pays tribute to donors and organizations who have provided significant support to the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program Scholarship Fund. The third annual Conservatory Awards luncheon raises necessary funding for M.F.A. Program scholarships while celebrating A.C.T.'s accomplishments with award winners and current M.F.A. Program students. The winners of the five awards to be presented are Emmy Award-nominated actor and A.C.T. M.F.A. Program honorary graduate Harry Hamlin, who receives The Edward Hastings Career Achievement Award; actress of stage and screen Heidi Armbruster, who receives The Rising Star Award; actor and Shakespeare Iraq drama teacher Peter Friedrich, who receives the Contribution to the Field Award; Joan W. Sadler, who receive The Benefactor Award; and Wells Fargo, which receives The Champion Award. The star-studded event will take placeMonday, October 28, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. in the Veranda Ballroom at San Francisco's Four Seasons Hotel. Tickets and table sponsorships are now available. For information about the event, visit http://www.act-sf.org/conservatoryawards, or contact Luz Perez, Director of Special Events, at415.439.2470 or lperez@act-sf.org.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smith announced today that A.C.T.'s Tony Award-winning theater and training institution has launched The San Francisco Semester, an all-new study away program bringing undergraduate students from across the country into an active, ongoing engagement with the eclectic and energetic arts community of San Francisco and the Bay Area. With a focus on the practical aspects of the craft of acting and life in the professional theater, the 15-week program features a 17-credit core curriculum enhancing students' undergraduate study with rigorous, upper-level classes in acting styles, voice/dialects, physical theater, and devised (student-created) work. A.C.T. joins the ranks of such other distinguished study away programs as La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and the National Theater Institute. The inaugural San Francisco Semester begins September 2014.

The American Conservatory Theater Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program, which has trained such celebrated actors as Elizabeth Banks, Annette Bening, Anna Deavere Smith, Anika Noni Rose, and Denzel Washington, will present three classic works in repertory this spring: Caryl Churchill's innovative and provocative comedy Cloud 9; Bertolt Brecht's riveting drama Galileo; and August Wilson's classic American drama Seven Guitars. Performances will feature students from all three years of A.C.T.'s acclaimed M.F.A. Program.

The American Conservatory Theater Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program, which has trained such celebrated actors as Elizabeth Banks, Annette Bening, Anna Deavere Smith, Anika Noni Rose, and Denzel Washington, will present three classic works in repertory this spring: Caryl Churchill's innovative and provocative comedy Cloud 9; Bertolt Brecht's riveting drama Galileo; and August Wilson's classic American drama Seven Guitars. Performances will feature students from all three years of A.C.T.'s acclaimed M.F.A. Program.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smith announced today that the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program will present two classic works this February: Henrik Ibsen's classic drama A Dolls' House and Molière's hilarious farce Tartuffe. All performances take place at A.C.T.'s Hastings Studio Theater (77 Geary Street, San Francisco).Tickets for each performance are $20 and are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org. Two-show packages are available for $20 (a savings of 50%) and are available at https://tickets.act-sf.org/online/doubleup.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smithannounced today that the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program will present Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party, taking audiences back in time, capturing the edginess and excitement of the roaring '20s. With a book, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, the production is directed by Mark Rucker and will play a limited four show engagement. Performances are: December 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m.; December 15 at 2 & 7:30 p.m. All performances take place at A.C.T.'s Costume Shop (1117 Market Street, San Francisco). Tickets are $15 and are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.