American Conservatory Theater's Carey Perloff to Speak at The Old Globe Next Month

The Old Globe will present a one-night-only free event, Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Carey Perloff, on Sunday, March 15 at 4:00 p.m. This special discussion between Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Artistic Director of the legendary American Conservatory Theater Carey Perloff will explore the state of American theatre and the future of the country's regional theatres, as well as Perloff's new memoir about her personal and professional journey in the arts, Beautiful Chaos: A Life in the Theater. After the presentation, Perloff will also sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase at the event.

Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Carey Perloff will take place in Hattox Hall, part of the Karen and Donald Cohn Education Center on the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. This special presentation is free to the public, though reservations are recommended to guarantee a seat. Reservations can be made by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

"More than a cherished friend of two decades, Carey Perloff is an inspiration to me," said Edelstein. "When I took over Classic Stage Company I worked hard to emulate her successes there, and when I took over the Globe, I phoned her desk at A.C.T. in search of advice. She is a national leader in the American theatre, an artist of nuance and insight, and a warm, funny, and humane spirit. She's also a very gifted writer, and I look forward to sharing her wonderful new memoir with San Diego."

At age 27, Carey Perloff was hired to run Classic Stage Company, which she saved from financial ruin by staging vigorous productions of unusual classics and new work with major actors, including the American premieres of Pinter's Mountain Language and Tony Harrison's Phaedra Britannica, the world premiere of Ezra Pound's Elektra, and many others. Perloff was the youngest person ever to be hired to run a major LORT theatre when American Conservatory Theater chose her in 1992 to become its third artistic director. She has had deep collaborations with Tom Stoppard, Philip Kan Gotanda, Robert Wilson, Frank Galati, and Timberlake Wertenbaker; with major actors such as Bill Irwin, David Strathairn, BD Wong, and Olympia Dukakis; and with other notable artists from around the world, making A.C.T. a true destination for passionate, literate, and diverse theatre. In addition, Perloff has written a number of award-winning plays, including Luminescence Dating, Higher, and Kinship. She has taught for many years in A.C.T.'s acclaimed M.F.A. program and at universities around the country. She has also directed dozens of major reinterpretations of classical plays, from Hecuba to 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, as well as world premieres of new work. She helped rebuild A.C.T.'s Geary Theater after it suffered massive damage in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and she is now involved in opening The Strand, a new performing venue and a long-dreamed-of second stage for A.C.T. Perloff writes and lectures regularly about the American theatre and about issues in culture and contemporary life that are close to her heart. She has received many awards, nominations, and distinctions for her direction, playwright, and artistic leadership.

Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein is a stage director, producer, author, and educator. Widely recognized as one of the leading American authorities on the works of Shakespeare, he has directed nearly half of the Bard's plays. His Globe directing credits include The Winter's Tale; Othello; and the West Coast premiere of novelist Nathan Englander's play The Twenty-seventh Man. He also directed All's Well That Ends Well as the inaugural production of Globe for All, a new producing platform that tours the works of Shakespeare to diverse communities throughout San Diego County. As Director of the Shakespeare Initiative at The Public Theater (2008-2012), Edelstein oversaw all of the company's Shakespearean productions, as well as its extensive educational, community outreach, and artist-training programs. At The Public, he staged Julius Caesar starring Jeffrey Wright for Shakespeare in the Park and The Merchant of Venice featuring Ron Leibman's Obie Award-winning portrayal of Shylock. He was also Associate Producer of The Public's Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino. From 1998-2003 he was Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company, where he produced and directed some of New York's most memorable classical productions. Edelstein's Shakespearean directorial credits include The Winter's Tale with David Strathairn, Timon of Athens with Richard Thomas, As You Like It with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Richard III with John Turturro. His additional credits include the Lucille Lortel Award-winning revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons; the world premiere of Steve Martin's The Underpants, which he commissioned; Molière's The Misanthrope starring Uma Thurman in her stage debut; and the world premiere of novelist Nathan Englander's play The Twenty-seventh Man. Edelstein has taught Shakespearean acting at The Juilliard School, NYU's Graduate Acting Program, and the University of Southern California. His book Thinking Shakespeare (called by New York Magazine "a must-read for actors") was published in 2007 and is now the standard text on American Shakespearean acting. He is also the author of Bardisms: Shakespeare for All Occasions.

The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. The Balboa Park valet is also available during performances ($12), located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org. For directions and up-to-date information, visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/Directions. To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, do not use the Delivery Address above. There is only a 10-minute zone at that physical address. For GPS users, click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for over 75 years. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 14 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre's education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Catered Affair, and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

Photo Credit: Kevin Berne