A.C.T. Stages Dark Comedy THE UNFORTUNATES, Beginning Tonight

American Conservatory Theater continues its 2015-16 seasonwith THE UNFORTUNATES (tonight, February 3, through April 10, 2016), a darkly comic musical that uses a unique mix of early 20th century American blues and gospel stylings fused with modern and syncopated rhythms to transport audiences to a world of memory and mythmaking.

Inspired by the classic and mysterious blues song, "St. James Infirmary," made famous in the 1920s by Louis Armstrong, THE UNFORTUNATES tells the story of Big Joe, a stalwart, tough-talking soldier cursed with oversized hands, who journeys through a dream world in which he confronts a series of enemies and risks everything to save the armless courtesan Rae from the plague that has decimated all but a handful of survivors. The search for salvation is marked by the characters' willingness to make music in the face of loss, and search for love in a time of desperation. Journeying from a prison camp to the underworld, THE UNFORTUNATES is a musical fever dream that's as life-affirming as it is darkly imaginative.

Performances of THE UNFORTUNATES will take place at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater (1127 Market St., San Francisco). Press nights will be on Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18, 2016. Single tickets (ranging from $35-$95) are available at the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

Says A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff: "THE UNFORTUNATES is going to rock The Strand with its haunting, propulsive score and joyful, passionate company of performers. It's a story of love, loss, and the meaning of honor set in a funky, mysterious bar and it truly belongs in our beautiful new theater. We are thrilled to give this bold, new musical its next phase of development after a hugely acclaimed first outing at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and to introduce A.C.T. audiences to some of the most exciting new performers in musical theater."

Under the direction of Shana Cooper, the cast of THE UNFORTUNATES includes Jon Beavers, Lauren Hart, Danielle Herbert, Taylor Iman Jones, Christopher Livingston, Amy Lizardo, Eddie Lopez, Ian Merrigan, Ramiz Monsef, and Arthur Wise.

Written by Jon Beavers, Kristoffer Diaz, Casey Hurt, Ian Merrigan, and Ramiz Monsef, the creative team for THE UNFORTUNATES includes Casey Hurt (Music Director), Paul James Prendergast (Associate Director), Russell Champa (Lighting Designer), Katherine O'Neill (Costume Designer), Sibyl Wickersheimer (Set Designer), Brendan Aanes (Sound Designer), and Erika Chong Shuch (Choreographer).

In association with THE UNFORTUNATES, A.C.T. will offer numerous InterACT events-many of which are presented free of charge-that give patrons opportunities to get closer to the action while having an entire night out at the theater.

Visit act-sf.org/interact to learn more about subscribing to these events throughout the season:

• Bike to the Theater Night
Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 p.m.
Providing a greener alternative to theater transportation, A.C.T. and the San Francisco Bike Coalition offer free valet bike parking, as well as a special discount on tickets, for these select performances.

• Prologue:
Tuesday, February 16, 5:30 p.m.
Before the curtain goes up, get a sneak peek at the artistic process at this fascinating preshow discussion with the director and artistic staff.

• Theater on the Couch:
Friday, February 19, following the 7:30 p.m. performance
Led by Dr. Mason Turner, chief of psychiatry at San Francisco's Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, this exciting postshow discussion series explores the minds, motives, and behavior of the characters and addresses audience questions.

• Audience Exchanges:
Tues., March 1, 7 p.m. | Wed., March 16, 2 p.m. | Sun., April 3, 2 p.m.
After the show, stick around for a lively Q&A session with the actors and artists who create the work onstage.

• OUT with A.C.T.:
Wednesday, March 9, following the 7:30 p.m. performance
The best LGBT night in town! Mingle with the cast and enjoy free drinks and treats at this popular after-party.

• Wente Vineyards Wine Series:
Tuesday, March 15, 6:30 p.m.
Before the show, raise a glass at this wine-tasting event featuring the Bay Area's hottest local winery.

• PlayTime:
Saturday, April 9, 12:45 p.m.
Before this matinee performance, get hands-on with the artists who make it happen at this interactive theater workshop.

A.C.T.'s 2015-16 season continues with the West Coast premiere of Will Eno's inventive new comedy, The Realistic Joneses (March 9-April 3, 2016); and a brand new, fully-staged production of Jason Robert Brown's powerful and intimate musical, The Last Five Years (May 11-June 5, 2016). A.C.T. favorite and Academy Award nominee, David Strathairn, will return to A.C.T. for a special three-week engagement of Joseph Dougherty's Chester Bailey (May 25-June 12, 2016) at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater.

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