A.C.T.'s 2015-16 Season to Feature THE REALISTIC JONESES, MONSTRESS & More

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today five of the seven productions that will comprise the lineup of the company's 49th subscription season, including the West Coast premiere of Will Eno's inventive new comedy, The Realistic Joneses; OBIE Award winner John Douglas Thompson in Terry Teachout's Satchmo at the Waldorf; the groundbreaking new musical, The Unfortunates; Eugene O'Neill's classic comedy, Ah, Wilderness!; and the world premiere of Monstress, a theatrical adaptation of short stories by San Francisco author Lysley Tenorio.

Perloff says, "The arrival of the Strand has opened up our creative thinking in thrilling new ways, and I couldn't be more excited about the two productions that will find a home there next season: the brilliant, anarchic musical, The Unfortunates-which we are giving a second life after its Oregon Shakespeare Festival premiere-and our world premiere of Monstress in collaboration with some of the Bay Area's most beloved artists. At the same time, The Geary continues to give us a chance to explore big ideas, extraordinary language, and bold acting challenges, so we await with great anticipation the arrival of the great John Douglas Thompson in Satchmo at the Waldorf, the glorious coming-of-age journey of Ah, Wilderness!, and Will Eno's explosive comedy, The Realistic Joneses. And there's more big news to come shortly!"

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER 2015/16 SEASON

THE REALISTIC JONESES
by Will Eno
Directed by Loretta Greco
A.C.T.'s Geary Theater

In a small American town, two couples who live next door to each other share the same last name-and surprisingly, much more-in this inventive new comedy that had Broadway audiences and critics howling with delight.

MONSTRESS
A Theatrical Adaptation of Short Stories
by Lysley Tenorio
A.C.T.'s Strand Theater

Two bittersweet tales of contemporary Filipino-American life in San Francisco, adapted by renowned Bay Area artists Sean San José and Philip Kan Gotanda.

AH, WILDERNESS!
by Eugene O'Neill
Directed by Mark Rucker
A.C.T.'s Geary Theater

O'Neill's exquisite coming-of-age classic is a tender comedic portrait of a sensitive boy poet and his growing pains, and one family's well-meaning attempts to stay united in the face of misunderstandings.

THE UNFORTUNATES
Created by Jon Beavers, Ramiz Monsef, Ian Merrigan, and Casey Hurt
Additional material by Kristoffer Diaz
Directed by Shana Cooper
A.C.T.'s Strand Theater

A wildly surreal romp through uniquely American genres delivers five prisoners to salvation. This rousing new musical was a massive success at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2012 and was developed further through A.C.T.'s New Works program.

SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF
by Terry Teachout
Directed by Gordon Edelstein
Starring John Douglas Thompson
A.C.T.'s Geary Theater

This richly imagined biographical tale features a collision between two jazz titans, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis, who are both magnetically channeled by actor John Douglas Thompson.

In addition to announcing five shows from the seven-play subscription season, A.C.T. is happy to welcome back the Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, after its record-breaking run last season. Featuring a lively cast of dozens, delightful music, gorgeous costumes, and deliciously spooky ghosts, this version of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Paul Walsh and Carey Perloff, stays true to the heart of Dickens's timeless story of redemption and brings a playful sensibility to his rich language. A Christmas Carol -now in its 38th year-is a cornerstone of the A.C.T. repertory and has become a holiday tradition for families around the Bay Area.

At this time, only current full-season A.C.T. subscribers can renew their subscriptions for the 2015-16 season. To receive priority notice when packages become available to new subscribers, patrons can email season@act-sf.org or call the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228. Full-season (7-play) subscriptions will soon be available for $91-$679 and offer incredible savings, unparalleled access, exclusive benefits, and personalized customer service. Subscribers save as much as 50% off single-ticket prices. Students and educators are eligible to save up to half-price on subscriptions, and senior discounts are available for certain series. To make subscriptions more affordable, A.C.T. also offers all subscribers an extended payment plan that allows payment in two easy installments. A.C.T.'s competitive subscriber benefits include free ticket exchanges up to the day of your scheduled performance, guaranteed best seating, ticket insurance, access to convenient prepaid parking one block away from the theater, discounts for neighborhood restaurants, and the opportunity to subscribe to Words on Plays, A.C.T.'s in-depth theater guide for each show. To renew a current A.C.T. subscription, please call 415.749.2250 or log on to www.act-sf.org/renew.