American Conservatory Theater Features Irwin in SCAPIN, Sept. 16-Oct. 10

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) opens its 2010-11 season with the return of two-time Tony Award winner and A.C.T. favorite Bill Irwin (Fool Moon at A.C.T., Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway, and the award-winning film Rachel Getting Married) to the Bay Area in his hilarious reimagining of Molière's Scapin. In this lively baggy-pants comedy, the rascally title character balances his penchant for mayhem and mischief with a promise to help two pairs of wide-eyed lovers.

Irwin-who adapted (with Mark O'Donnell) and directs-whips commedia dell'arte, live music, and his trademark sophisticated clowning into a frenzy, transforming this 17th-century farce of mistaken identities and mishaps into a sparkling theatrical event perfect for all ages. In response to Irwin's latest take on the title character, a role tailor-made for his unique style of physical comedy, the New York Times exclaimed: "The entire world is Mr. Irwin's straight man. . . . This prince of clowns bears a distinctly nonearthly relationship to the basic laws of motion and anatomy."

PBS's Great Performances echoed this acclaim: "Actor, playwright, director, choreographer, clown-the remarkable Bill Irwin defies categorization."

This show also reunites Irwin with several of his former cohorts from San Francisco's Pickle Family Circus: celebrated Bay Area actor Geoff Hoyle takes on the role of Scapin's curmudgeonly master, Geronte; Randy Craig (who works with the San Francisco Mime Troupe) will compose the music for Scapin and perform in the show; and ODC/San Francisco choreographer Kimi Okada will serve as movement consultant. Scapin plays September 16-October 10, 2010, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets (starting at $10) and family four-packs are available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415.749.2228 or at www.act-sf.org.

"I've wanted to return to Molière's Scapin and the adaptation Mark O'Donnell and I did together," said Irwin, "and I've wanted to return to A.C.T. and its audiences. I've also wanted to return to work again with my San Francisco colleagues and friends. Might as well do it all at once." A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff adds: "The incomparable Bill Irwin has made comic mischief with Bay Area clowns for decades and is reuniting with some of his favorite artists from his early days in San Francisco, so it feels like a delightful family effort and a gift to Bay Area audiences of all ages."

"This production of Scapin is the perfect fusion of so many aspects of A.C.T.: a collaboration among our extraordinary core company and extended family, along with three of our finest comic M.F.A. Program actors," says Perloff, speaking to the wide range of A.C.T. artists who will take part in this production.

The cast, which brings together many different arms of the A.C.T. artistic family, includes René Augesen and Gregory Wallace, A.C.T. core acting company members; Ashley Wickett, Patrick Lane, and Richardson Jones, members of the A.C.T. M.F.A. Program class of 2011; Omozé Idehenre and Jud Williford, A.C.T. M.F.A. Program graduates; and Steven Anthony Jones, a longtime member of the A.C.T. artistic family. Keith Terry, a celebrated percussionist and clown, will round out the show's musical accompaniment along with Randy Craig.

Irwin is one of a handful of artists keeping the longstanding tradition of clowning alive in the mainstream American theater. His detailed study of the comedic greats-from commedia dell'arte to vaudeville to Chaplin-comes through in his physically impressive and emotionally engaging performances. In this adaptation of Scapin-an irreverent and self-referential adaptation he created with Mark O'Donnell (who won a 2003 Tony Award for cowriting the book of the musical Hairspray and who has been a staff writer for Saturday Night Live)-Irwin creates a theatrical rollercoaster ride featuring live music, chase scenes, and a big dance number, as well as playful barbs at A.C.T. It's a perfect foil for his celebrated stage persona, as well as the exciting all-local cast he's assembled from the extended A.C.T. artistic family.

Audiences can make farce a family affair-and save! A.C.T. will offer its popular family four-packs-a mainstay of the annual production of A Christmas Carol-for Scapin. When a patron buys a family four-pack, they get four tickets during the first two weeks of performances at a 35% discount. Theatergoers can get the whole family in on the fun (or gather their family of friends) by calling 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org. Purchasers should use the code "Scapin1" to access the discount.

For more information about this event as well as ticket packages and upcoming events, please visit www.act-sf.org