A.C.T. Appoints Don-Scott Cooper as General Manager

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Executive Director Ellen Richard announced the appointment of Don-Scott Cooper as general manager.

A respected theater administrator, Cooper has previously served as general manager at Second Stage Theatre and Roundabout Theatre Company, in both positions under the leadership of Richard. He recently managed the renovation of the Helen Hayes Theatre, which will become Second Stage's Broadway home. He has also served on the negotiation committees for numerous collectively bargained union agreements. Cooper will take on the duties of James Haire, who is retiring as producing director after 40 years of service to A.C.T., and will serve as a member of the senior leadership team of the company. He will start his tenure at A.C.T. on May 23, 2011.

"I am very pleased to welcome Don-Scott to A.C.T. and know that he will be a strong addition to the company as we head into a very exciting period of growth," said Richard. "I worked with him for several years in New York and have always been impressed with his knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm. I look forward to working with him here in San Francisco and know that he will be a vital addition to the company."

"Having the opportunity to be part of the leadership at A.C.T. is a dream come true," added Cooper. "I've been a fan of [A.C.T. Artistic Director] Carey [Perloff]'s work for years, and it's an honor to join such a beloved and important company, particularly at a time when it is bursting with energy and creativity. I look forward to working with Ellen and the staff and am very proud to be joining such an important institution in the cultural landscape of San Francisco."

Don-Scott Cooper has managed more than 50 Theater Productions in New York and is currently in his sixth season as general manager at Second Stage Theatre. Prior to joining Second Stage, he spent six seasons at Roundabout Theatre Company, where he managed Broadway and off-Broadway productions. Production highlights include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award-winning Intimate Apparel, the Tony Award-nominated revival of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, the Tony Award-winning revival of Big River, Anna Deavere Smith's Let Me Down Easy, and the 2011 Lucille Lortel Award winner for best play, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. During his time at Roundabout, he worked on the construction and renovation of the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre and the Laura Pels Theatre. He is currently managing the renovation of the Helen Hayes Theatre, which will become Second Stage's Broadway home in 2013. He has been on the negotiation committee for numerous collectively bargained union agreements. He has been a guest lecturer at New York University and an instructor at the Einhorn School of Performing Arts at Primary Stages.