ACT MFA Program Presents Gender-Bending Comedies in Rep

The American Conservatory Theatre's Master of Fine Arts program presents Christopher Durang's Baby With The Bathwater and Charles Busch's Red Scare on Sunset, playing in repertory October 18 through November 4 at the Zeum Theater.

When selecting productions for the third year MFA program students, ACT Conservatory Director Melissa Smith chose two plays that would highlight two of the class's strengths: comedy and character.

"Baby with the Bathwater announced the arrival of Christopher Durang as a boldly original comedic voice with a wildly satiric opinion of parenting," states press notes, "The story begins with the trials and tribulations of John and Helen Dingleberry, confused but well-intentioned new parents. When Helen and John-unable to determine the sex of their child-decide the baby is a girl and name it Daisy, all manner of future emotional and psychological problems are put in place. A series of brilliantly theatrical and hilarious scenes soon follow, as Daisy fights to distinguish himself in a world that seems to grow more and more oblivious to his struggle."

The production is directed by ACT MFA alumnus Hal Brooks, whose recent off-Broadway production Thom Paine (Based On Nothing) delighted audiences and critics this past winter.

The cast of Baby with the Bathwater features Lucas Alifano as Daisy, and Margarett Head and Matthew Nicklaw as Daisy's parents, Helen and John. Christin Davis and Stephanie Saunders complete the cast, playing multiple roles.

Actor, playwright, screenwriter, director, and drag legend Charles Busch has been stunning audiences for decades with the unique blend of satire and over-the-top farce on display in such plays as Die Mommie Die, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.  "His comedy Red Scare on Sunset takes aim at 1950s Hollywood, where citizens would rather pledge allegiance to Louis B. Meyer than the good ol' Stars and Stripes," states press notes. "Spoiled film star Mary Dale can't imagine how the Red Menace infecting the country could ever affect her-until her husband is lured into a Method Acting studio that turns out to be a front for the Communist party. When she discovers that the communists want to destroy the star system and will stop at nothing to do so, Mary takes the battle into her own hands to save her country, her marriage, and top billing above title."

Directed by John Fisher-artistic director of the nation's oldest queer theater, San Francisco's Theatre Rhinoceros, Red Scare on Sunset features Nicholas Hongola as Mary Dale, Graham Outerbridge as Mary's husband Frank Taggart, and Jody Flader as Pat Pilford. The rest of the cast, portraying multiple roles, includes Seton Brown, Christina Owens, Brian Stevens, Kurt Uy, and Ted Welch.

The design team for both Baby with the Bathwater and Red Scare on Sunset includes set designer Erik Flatmo, costume designer Callie Floor, lighting designer Kate Boyd, and sound designer Matt Cowell.

Baby with the Bathwater, by Christopher Durang, directed by Hal Brooks
Rep Schedule
8:00PM: Oct. 18, 19, 27, & 28, and Nov. 1 & 2
7:00PM: Oct. 22
2:00PM: Oct. 22 & 28

Red Scare on Sunset, by Charles Busch, directed by John Fisher
Rep Schedule:
8:00PM: Oct. 20, 21, 24, 25, & 26, and Nov. 3 & 4
7:00PM: Oct. 29
2:00PM: Oct. 29

Tickets are on sale now at the ACT Box Office (405 Geary Street, San Francisco). Adult tickets are $15.50 weekdays and $20.50 Saturday and Sunday.  Tickets for students and seniors (with valid ID) are $11.50 weekdays and $16.50 Saturday and Sunday.  Tickets are now on sale and available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415-749-2228, or by visiting www.act-sf.org.

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