A.C.T. to Kick Off 2016-17 Season with Mike Bartlett's KING CHARLES III

American Conservatory Theater kicks off its 50th subscription season with the 2015 Oliver Award-winning "Best New Play," King Charles III (September 14-October 9, 2016). With its witty echoes of Shakespearean drama, Mike Bartlett's brilliant contemporary work of speculative history blurs the boundaries of truth and tragedy.

Queen Elizabeth is dead. Prince Charles ascends to the throne, but what kind of ruler will he make for this once-united kingdom? Flanked by wife Camilla and sons William and Harry, Charles challenges an uncompromising Parliament, but it is his daughter-in-law, princess Kate, who shows the real ambition for the sceptered isle. Is Charles the man who would be king, or was he born to succeed only in name?

Nominated for five 2016 Tony Awards, this imaginative glimpse of future history is a theatrical event of crowning achievement. King Charles III is a coproduction with Seattle Repertory Theatre and Washington, D.C.'s Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Performances of King Charles III will take place at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater. Press night will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016. Single tickets (ranging from $19-$105) 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.

Under the direction of David Muse (Artistic Director at Studio Theatre in Washington D.C.), King Charles III features acclaimed actor of stage and screen, Robert Joy, in the coveted role of King Charles III. Joy was most recently seen on Broadway in the revival of the musical Side Show. Joy has graced the stages of some of the nation's most illustrious theater companies, including The Old Globe in San Diego, The Public Theater in New York, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. He is best known for his screen work, most notably his role as Dr. Sid Hammerback on "CSI: NY" from 2005-2013, as well as playing opposite Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan. Rounding out the cast are (in alphabetical order): Michelle Beck, Jefferson Farber, Bradford Farwell, Dan Hiatt, Rafael Jordan, Warren David Keith, Christopher McLinden, Chiara Motley, Carrie Paff, Jeanne Paulsen, Ian Merrill Peakes, Patrick Russell, Harry Smith, Lauren Spencer, and Allison Jean White.

Says A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff: "Mike Bartlett's audacious script about British politics arrives in the Bay Area just as the Brexit vote is rocking the world. With astonishing prescience, King Charles III asks what England might look like in the years to come, how notions of celebrity are affecting the political landscape, and what happens when an overbearing press crosses all lines of privacy. The play, wrestling with the big issues of our time in a form that is Shakespearean in scope, is as hilarious as it is trenchant. It's the perfect way to launch A.C.T.'s 50th-anniversary season."

The creative team for King Charles III includes Sivan Battat (Associate Director), Lap Chi Chu (Lighting Designer), Jennifer Moeller (Costume Designer), Dan Ostling (Set Designer), and Mark Bennett (Sound Designer and Composer).

In connection with King Charles III, A.C.T. will offer numerous InterACT events-many of which are presented free of charge-that will 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, September 14, 7 p.m.
Providing a greener alternative to theater transportation, A.C.T. and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition offer free valet bike parking, as well as a special discount on tickets, for these select performances.

Prologue:
Tuesday, September 20, 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, September 23, following the 8 p.m. performance
Led by Dr. Mason Turner, chief of psychiatry at San Francisco's Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, this exciting postshow discussion series addresses audience questions and explores the minds, motives, and behavior of the characters.

Audience Exchanges:
Sunday, September 25, 2 p.m. | Tuesday, September 27, 7 p.m. | Wednesday, October 5, 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, September 28, following the 8 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, October 4, 7 p.m.
Before the show, raise a glass at this wine-tasting event featuring the Bay Area's hottest local winery.

Playtime
Saturday, October 8, 12:45 p.m.
Before this matinee performance, get hands-on with the artists who make it happen at this interactive theater workshop.

Up next, A.C.T. presents the West Coast premiere of Tom Stoppard's newest work, The Hard Problem (October 19-November 13, 2016), followed by the return of the Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol (November 25-December 24, 2016). Ringing in 2017, A.C.T. will present the world-premiere theatrical adaption of Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns (February 1-26, 2017). Next, A.C.T. will present Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker's new play, John (February 22-April 23, 2017). In spring 2017, A.C.T. will present a reimagined version of Robert Lepage's internationally acclaimed play Needles and Opium (March 30-April 23, 2017). Following his remarkable worldwide success with The Suit, which played to standing ovations and sold-out houses at A.C.T. in 2014, legendary director Peter Brook is back with Battlefield (April 26-May 21, 2017). A.C.T. will close out its 2016-17 season with Here Lies Love (beginning June 2017), the acclaimed musical created by pop icon David Byrne of Talking Heads and award-winning music producer Fatboy Slim.

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