A.C.T. to Present Eugene O'Neill's AH, WILDERNESS! This Fall
By: BWW News Desk
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2015-16 season with AH, WILDERNESS!, Eugene O'Neill's passionate coming-of-age classic. AH, WILDERNESS! is a tender portrait of a sensitive teenage poet whose experience of first love leads him into the raptures of romantic poetry and the pain of heartbreak.
As the Miller clan prepare for their Fourth of July celebrations, their idealistic, literature-quoting 16-year-old son, Richard, is struggling with what it means to be young and in love. As Richard's attempts to sow his wild oats intersect with small-town gossip, hilarious misunderstandings ensue. Full of the vibrant nostalgia of first love and other youthful discoveries, AH, WILDERNESS! is a humorous portrait of a family's attempts to stay united in the midst of growing pains.
AH, WILDERNESS! will run Wednesday, October 14 through Sunday, November 8 at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary St., San Francisco). Press night for AH, WILDERNESS! will take place on Wednesday, October 21, 2015. Single tickets (ranging from $20-$100) are available now at the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.
A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff says: "AH, WILDERNESS! is a play by a young artist with glorious roles for young actors. That's what I love about it. Later in his life, O'Neill would write about his family from his father's perspective, but here he writes so poignantly and wittily about what it is to be a twenty-something in love, trying to navigate adulthood and feeling completely overwhelmed. What's remarkable is how completely fresh and of-the-moment this young love feels. Richard is a character right out of our own contemporary experience, a gawky but passionate kid with a libido that never stops. It's a play that requires ten brilliant young actors, and it fits A.C.T.'s third year MFA class like a glove. To watch them work alongside master actors like Anthony Fusco and Rachel Ticotin is a unique pleasure, and I hope the production will remind audiences of all ages of the bittersweet joy of first love." The cast of AH, WILDERNESS! (in alphabetical order) includes: Matthew Baldiga (Salesman), Matthew Cabparat (Wint Selby), Anthony Fusco (Nat Miller), Margo Hall (Lily Miller), Dan Hiatt (Sid Davis), Christina Liang (Midred), Michael McIntyre (Arthur), Rosa Palmeri (Muriel McComber), Jennifer Reddish (Nora), Adrian Roberts (David McComber), Thomas Stagnitta (Richard), Caitlan Taylor (Belle), Rachel Ticotin (Essie), and Arthur Wise (Bartender). Directed by Casey Stangl (Love and Information and Venus in Fur at A.C.T.), the creative team for AH, WILDERNESS! includes set designer Ralph Funicello, lighting designer Robert Wierzel, costume designer Jessie Amoroso, and sound designer Paul Prendergast. In association with AH, WILDERNESS!, 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 NightWednesday, October 14
Providing a greener alternative to theater transportation, A.C.T. and the San Francisco Bike Coalition offer free valet bike parking, as well as a special discount on tickets, for these select performances.Prologue:
Tuesday, October 20, 5:30 p.m.
Before the curtain goes up, get behind the artistic process at this fascinating preshow discussion with the director and artistic staff.Theater on the Couch:
Friday, October 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 explores the minds, motives, and behaviors of the characters and addresses audience questions.Audience Exchanges:
Tues., October 27, 7 p.m. | Sun., November 1, 2 p.m. | Wed., November 4, 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 October 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, November 3, 7 p.m.
Before the show, raise a glass at this wine-tasting event featuring the Bay Area's hottest local winery.PlayTime:
Saturday, November 7, 12:45 p.m.
Before this matinee performance, get hands-on with the artists who make it happen at this interactive theater workshop. A.C.T.'s 2015-16 season will continue with the Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol; OBIE Award winner John Douglas Thompson in Terry Teachout's Satchmo at the Waldorf; the groundbreaking new musical, The Unfortunates; the West Coast premiere of Will Eno's inventive new comedy, The Realistic Joneses; and a brand-new, fully staged production of Jason Robert Brown's powerful and intimate musical, The Last Five Years.
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