Photo Flash: First Look at THE UNFORTUNATES at American Conservatory Theater

American Conservatory Theater continues its 2015-16 season with The Unfortunates (February 3-April 10, 2016), a darkly comic musical that uses a unique mix of early 20th century American blues and gospel stylings fused with modern and syncopated rhythms to transport audiences to a world of memory and mythmaking. Inspired by the classic and mysterious blues song, "St. James Infirmary," made famous in the 1920s by Louis Armstrong, The Unfortunates tells the story of Big Joe, a stalwart, tough-talking soldier cursed with oversized hands, who journeys through a dream world in which he confronts a series of enemies and risks everything to save his armless love, Rae, from the plague that has decimated all but a handful of survivors. The search for salvation is marked by the characters' willingness to make music in the face of loss, and search for love in a time of desperation. Journeying from a prison camp to the underworld, The

Unfortunates is a musical fever dream that's as life-affirming as it is darkly imaginative.

Performances of The Unfortunates will take place at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater (1127 Market St., San Francisco). Press nights will be on Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18, 2016. Single tickets (ranging from $35-$95) 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.

Says A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff: "The Unfortunates is going to rock The Strand with its haunting, propulsive score and joyful, passionate company of performers. It's a story of love, loss, and the meaning of honor set in a funky, mysterious bar and it truly belongs in our beautiful new theater. We are thrilled to give this bold,

new musical its next phase of development after a hugely acclaimed first outing at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and to introduce A.C.T. audiences to some of the most exciting new performers in musical theater."

Under the direction of Shana Cooper, the cast of The Unfortunates includes Jon Beavers, Lauren Hart, Danielle Herbert, Taylor Iman Jones, Christopher Livingston, Amy Lizardo, Eddie Lopez, Ian Merrigan, Ramiz Monsef, and Arthur Wise.

Written by Jon Beavers, Kristoffer Diaz, Casey Hurt, Ian Merrigan, and Ramiz Monsef, the creative team for The Unfortunates includes Casey Hurt (Music Director), Paul James Prendergast (Associate Director), Russell Champa (Lighting Designer), Katherine O'Neill (Costume Designer), Sibyl Wickersheimer (Set Designer), Brendan Aanes (Sound Designer), and Erika Chong Shuch (Choreographer).

Photo Credit: Kevin Berne