SCAPIN Extends At A.C.T Thru 10/17

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced a one-week extension for its 2010-11 season opener, Molière's Scapin, which marks the return of two-time Tony Award winner and A.C.T. favorite Bill Irwin to its stage. The additional performances include 8 p.m. performances Tuesday, October 10, through Saturday, October 16, and 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesday, October 6; Saturday, October 16; and Sunday, October 17. In this lively baggy-pants comedy, the rascally title character balances his penchant for mayhem and mischief with a promise to help two pairs of wide-eyed lovers. Irwin-who adapted (with Mark O'Donnell), performs the title role, and directs-whips commedia dell'arte, live music, and his trademark sophisticated clowning into a frenzy, transforming this 17th-century farce of mistaken identities and mishaps into a sparkling theatrical event perfect for all ages. This production also reunites Irwin with several of his former cohorts from San Francisco's Pickle Family Circus: celebrated Bay Area actor Geoff Hoyle takes on the role of Scapin's curmudgeonly master, Geronte; Randy Craig (who has worked with the San Francisco Mime Troupe) composed the music for Scapin and performs in the show; Keith Terry joins the performers as a percussionist; and ODC/San Francisco choreographer Kimi Okada serves as movement consultant.

With the extension, Scapin plays September 16-October 17, 2010, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press nights are Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at 8 p.m., and Thursday, September 23, 2010, at 8 p.m. Tickets (starting at $10) and family four-packs are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or at www.act-sf.org.

Scapin is just the beginning! A.C.T.'s 2010-11 season continues with the West Coast premiere of Marcus; or The Secret of Sweet (October 29-November 21, 2010), the finale of The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy, written by the unstoppable Tarell Alvin McCraney and hailed as "the greatest piece of writing by an American playwright under 30 in a generation or more" (Chicago Tribune). Magic Theatre and Marin Theatre Company will produce the other two plays in the trilogy in a first-time three-theater collaboration with A.C.T. Information about the other two plays and about how to purchase tickets can be found at www.brothersisterplays.org. The new year brings the West Coast premiere of Bruce Norris's razor-sharp comedy Clybourne Park (January 20-February 13, 2011), which Entertainment Weekly calls "a completely audacious, architecturally ingenious entertainment." Next up is Harold Pinter's most provocative play, The Homecoming (March 3-27, 2011), directed by longtime Pinter collaborator and A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff. And you haven't experienced Jean-Paul Sartre's existential masterpiece No Exit until you've seen the groundbreaking multimedia version by Canada's The Virtual Stage and Electric Theatre Company, which makes its U.S. premiere at A.C.T. April 7-May 1, 2011. The 2010-11 season culminates in the much-anticipated world premiere of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, a new musical based on Maupin's beloved books and created by writer Jeff Whitty and director Jason Moore (the team behind Avenue Q) and Jake Shears and John Garden (the musical minds behind the glam-rock band Scissor Sisters). A.C.T. brings the iconic saga to San Francisco live May 17-June 19, 2011. The season also includes A.C.T.'s annual nonsubscription holiday treat, A Christmas Carol (December 2-24, 2010).

To subscribe or to receive a season brochure, please call 415.749.2250 or log on to www.act-sf.org.

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