ACT Theatre Announces 2018 Core Company

ACT- A Contemporary Theatre is pleased to announce its 2018 Season Core Company. This year's Core actors are Christine Marie Brown, Avery Clark, Rachel Guyer- Mafune, Brandon O'Neill, and Chip Sherman. Each Core actor will be featured in at least two Mainstage shows, and will serve as artistic ambassadors throughout the season. In addition to the actors, ACT has added a playwright to the Core Company and is elated to announce that Yussef El Guindi will fill that role. El Guindi was the winner of the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World, which premiered at ACT in 2012. The Core actors will work closely with the playwright and his development of new work over the year.

Since 2016 ACT has selected a Core Company of actors each year, and is pleased to add a playwright to the group. The purpose of the Core is to encourage an environment of artistic excellence, while creating a home for local theatre artists to experiment and grow over the course of the season. They represent ACT at audience and community engagement events, serve as spokespeople for ACT's Mainstage productions, and support the greater mission of ACT.

"I'm really thrilled about the 2018 Core. Not only will this group of exceptional actors work and grow together through the year, but having a playwright in the mix now brings a new level of insight and perspective to the experience," Artistic Director John Langs says. "The goal for 2019 is to build to 25 or so artists who will make up the ACT Core Company. This will be past, present, and new Core members, 5-7 of which will be on contract for shows each season. The entire Core will be an integral part of the organization through the years."

In addition to performing on ACT's Mainstages, Christine Marie Brown, Avery Clark, Brandon O'Neill and Chip Sherman have been cast in speaking roles in the Seattle Opera's upcoming production of Berlioz's Beatrice & Benedict, directed by John Langs.

The 2018 season at ACT Theatre begins with Ride the Cyclone, a co-production with The 5th Avenue Theatre. The Wolves (Apr 20-May 13) will feature Core Company members Christine Marie Brown and Rachel Guyer-Mafune. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now.

For more information and full bios of each Core Company Member, visit: http://www.acttheatre.org/About/CoreCompany/2018CompanyMembers