ACT Theatre

ACT is located in Kreielsheimer Place, at 700 Union Street in Downtown Seattle. The building, which also includes the 44 unit, moderate-income Eagles Apartments, is the historic Eagles Auditorium Building. Previously part of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (to which it is connected via internal tunnel), the building was remodeled into theater spaces and apartments and renamed in honor of a major gift from the Kreielsheimer Foundation.[http://www.housingpolicy.org/gallery/entries/Eagles_Apartment%20.html Eagles Apartments at Kreielsheimer Place] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924105046/http://www.housingpolicy.org/gallery/entries/Eagles_Apartment%20.html |date=2011-09-24 }}, housingpolicy.org. Accessed online 2009-11-06.Misha Berson, [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960901/2346933/act-makes-its-move Act Makes Its Move -- Theater Company Is Finally Sitting Pretty In The Heart Of Seattle], Seattle Times, September 1, 1996. Accessed online 2009-11-06. There are two mainstage theater spaces, each with a capacity of about 390 seats. The Gregory A. Falls Theatre, located below street level, has a rectangular thrust stage. Above ground, the former Eagles Auditorium hall (now known as the Allen Theatre[https://www.acttheatre.org/About/PerformanceSpaces ACT/Allen Theatre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108160518/http://www.acttheatre.org/About/PerformanceSpaces |date=2016-11-08 }}, ACT Theatre. Accessed online 2009-11-06.) is an arena or "in-the-round" venue.

Complying with landmark ordinances, the Allen Theatre retains the Eagles Auditorium's gilded balcony, ornate ceiling, and crystal chandeliers, though some of this is obscured by the HVAC and lighting systems. The decision to convert this famous lecture hall and performance venue from a proscenium stage to theater-in-the-round was, according to Misha Berson, "the most controversial aspect of the renovation". The proscenium stage from which Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke, and on which the Grateful Dead performed, "is now just a painted relic in the background."

The facility also includes the {{convert|4539|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Bullitt Cabaret and several other smaller spaces.[https://www.acttheatre.org/About/PerformanceSpaces Bullitt Cabaret] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108160518/http://www.acttheatre.org/About/PerformanceSpaces |date=2016-11-08 }}, ACT Theatre. Accessed online 2009-11-06.

File:Seattle - On the Boards 01.jpg.]]

ACT was founded by Gregory A. Falls in 1965, providing Seattle with "a serious alternative to summer stock theater.""Contemporary Theatre, Inc., A.", p. 107 in Don B. Wilmeth and Tice L. Miller, eds., Cambridge guide to American theatre Edition 2, Cambridge University Press, 1996, {{ISBN|0-521-56444-1}} They staged their first performance July 9, 1965.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} ACT was originally in a 454-seat thrust-stage theaterCambridge guide to American theatre says 449 seats. in Queen Anne Hall, now home to On the Boards.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Falls remained as artistic director until 1988, when he was succeeded by Jeff Steitzer, then in 1995 by Peggy Shannon.

After a lengthy and difficult search for a larger space, ACT moved into its new Kreielsheimer Place facility in 1996, and presented its first play there on September 1 of that year. However, Shannon's productions at the new facility were not well received by the critics or the public. Shannon resigned in 1997, leaving ACT in debt for the first time in its history, and with subscriptions having fallen from 11,400 in 1996 to 9,000 in 1997.Misha Berson, [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20030311/act11/the-drama-behind-the-scenes-at-act The drama behind the scenes at ACT], Seattle Times, March 11, 2003. Accessed online 2009-11-06. Her successor, Gordon Edelstein, revived the company's critical and popular reputation, bringing such noted performers as actresses Julie Harris and Jane Alexander and singer songwriter Randy Newman, as well as experimental director Joanne Akalaitis and composer Philip Glass. Several ACT premieres went on to successful runs in New York. However, costs rose accordingly, and ACT's debts mounted. In October 2002, ACT made an offer to Robert Egan, producing director at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles,Misha Berson, [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20021022/act22/robert-egan-acts-new-artistic-director-knows-seattle-well Robert Egan, ACT's new artistic director, knows Seattle well], Seattle Times, October 22, 2002. Accessed online 2009-11-06. to become their new artistic director, but by the time the 2003 season was approaching, ACT had a US$1.7 million debt and was in no position to honor their offer. They were in serious danger of folding. Subscriptions dropped to 7,500.Misha Berson, [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20031109/act09/act-schedules-five-play-2004-lineup ACT schedules five-play 2004 lineup], Seattle Times, November 9, 2003. Accessed online 2009-11-06.

Donations (including $500,000 Boeing chairman Phil Condit), some scaling back, and a successful 2003 season under artistic director Kurt Beattie saved the day, sparing ACT the fate visited upon Seattle's comparably prominent Empty Space Theatre in the same period.Misha Berson, [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003333070_empty01.html Empty Space was a survivor until last "rainstorm"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604113314/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003333070_empty01.html |date=June 4, 2011 }}, Seattle Times, November 1, 2006. Accessed online 2009-11-06. By the 2006 season, ACT was back to venturesome programming, including Martin McDonagh's black comedy The Pillowman and local writer Elizabeth Heffron's Mitzi's Abortion.Misha Berson, [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20060319/act19/provocative-pillowman-heads-up-daring-new-act-season Provocative "Pillowman" heads up daring new ACT season], Seattle Times, March 19, 2006. Accessed online 2009-11-06.

John Langs became the artistic director, replacing Kurt Beattie, December 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/act-theatrersquos-beattie-to-retire-successor-named/|title = ACT Theatre's Beattie to retire; successor named|date = 28 October 2014}} In 2018, Yussef El Guindi became a Core Company playwright member.

Over more than four decades, ACT has established itself as one of Seattle's leading theaters.David-Edward Hughes, [http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/seattle/about.html Seattle], Talkin' Broadway Regional Theater. Accessed online 2009-11-06. Along with the Cornish Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre ("The Rep"), it is one of the city's three largest playhouses.Misha Berson, [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2004371162_plays27.html Smaller theaters are thinking big, getting first dibs on new works] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709011416/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2004371162_plays27.html |date=July 9, 2008 }}, Seattle Times, April 27, 2008. Accessed online 2009-11-06. ACT's Mainstage has presented many world, American, and West Coast premieres.[http://www.acttheatre.org/Backstage/productionHistory.aspx Production history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426083731/http://acttheatre.org/Backstage/productionHistory.aspx |date=2009-04-26 }}, ACT Theatre. Accessed online 2009-11-06. Numerous productions have gone on to New York City.[http://www.acttheatre.org/About/ACThistory.aspx ACT History: ACT plays live beyond ACT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008215443/http://www.acttheatre.org//About//ACThistory.aspx |date=2009-10-08 }}, ACT Theatre. Accessed online 2009-11-06.

ACT is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT).[http://lort.org/theatres Member Theatres], League of Resident Theatres. Accessed online 2018-01-14. It is also a member of Theatre Puget Sound[http://tpsonline.org/organizations/index.php TPS Member Companies], Theatre Puget Sound; accessible via dropdown, site is not designed for "deep linking". Accessed online 2009-11-06. and is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group.[http://tcg.org/tools/profiles/member_profiles/profile_detail.cfm?MemberID=235801014&SeasonID=15&SeasonName=2006-2007+Season&var=0 Theatre Profiles: A Contemporary Theatre (ACT)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308132528/http://www.tcg.org/tools/profiles/member_profiles/profile_detail.cfm?MemberID=235801014&SeasonID=15&SeasonName=2006-2007+Season&var=0 |date=2012-03-08 }}, Theatre Communications Group. Accessed online 2009-11-06. ACT is also a member of the Downtown Seattle Association, Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} and Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.[https://www.seattlechamber.com/home/resources/membership-directory Membership Directory] ACT is also a frequent affiliate of the 5th Avenue Theatre, often co-producing at least one production per season.

[http://www.acttheatrehistory.org Production history], ACT Theatre History. Accessed online 2016-11-04.

:Source (except as noted):

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.acttheatre.org/ ACT Contemporary Theatre], official site
• A.C.T. Theatre (homonym) in France http://www.aparr.org/marc-feldhun https://feldhun.webnode.fr/

Pdt: Marc Feldhun (auteur, acteur, chanteur, musicien, photographe, plasticien)

• [http://www.acttheatrehistory.org/ ACT Theatre History], a comprehensive cross-indexed production history, with programs

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Category:Culture of Seattle

Category:Theatres in Washington (state)

Category:Tourist attractions in Seattle

Category:Theatre company production histories