The American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.) Young Conservatory's New Plays Program will present Constance Congdon’s comic fantasy The Automata Pietà at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco Jan. 15 - 23.
A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory joins the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program in presenting these January performances outside A.C.T., with the stated aim of reaching wider audiences and providing conservatory actors with broader performance experience.
A.C.T. marks its tenth anniversary of the program with first ever public productions of commissioned plays. Last May, a series of in-house performances of Congdon’s The Automata Pietà took place. In January, her story of a teen fashion doll who comes to life will have nine more performances.
A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory program involves children ages 8 -18 in the theatre. Playwrights commissioned to work with the program have produced work considered accessible to young audiences.
The Automata Pietà cast includes Elizabeth Allen, Cathal Blake, Gaby Castro, Andrew Kelsey, Rahman Jamahl McCreadie, Kate Painter and Theresa Walsh. The show will be helmed by Craig Slaight. Music is by Maureen McKibben. The production team for the show includes assistant director Joseph Parks lighting designer and technical director Libby Kava, painter Elizabeth Mead , costume designers Callie Floor and Cynthia Quirog, and sound designer Jack Lloyd.
Since its inception, the New Plays Program has commissioned works from playwrights Lynne Alvarez, Daisy Foote, Mary Gallagher, Jim Grimsley, Timothy Mason, Joe Pintauro, Brad Slaight, and Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Zindel.
The Automata Pietà runs at the Magic Theatre at Fort Mason, Building D, in San Francisco. Previews take place Jan. 13, 14 and 15, with opening night scheduled Jan. 15 at 7:30 PM. The show will run through Jan. 23.
Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for students, full-time teachers, and seniors (with valid ID); and $8 for A.C.T. subscribers. The A.C.T. Box Office is located at 405 Geary Street. For information or application to the A.C.T. call (415) 439-2444 or visit www.act-sfbay.org.
-- By Murdoch McBride
