by TOM STOPPARD Directed by CAREY PERLOFF - Convio

A.C.T. AUDIENCE PHOTO BY KEVIN BERNEABOUT A.C.T.AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATERnurtures the art of live theater throughdynamic productions, intensive actortraining in its conservatory, and anongoing dialogue with its community.Under the leadership of Artistic DirectorCarey Perloff and Executive DirectorHeather Kitchen, A.C.T. embraces itsresponsibility to conserve, renew, andreinvent its relationship to the richtheatrical traditions and literatures thatare our collective legacy, while exploringnew artistic forms and new communities.A commitment to the highest standardsinforms every aspect of A.C.T.’s creativework.Founded in 1965 by William Ball,A.C.T. opened its first San Franciscoseason at the Geary Theater in 1967. Inthe 1970s, A.C.T. solidified its nationaland international reputation, winninga Tony Award for outstanding theaterperformance and training in 1979. Duringthe past four decades, more than 300A.C.T. productions have been performedto a combined audience of seven millionpeople; today, A.C.T.’s performance,education, and outreach programsannually reach more than 250,000 peoplein the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1996,A.C.T.’s efforts to develop creative talentfor the theater were recognized with theprestigious Jujamcyn Theaters Award.In 2001, to celebrate A.C.T.’s 35thanniversary and Perloff ’s 10th season,A.C.T. created a new core company ofactors, who have become instrumental inevery aspect of its work.Today A.C.T. is recognized nationallyfor its groundbreaking productions ofclassical works and bold explorationsof contemporary playwriting. Since thereopening of the Geary Theater in 1996,A.C.T. has enjoyed a remarkable periodof audience expansion and financialstability. In 2001, A.C.T. began producingalternative work at Zeum Theater,which now serves as a venue for studentproductions and exciting new plays. Thecompany continues to produce challengingtheater in the rich context of symposia,audience discussions, and communityinteraction.The conservatory, led by Melissa Smithand George Thompson, now serves 3,000students every year. It was the first actortraining program in the United Statesnot affiliated with a college or universityaccredited to award a master of fine artsdegree. Danny Glover, Annette Bening,Denzel Washington, and ElizabethBanks are among the conservatory’sdistinguished former students. Withits commitment to excellence in actortraining and to the relationship betweentraining, performance, and audience, theA.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program hasmoved to the forefront of America’s actortraining programs, while serving as thecreative engine of the company at large.Carey Perloff, Artistic Director • Heather Kitchen, Executive DirectorTRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER FOUNDATIONMary S. MetzChairNancy LivingstonVice ChairLawrence P. VarellasTreasurerPatrick S. ThompsonSecretaryBarbara Bass BakarTeveia BarnesKenneth W. BerrymanLesley Ann Clement DrekslerJack CortisJoan DanforthEdward J. DobranskiDagmar DolbyOlympia DukakisMortimer FleishhackerMarilee K. GardnerPriscilla B. GeeslinRobert GreenKaatri B. GriggRichard H. HardingKent M. HarveyDianne HogeHeather M. KitchenJonathan S. KitchenSue Yung LiChristine MattisonDeedee McMurtryMichele MillerCarey PerloffSteve PhillipsToni RembeSally RosenblattRusty RueffRuss SelingerCheryl SorokinSteven L. SwigBarry WilliamsCarlie WilmansAlan L. SteinChairman EmeritusAmerican ConservatoryTheater was founded in1965 by William Ball.Edward HastingsArtistic Director 1986–1992A.C.T. Box Office415.749.2ACTA.C.T. Websitewww.act-sf.org© 2006 AmericanConservatory Theater,a nonprofit organization.All rights reserved.Elizabeth Brodersen,Publications EditorJessica Werner Zack,Contributing EditorMargot Melcon,Publications & Literary AssistantTravesties 3