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    Mainstage Play Series

    The cornerstone of ACT's mission, Mainstage plays are the world-class productions that the community has come to expect each year since ACT was founded in 1965. Fully produced, and featuring amazing design value, directing, and acting from local and national artists, Mainstage plays are most often staged in our larger theaters, the Allen and Falls. ACT's Mainstage productions include both world premieres and the new generations of contemporary classics.

    To view current and upcoming Mainstage productions, visit On Stage and click the small Mainstage icon above the list of events

    Past Mainstage productions

    CHL iconThe Central Heating Lab at ACT

    ACT's innovative Central Heating Lab initiative is devoted to nurturing and supporting new works, new talent, and local artists spanning not only theatre, but also cabaret, music, dance, spoken word, film, and performance and visual art. Uniquely positioned to provide the space and resources to the development of new projects in a collaborative environment, ACT partners with emerging and seasoned local artists, and gives them the heat, sustenance and pressure required to experiment, grow and transform their work and reach new audiences. Programs are added throughout the year.

    To view current and upcoming Central Heating Lab productions, visit On Stage and click the small Central Heating Lab icon above the list of events

    Past Central Heating Lab productions

    Information about submitting your own work

    Hansberry IconThe Hansberry Project at ACT

    Named after activist-playwright Lorraine Hansberry, the Hansberry Project is a professional Black theatre company dedicated to the artistic exploration of African American life, history and culture. In partnership with ACT, the Hansberry Project is committed to producing the best plays of the Black theatre, classics and new works alike. The hope is that this theatre will become a center where the entire community can be enriched by the voices of professional Black artists, reflecting autonomous concerns, investigations, dreams, and artistic expression.

    To see if there are any current and upcoming Hansberry Project productions at ACT, visit On Stage and click the small Hansberry icon above the list of events

    Learn more about the Hansberry Project at hansberryproject.org

    New Works for the American Stage

    A first of its kind program for commissioning new work with leading local and national playwrights. ACT's first completed commission, Becky's New Car by Steven Dietz (commissioned by Charlie Staadecker in honor of Benita Staadecker), was produced on the Mainstage in 2008 and is now being presented at other regional theatres throughout the United States. We have five additional new plays in commission:

    Desert Birds by Julie Marie Myatt (commissioned by Art Wahl in honor of Eva Wahl)

    How to Remove Blood from a Carpet by Laura Schellhardt (commissioned by Paul and Paula Butzi)

    A new play by Jason Grote (commissioned by Gian-Carlo and Eulalie Scandiuzzi)

    Maggie Cassidy by Chris Jeffries (commissioned by Dennis Forsyth in honor Elaine Spencer)

    The Final Days of NegroVille     by Keith Joseph Adkins (commissioned by Gian-Carlo and Eulalie Scandiuzzi)

    To commission a play, please contact Development Director Josef Krebs at Josef.krebs@acttheatre.org or (206) 292-7660 ext 1321.

    SpecProgram IconSpecial Programming

    Productions and events that are not included in the programs listed above, such as our annual holiday production of A Christmas Carol, or the Young Playwrights Festival (from ACT's Young Playwrights Program).

    To see if there are any current and upcoming Special Programming productions, visit On Stage and click the small Special Programming icon above the list of events

    Guest Production icon no text jpgGuest Productions

    ACT Theatre also rents its spaces to guest productions, both private and open to the public. Tickets to guest productions are traditionally sold on ACT's website, though ACT does not produce these rental productions.

    To see if there are any current and upcoming Guest Productions, visit On Stage and click the small Guest icon above the list of events

    More information about hosting an event or production at ACT