"We exist for the same reason that there is public education and public health - to support and raise the quality of life in our civilization. We believe in the theatre of the moment, this moment, the present, contemporary struggles, issues, ideas, being. If this practice creates light, consciousness, deeper thought, more fellow feeling, both in our audiences and in ourselves, we believe this to be good for something."

-Kurt Beattie, Artistic Director

Kurt Beattie, Artistic Director

Kurt Beattie joined ACT in 2001 as associate artistic director and was appointed artistic director in April of 2003. Beattie's past productions at ACT include Grey Gardens, Ramayana, Double Indemnity, In the Next Room: or the vibrator play, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Rock 'n' Roll, Becky's New Car, Intimate Exchanges, First Class, The Pillowman, Mitzi's Abortion, The Underpants, Vincent in Brixton, Bach at Leipzig, Black Coffee, Alki, Fuddy Meers, Fully Committed, Via Dolorosa and A Christmas Carol. Elsewhere he has directed Things Being What They Are and Art at Seattle Repertory Theatre, as well as productions at The Empty Space, Intiman Theatre, the Hugo House, and the University of Washington. As an actor, he has appeared in leading and major roles at ACT, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, and The Empty Space. Beattie was the co-recipient of the 2004 Theatre Puget Sound Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award and the 2012 ArtsFund Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi, Executive Director

Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi joined ACT in 2007 to oversee its new works and Central Heating Lab initiative, and took over as executive director in 2008. He is a founder of Agate Films and Clear Pictures, producing such films as Prototype, Dark Drive, Outpatient and The Flats and Indieflix, a distribution company. In 1979, Scandiuzzi started Modern Productions, bringing to Seattle such legendary bands as The Police, Devo, Nina Hagen, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, John Cale, Robert Frip, James Brown, Muddy Waters and many more. He performed in several plays at The Empty Space Theatre including Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Return of Pinocchio and Dracula. In the early '80s, he collaborated with many Seattle performance artists such as Norman Durkey, Alan Lande and Jesse Bernstein. He also acted in various films including Bugsy, The Public Eye, Another You, Casanova's Kiss and Killing Zoe. He graduated from the Ecole Superieure D'Art Dramatique of Geneva.