FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Gail Benzler, Director of Marketing, Communications and Sales
gail.benzler@acttheatre.org

ACT Sets 2021 Digital Season Line-Up: Announcing an Enticing Collection of Virtual Digital Content

Package includes World Premieres and all-new works available for at-home viewing

SEATTLE (February 5, 2021) — ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) today announces the launch of its 2021 Digital Season, an exclusive mix of virtual world premiere productions and live-streamed play readings of new works, all penned by local Seattle-area playwrights. The World Premiere of Wad, by Keiko Green, will open the digital season on March 5. History of Theatre, another World Premiere work by Reginald André Jackson, premieres May 14. In addition, the season includes three online play readings performed live as part of the ACTLocal Live collection: Hellyoutalmbout by M.L. Roberts; Crumbs / Migas by Rebecca Tourino Collinsworth and The Optimist, or What Time Travel Means to Me by Stacy D. Flood. The digital package — the only way for audiences to see all five works — is available for purchase now. Content can be viewed anywhere and on any device.

“In the past 12 months, ACT has been on an inward journey, evaluating the art we make and how we make it. This digital season highlights our reinvigorated,” says John Langs, ACT’s Artistic Director. “Wad, History of Theatre and ACTLocal Live reflect the deepening commitment we have to nourish our community by showcasing the remarkable contemporary talent here in our own city. It is an honor to be taking risks in this digital frontier with our partners Trial and Error Productions and The Hansberry Project; pushing the boundaries of storytelling in the way a true contemporary theatre should do to answer the call of this time. Great stories create community and while we miss breathing the same air, we remain committed to sharing the heart, soul and creativity with our ever widening audience.”

“The disconnect we are all experiencing from the lack of live performances is incredibly difficult and the impact is real. I know we all crave the connection that only gathering together in the theatre can provide,” Becky Witmer, ACT’s Managing Director says. “We’ll get there. Until then, we have an opportunity to produce innovative and contemporary new works, delivered in the digital space. Audiences can watch our digital season on any device from anywhere they live, giving us the opportunity to engage audiences we might never reach before. We are very grateful for our donors, subscribers and patrons who have been with us on this unprecedented journey; they continue to support ACT now and will be there to help us secure a wonderful new future once we can gather together safely once again.”

2021 ACT DIGITAL SEASON LINE-UP

WAD

WORLD PREMIERE
Written by Keiko Green* and Directed by Ameenah Kaplan
March 5 – March 28, 2021
Produced in Partnership with Trial and Error Productions

Jim is on death row. Nyce is his pen pal. She swears she’s 18, but maybe she’s not. In any case, she’s just a high school kid with a true crime obsession and a crappy home life. As Jim’s execution date nears, he and Nyce live out alternate realities, fantasize about death and dying, tell a bunch of lies and eventually get to something close to the truth.

Performers: Avery Clark* and Rachel Guyer-Mafune*

HISTORY OF THEATRE

WORLD PREMIERE
Written by Reginald André Jackson* and Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton
Produced in Partnership with The Hansberry Project
May 14 – June 6, 2021

History of Theatre is a guided tour through many of the high — and low — lights of African American theatre. We begin 200 years ago by meeting the intrepid founding members of The African Company, who in the days of slavery, went toe to toe with the largest professional theatres in the United States. Then, we’ll take a brief trip through vaudeville, with its many trappings. Broadway’s first Black stars will share a tale or two. Seattle takes center stage in the 1930s when President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal brings the Emerald City a federally funded Black theatre, in the form of the Negro Repertory Company. How will the city’s new crop of theatres respond to the Civil Rights Movement? What was it like heading a Black run theatre in Seattle through the 70s, 80s and 90s?

This tour aims to breathe life into these oft forgotten figures; it also speaks to living theatre artists about their experiences, what they’ve learned from those experiences and how Black Theatre moves forward from the current moment.

How to watch:

Wad and History of Theatre are fully-produced virtual plays, recorded and streaming on-demand. These plays are available now as part of the Digital Season package. Patrons will also be able to purchase single tickets for both limited-run productions.

ACTLOCAL LIVE Collection

A collection of three play readings of new works, by local artists. These readings will be live-streamed.

HELLYOUTALMBOUT

Written by M.L. Roberts*
March 19 and 20
Produced in Partnership with Trial and Error Productions

Raised by their uncle from a young age, orphaned twins Roland and Janelle prepare to celebrate their 30th birthdays. But an act of violence breaks apart the family gathering, revealing secrets that have been long kept. Meanwhile, a conservative reporter works to reclaim her fanbase after a scandal derails her career. Finding magic, humor and danger along the way, each of them are forced to confront who they really are and what they can become.

CRUMBS / MIGAS

Written by Rebeca Tourino Collinsworth
April 16 and 17
Produced in Partnership with Trial and Error Productions

In a fictional Latin American country, two hungry children are orphaned by a U.S. backed coup. Fifteen years later, they return, a modern-day Hansel and Gretel, to follow what migas they can in search of their father. Revisiting the scene of the violence they survived, they discover a landscape of secrets and sacrifice they are only beginning to understand. Delivered through compact and electric dialogue, and leavened with compassion and even humor, Crumbs / Migas is a play about the grief and grace we encounter on the way home.

THE OPTIMIST, OR WHAT TIME TRAVEL MEANS TO ME

Written by Stacy Flood
June 4 and 5
Produced in Partnership with Trial and Error Productions

Inspired by the life and work of Jimi Hendrix, The Optimist, or What Space Travel Means to Me follows our protagonist, Jesse, on a journey of self-discovery — overcoming monsters, perceived or otherwise, through space, seas and the heavens. Nevertheless, each setback and success forces Jesse to examine the true nature of what victory really means, whether such is ever absolute and how to ultimately come to a place of peace through each step of the journey.

How to watch:

The collection of ACTLocal Live play readings is only only available through purchase of the 2021 digital season package.

*Member of the Core Company, ACT’s artist residency

For tickets and more information about ACT, its digital season and upcoming programs, please visit www.ACTTheatre.org or call the Ticket Office at 206.292.7676.

Additional Information for Editors:

ACT’s Digital Season features exclusive virtual streamed and live-streamed content audiences can enjoy at home, on any device.

For the public:

Tickets: $78 for all five programs; https://acttheatre.org/2021-digital-season-package
Contact: communications@acttheatre.org

About ACT Theatre

ACT is a contemporary theatre where artistic ambition and civic engagement unite.
Located in Seattle’s Downtown Theatre District, ACT is home to five performance spaces under one roof. Since 1965, ACT has been a destination for experiencing new voices, stories and art. Reaching over 140,000 audience members each year, ACT is steadfast in its dedication to producing world-class work with contemporary playwrights and local performing artists through its Mainstage play series, as well as its community and artistic partnerships. Under the leadership of Managing Director Becky Witmer and Artistic Director John Langs, ACT is a community hub where artists and the public connect about today’s issues and ideas and celebrate the shared experience of live theatre.

Special thanks to ACT’s 2021 Digital Season sponsors ArtsFund, 4Culture, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and The Shubert Foundation.

Thank you to our Media Sponsor, The Seattle Times.

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ACT Theatre, 700 Union Street, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA