SEATTLE: A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) has announced the 2017 lineup for the ACTLab, featuring seven works that will supplement the mainstage season throughout the year.
“For 10 years ACTLab has been the leading incubator for Seattle’s emerging theatre companies and entrepreneurial artists,” said artistic director John Langs in a statement. “It was the vision of Carlo Scandiuzzi and Kurt Beattie to throw open the theatre doors and to activate the many intimate world class venues in our building. It’s been a remarkable initiative that has changed ACT from a theatre that produced a single mainstage season to a flourishing hub of creativity, risk, and exploration.”
The season will begin with Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (Jan. 31-Feb.19), co-presented with the Seagull Project, about a family struggling to hold onto their estate as social, political, and economic changes threaten to change their lives.
Next up will be Defying Expectations (Feb. 25-27), co-presented with Showtunes Theatre Company, a cabaret curated and directed by Sam Pettit.
Following will be Chitrangada (April 28-May 20), co-presented with Pratidhwani.
Next up will be Theresa Rebeck’s The Basement (June 14-July 9), co-presented with Theatre22.
Next will be The Bridges of Madison County (Dates TBA), co-presented with Showtunes Theatre Company. The musical, with book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, is about an Italian woman who has an affair with a National Geographic photographer.
Following will be BenDeLaCreme (Dates TBA), a burlesque performance by drag performer BenDeLaCreme.
The ACT Lab season will conclude with the return of Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt’s Ham for the Holidays (Dates TBA), co-presented with Tongueinchic.
Also part of the programming will be a number of series and festivals, beginning with “14/48: The World’s Quickest Theater Festival” (Jan. 6-14). The Seagull Project will present The Great Soul of Russia (May 9, June 6, July 25, Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Nov. 14). Next up will be “The Icicle Creek New Play Festival” (May 2-3). The eSe Teatro will present The Construction Zone (Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29), and a local radio station will record live at ACT with Sandbox Radio LIVE! (Aug. 21 and Dec. 29). Lastly, ACT will present a showcase of work by the Kenan Directing Fellowship recipients (TBA).
