A.C.T. Opens Colm Toibin's TESTAMENT Tonight

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2014-15 season with Colm Tóibín's fiercely lyrical solo play, Testament. Originally staged at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2011-and retitled for Broadway in 2013 as The Testament of Mary-Testament is an incisive, vivid, and deeply human work that recounts in riveting detail a defiant mother's story of her son, who has been taken from her by men she regards as fanatics. Directed by A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff and starring Canadian leading actor, Seana McKenna (last seen in A.C.T.'s production of Napoli!), Testament has been hailed as "beautiful and daring" by the New York Times and was a 2013 Tony Award nominee for Best New Play. Testament will perform at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco) tonight, October 29-November 23, 2014. Press night for Testament will be on Wednesday, November 5, 2014. Tickets ($20-$120) are available now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

Says Perloff: "Colm Tóibín's novels and short stories have always taken my breath away, so the chance to be in a room with language of such beauty and imagination is one I couldn't pass up. Testament is a solo show with an epic reach. It wrestles with big questions about faith and cults, about mothers and sons and about who, ultimately, gets to write history. Colm will be in San Francisco for rehearsals, so the script will be constantly evolving. And who better than Seana McKenna to bring this tour de force to life?"

The creative team for Testament includes lighting and scenic designer Alex Nichols (Venus in Fur and Underneath the Lintel at A.C.T.; Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway on Broadway); costume designer Jessie Amoroso (Underneath the Lintel at A.C.T.); and sound designer Will McCandless (Venus in Fur and Napoli! at A.C.T.; Fences at Marin Theatre Company).

A.C.T. will offer numerous InterACT events-many of which are presented free of charge-in association with Testament that will give patrons opportunities to get closer to the action while making a whole night out of their evening at the theater. Visit act-sf.org/interact to learn more about subscribing to these events throughout the season:

• Bike to the Theater Night
Wed., October 29
Providing a greener alternative to theater transportation, A.C.T. and the San Francisco Bike Coalition offer free valet bike parking, as well as a special discount on tickets, for these select performances.

• Prologue:
Tues., November 4, 5:30 p.m.
Before the curtain goes up, get behind the artistic process at this fascinating preshow discussion with the director and artistic staff.

• Theater on the Couch:
Fri., November 7, following the 8 p.m. performance
Led by Dr. Mason Turner, chief of psychiatry at San Francisco's Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, this exciting postshow discussion series explores the minds, motives, and behaviors of the characters and addresses audience questions.

• Audience Exchanges:
Tues., November 11, 7 p.m. | Sun., November 16, 2 p.m. | Wed., November 19, 2 p.m.
After the show, stick around for a lively Q&A session with the actors and artists who create the work onstage.

• OUT with A.C.T.:
Wed., November 12, following the 8 p.m. performance
The best LGBT night in town! Mingle with the cast and enjoy free drinks and treats at this popular afterparty.

• Symposium:
Sat., November 15, 2 p.m.
You're invited to join us after the show for a lively discussion! A.C.T. invites you to join us in the theater immediately following your performance for a discussion and Q&A with a local expert. The discussion will be moderated by A.C.T. dramaturg Michael Paller. Can't make it to the event? We'll be streaming it live online!

• Wine Series:
Tues., November 18, 7 p.m.
Before the show, raise a glass at this wine tasting event featuring leading sommeliers from the Bay Area's hottest local wineries.

• PlayTime:
Sat., November 22, 12:45 p.m.
Before this matinee performance, get hands-on with theater with the artists who make it happen at this interactive workshop.

A.C.T.'s production of Testament is made possible by executive producers Robyn Coles and Jeri Lynn and Jeffrey W. Johnson; and producers Mr. and Mrs. David Crane, Ms. Anne Shonk, Bert and LeAnne Steinberg.

A.C.T. would like to acknowledge its 2014-15 company sponsors Frannie Fleishhacker; Priscilla and Keith Geeslin; Jeri Lynn and Jeffrey W. Johnson; Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston, The Shenson Foundation; Burt and Deedee McMurtry; Ms. Barbara Ravizza and Mr. John S. Osterweis; Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock; Doug Tilden and Teresa Keller.

A.C.T.'s 2014-15 season continues with the Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition, the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol; an all-new production of Tom Stoppard's great time-travel romance, Indian Ink; the West Coast debut of the outrageous and enthusiastically acclaimed new comedy, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play; the sumptuous jazz-filled production, Let There Be Love; the West Coast premiere of Caryl Churchill's internationally acclaimed new work, Love and Information; and Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's most rapturous and seductive musical, A Little Night Music.

Full-season subscriptions offer incredible savings, unparalleled access, exclusive benefits, and personalized customer service. Subscribers save as much as 50% off single-ticket prices. Students and educators are eligible to save up to half-price on subscriptions, and senior discounts are available for certain series. To make subscriptions more affordable, A.C.T. also offers all subscribers an extended payment plan that allows payment in two easy installments. A.C.T.'s competitive subscriber benefits include free ticket exchanges up to the day of scheduled tickets, guaranteed best seating, ticket insurance, access to convenient prepaid parking one block away from the theater, discounts for neighborhood restaurants, and the opportunity to subscribe to Words on Plays, A.C.T.'s in-depth theater guide for each show. Subscriptions can be ordered via the A.C.T. subscriptions office by calling 415.749.2250 or online at www.act-sf.org/subscribe.

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