A.C.T. Presents Humor Abuse

Following the success of Bill Irwin's season opener, Scapin, in 2010, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) welcomes another Pickle Family Circus alumnus to its stage with Humor Abuse, Lorenzo Pisoni's celebrated one-man show cocreated with director Erica Schmidt. In this hilarious stage memoir filled with stupendous physical feats, Pisoni takes us under the big top with the incredible true story of growing up as the youngest member of the Pickles. Celebrating the complicated, no-holds-barred life of a performer, Pisoni shows off the tricks of the trade he learned from his father, Pickle cofounder Larry Pisoni. A humorous and heartfelt event that will delight audiences of all ages, Humor Abuse dazzles with unforgettable memories and mesmerizing routines-all performed by the "one-man whirlwind" (WOR Radio) Lorenzo Pisoni. The show, presented in association with Seattle Repertory Theatre, has been critically acclaimed throughout its runs around the country: the New York Times called Pisoni "a performer of charisma and charm with the split-second timing and aplomb of Buster Keaton," TheatreMania hailed the show as "utterly charming, absorbing, and hilarious," and Variety praised the show as "surprising, funny, and entirely theatrical." Humor Abuse performs January 12–February 5, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at 8 p.m. Tickets (starting at $10) and family four-packs (four tickets for the price of two for select performances) are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or at act-sf.org.

About bringing the show to the Bay Area, Pisoni, who last appeared on the A.C.T. stage in 2005's hugely popular The Gamester and also recently performed in Broadway's Equus alongside Daniel Radcliffe, says: "Ever since Erica and I created Humor Abuse, I've wanted to do it in San Francisco. I had a wonderful experience the last time I was on the A.C.T. stage, so now I am thrilled not only to have a chance to return to A.C.T., but also to bring this piece with me. I know many A.C.T. audience members will have a deep, nostalgic connection to what happens in the play because the Pickles were a part of San Francisco's culture for so long." A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff says: "From the moment I saw Lorenzo's captivating performance of Humor Abuse in New York, I fell in love with its ineffable charm, heart, and honesty. Lorenzo is such a magnetic and charismatic performer that you cannot take your eyes off him, and his coming-of-age story has a universality that I believe our audiences will find extremely moving, as well as extremely funny."
Pisoni was born into the Pickle Family Circus shortly after his parents, Larry Pisoni and Peggy Snider, founded the alternative big top in 1974 with their juggling partner Cecil Mackinnon. After Bill Irwin and Geoff Hoyle joined their ranks-creating the incomparable clown trio of Lorenzo Pickle (Pisoni), Willy the Clown (Irwin), and Mr. Sniff (Hoyle)-the Pickles became a venerable and beloved Bay Area institution. They toured the West Coast (and beyond) through the 1980s and '90s and led the charge in the renewal of the American circus, exchanging animal acts and pyrotechnics in the supersized three-ring format with daring acrobatics and its famous show-stopping group juggle, all presented on one intimate stage so audiences would not miss a single moment. Lorenzo Pisoni grew up in this hotbed of creativity, first appearing onstage at the age of two. He became his father's clown partner not long after, and he continued to perform with the troupe during his teens. Pisoni, a natural storyteller, gives the audience a unique take on the familiar coming-of-age story and creates a moving and hilarious portrait of a father-and-son relationship. His recollections are centered around physically demanding tricks (both newly created acts as well as and reenactments of his father's famous Pickle performances) that show off his skills as a juggler, acrobatic, clown, and physical comedian.
The creative team for Humor Abuse includes lighting designer Ben Stanton (Seminar on Broadway, Angels in America at the Signature Theatre), sound designer Bart Fasbender (over 100 productions, including work at The Public Theater, Brooklyn Academy Of Music, and Atlantic Theater Company), and composer Randy Craig (who is an original Pickle Family Circus member and recently composed and performed the music for A.C.T.'s production of Scapin last season). Humor Abuse is stage-managed by Hannah Cohen.
A.C.T. will offer numerous InterACT events-many of which are presented free of charge-in association with Humor Abuse that will give patrons opportunities to get closer to the action while making a whole night out of their evening at the theater:

• 10UP: World-Class Theater at Happy-Hour Prices: Jan. 12–22

Live it up with 10UP! Enjoy the Bay Area's best theater for only $10 a ticket for Balcony seats during select performances. The third-floor Sky Bar opens one hour before curtain time-show up early and mingle with other theatergoers while you enjoy happy-hour drinks and soak up the historic charm of one of the most beautiful theaters in the country.

• Audience Prologue Featuring Director Erica Schmidt: Tue., Jan. 17, at 5:30 p.m.

Get inside the artistic process at this lively preshow discussion with the director and A.C.T. artistic staff.

• Bring What You Can/Pay What You Wish: Thu., Jan. 19, at 8 p.m.

Pay any amount for your tickets when you bring nonperishable food donations for the San Francisco Food Bank (sffoodbank.org). Patrons are limited to two tickets per donated item, two tickets per person. Tickets go on sale at 6 p.m. the day of the performance. Sponsored by Bank of the West.

• Audience Exchanges: Tue., Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. / Sun., Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. /
Wed., Feb. 1, at 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., Jan. 25, 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. Visit www.act-sf.org/out for information about how to subscribe to OUT nights throughout the season.

· A.C.T. Family Series (NEW this season!): Sat., Feb. 4, before the 2 p.m. performance

Join us at 1 p.m. for a fun and lively preshow event! An A.C.T. artist will lead a lively, interactive workshop on clowning and physical theater. Visit www.act-sf.org/family for information about how to subscribe to the A.C.T. Family Series throughout the season.

A.C.T.'s production of Humor Abuse is made possible by producer Marilee K. Gardner. A.C.T. would also like to acknowledge its 2011–12 season company sponsors Ray and Dagmar Dolby, Frannie and Mort Fleishhacker, Ambassador James C. Hormel and Michael P. Nguyen, Koret Foundation, Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston, The Shenson Foundation, Burt and Deedee McMurtry, Patti and Rusty Rueff, Mary and Steven Swig, Doug Tilden, and Jeff and Laurie Ubben.
A.C.T.'s 2011–12 season continues with many other incredible productions. Next up is the world premiere of Carey Perloff's Higher (February 1–19, 2012), a gripping love story about two architects competing to design a memorial in Israel, directed by Mark Rucker at The Theater at Children's Creative Museum (formerly Zeum Theater), the intimate 160-seat venue at Yerba Buena Gardens. February also introduces a celebrated Middle Eastern voice to the Bay Area with the West Coast premiere of Wajdi Mouawad's haunting play Scorched (February 16–March 11, 2012), starring Academy Award nominee David Strathairn. After receiving more than 100 productions (in several languages) worldwide, the Lebanese-Canadian writer's haunting new play will be directed at A.C.T. by Carey Perloff in a beautiful translation from the original French by distinguished Canadian author Linda Gaboriau. The season continues with the West Coast premiere of a brand-new work that was the hit of this year's esteemed Humana Festival of New American Plays: Jordan Harrison's hilarious and touching Maple and Vine (March 29–April 22, 2012), directed by Mark Rucker. May welcomes Tony Award–winning actor and A.C.T. associate artist Bill Irwin back to A.C.T. with the two Samuel Beckett plays Endgame and Play, directed by Carey Perloff. The 2011–12 season culminates with five-time Tony Award–winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman's (The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Contact on Broadway) production of The Scottsboro Boys (June 21–July 15, 2012), which received 12 Tony Award nominations this year, including Best Musical, Best Direction, and Best Choreography. The final collaboration between the legendary songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago and Cabaret), The Scottsboro Boys features a book by Tony Award–nominated writer David Thompson (1996 revival of Chicago and Steel Pier on Broadway) and will showcase many of the original Broadway cast members in a coproduction with The Old Globe. To subscribe or to receive a season brochure, please call 415.749.2250 or visit act-sf.org.

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