Photo Flash: American Conservatory Theatre Celebrates Artistic Director, Carey Perloff

With the help of celebrated guest artists,American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) raised $1.2 million at its 2018 Season Gala honoring Carey Perloff and her 25-year tenure as artistic director. Proceeds from the gala, held on Saturday, April 7 at San Francisco's Four Seasons Hotel, support A.C.T.'s professional training and education and community programs reaching more than 20,000 Bay Area-based recipients each year.

More than 300 guests attended this year's gala, which began with a cocktail reception and Commedia dell'Arte performances by A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts students. Immediately following, guests were ushered into an elegant ballroom featuring décor and florals by Blueprint Studios. As guests enjoyed a lavish dinner prepared by Four Seasons Hotel Executive Chef Mark Richardson, they heard heartfelt toasts and performances by celebrated guest artists from throughout Perloff's illustrious 25 years, including Tony Award winner BD Wong, Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose, Academy Award nominee David Strathairn, Marco Barricelli, Anthony Fusco, Peter Anderson, Grace Ng, Shona Tucker, and Brigid O'Brien. In addition, tributes to Perloff from Tony Award winner Bill Irwin and Tony Award nominee John Douglas Thompson were read onstage. U.S. SenatorKamala Harris issued a Proclamation thanking Perloff for her contributions to the San Francisco artistic community. Legendary playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, a surprise guest, paid tribute to Perloff with a moving speech that received a rousing standing ovation. The program concluded with a special tribute video to Perloff featuring eminent artists from throughout her tenure, including Seana McKenna,Gregory Wallace, Sharon Lockwood, Dan Hiatt, Val Caniparoli, Pascal Molat,Steven Anthony Jones, Lorenzo Pisoni, Nick Gabriel, Geoffrey Hoyle, Carly Cioffi, Johanna Pfaelzer, Olympia Dukakis, Dennis Boutsikaris, and more!

That evening, the Carey Perloff Classics Fund, which honors Carey's legacy by raising necessary funds to continue A.C.T.'s tradition of producing classical theater, was officially launched. In addition, A.C.T. Executive Director Peter Pastreich, alongside gala co-chairs Prisca Geeslin and Nancy Livingston, announced that Perloff's favorite rehearsal studio at A.C.T.'s Conservatory has been renamed theCarey Perloff Rehearsal Studio in her honor. The evening culminated with an after-party featuring cocktails and dancing to music provided by Wingtip.

The Gala Committee, led by Geeslin and Livingston, includes Kirke and Nancy Sawyer Hasson, Jo S. Hurley, Alan Jones, Fred Levin, Jamie Martin, Michael P. Nguyen, Robina Riccitiello, Patti Rueff, Abby Sadin Schnair, Cherie Sorokin,Adriana López Vermut, and Kay Yun.

PHOTO CREDIT: DREW ALTIZER

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