Virtual Stage and Electric Company Theatre Present NO EXIT, 4/7-5/1

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) brings another acclaimed international hit to the Bay Area with the U.S. premiere of The Virtual Stage and Electric Company Theatre's production of Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit. Adapted from the French by Paul Bowles and conceived and directed by Kim Collier, this production arrives fresh from sold-out performances across Canada. When a mysterious valet ushers three people into a shabby hotel room, they soon discover that hell isn't fire and brimstone at all-it's other people. Sartre's existential masterpiece, skillfully reimagined through the perspective of a series of hidden cameras, turns the stage into a cinema, and the audience into voyeurs, as a thrillingly staged "live film" takes place before your eyes. Described as "epic, voyeuristic, theater-as-film staging . . . spectacularly brilliant" by the Calgary Herald and "diabolically inventive . . . a riveting theatrical event" by the Georgia Straight (Vancouver), No Exit plays April 7-May 1, 2011, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 8 p.m. Tickets (starting at $10) are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or at American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) brings another acclaimed international hit to the Bay Area with the U.S. premiere of The Virtual Stage and Electric Company Theatre's production of Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit. Adapted from the French by Paul Bowles and conceived and directed by Kim Collier, this production arrives fresh from sold-out performances across Canada. When a mysterious valet ushers three people into a shabby hotel room, they soon discover that hell isn't fire and brimstone at all-it's other people. Sartre's existential masterpiece, skillfully reimagined through the perspective of a series of hidden cameras, turns the stage into a cinema, and the audience into voyeurs, as a thrillingly staged "live film" takes place before your eyes. Described as "epic, voyeuristic, theater-as-film staging . . . spectacularly brilliant" by the Calgary Herald and "diabolically inventive . . . a riveting theatrical event" by the Georgia Straight (Vancouver), No Exit plays April 7-May 1, 2011, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 8 p.m. Tickets (starting at $10) are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or at www.act-sf.org<http//www.act-sf.org/>. Collier, who recently received the prestigious Siminovitch Prize, Canada's largest theater award, explains the impulses behind her vision for Sartre's oft-visited play: "In this new vision for No Exit, the sense of entrapment and alienation is more complete and palpable. By creating a theatrical space around the hotel room that traditionally defined the perimeter, we are 'widening the frame' on Sartre's play. This gives us a platform to continue our investigations of the intersection of live theater and film, and to investigate how a silent, physical narrative can reframe an existing, well-known piece." Electric Company Theatre, a leading force in Canada's flourishing experimental theater scene, has made a name for itself since 1996 for pieces that are rich in spectacle and adventurous in form. As in No Exit, the audience is at the center of the company's creative process, and the act of watching usually becomes a theme of their work. In this production of No Exit, the Valet ushers each of the three visitors into a bunker onstage, where they are locked in with multiple cameras that feed their actions to three oversized screens. The audience experiences their interactions closeup and in real time, while the Valet's outside world creates an illuminating juxtaposition and framework for the action captured on film. With such shows as Brief Encounter and The Black Rider, A.C.T. has received recognition for presenting the American premieres of many groundbreaking theatrical works. Beginning with 2005's The Overcoat, Artistic Director Carey Perloff has formEd Strong connections with such acclaimed Canadian artists as Peter Anderson (who starred in The Overcoat as well as A.C.T's The Tosca Project) and Morris Panych (who wrote and directed last season's Vigil). Collier says: "This U.S. premiere is a product of a few years of great conversations and visits with Carey Perloff and the tremendous staff at A.C.T. Over time we discovered not only a shared vision for theater, but also a fantastic, supportive, and inspiring partner." The original cast of this new interpretation of No Exit will be performing at A.C.T. for the U.S. premiere: Lucia Frangione as Estelle; Laara Sadiq as Inez; Andy Thompson, who is the founding artistic and managing director of The Virtual Stage and designed the video projections, as Cradeau; and Jonathon Young as the Valet. The creative team, also from the premiere production and the Canadian tour, include sound designer Brian Linds, costume designer Kirsten McGhie, scenic designer Jay Gower Taylor, and lighting designer John Webber. A.C.T. will offer numerous InterACT events-many of which are offered free of charge-in association with No Exit 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: Apr. 7-17 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-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 Kim Collier: Tue., Apr. 12, at 5:30 p.m. Get inside the artistic process with a free half-hour preshow discussion with Kim Collier. FREE and open to the public (no tickets required). * Bring What You Can/Pay What You Wish: Thu., Apr. 14, 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. * Theater on the Couch: Fri., Apr. 15, at 8 p.m. Join members of the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis for an exciting postperformance discussion that explores the psychological aspects of the show and addresses audience questions. * Audience Exchanges: Tue., Apr. 19, at 7 p.m. / Sun. Apr. 24, at 2 p.m. / Wed., Apr. 27, 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., Apr. 20, at 8 p.m. Ten-year anniversary! Meet the cast and enjoy free cocktails and treats at these popular LGBT parties. Visit www.act-sf.org/out for more information about OUT night. A.C.T.'s presentation of No Exit is made possible by executive producers Mrs. Albert Moorman and Mary and Steven Swig; producers Jeffrey W. and Jeri Lynn Johnson; and associate producers Nancy and Joachim Bechtle, Ronald Casassa, Myrkle and Madeline Deaton, Joan Eckart, Roberta and David Elliott, Vicki and David Fleishhacker, Dorothy A. Hyde, Charlie and Ann Johnson, Mr. Joel Krauska and Ms. Patricia Fox, Tim Mott, and Gary E. Roof and Douglas L. Light. A.C.T. would also like to acknowledge its 2010-11 season company sponsors: Priscilla and Keith Geeslin; Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen; Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation; Burt and Deedee McMurtry; Patti and Rusty Rueff; Kathleen Scutchfield; Mary and Steven Swig; Jeff and Laurie Ubben; and Susan A. Van Wagner.">www.act-sf.org.

Collier, who recently received the prestigious Siminovitch Prize, Canada's largest theater award, explains the impulses behind her vision for Sartre's oft-visited play: "In this new vision for No Exit, the sense of entrapment and alienation is more complete and palpable. By creating a theatrical space around the hotel room thattraditionally defined the perimeter, we are 'widening the frame' on Sartre's play. This gives us a platform to continue our investigations
of the intersection of live theater and film, and to investigate how a silent, physical narrative can reframe an existing, well-known piece." Electric Company Theatre, a leading force in Canada's flourishing experimental theater scene, has made a name for itself since 1996 for pieces that are rich in spectacle and adventurous in form. As in No Exit, the audience is at the center of the company's creative process, and the act of watching usually becomes a theme of their work. In this production of No Exit, the Valet ushers each of the three visitors into a bunker onstage, where they are locked in with multiple cameras that feed their actions to three oversized screens. The audience experiences their interactions closeup and in real time, while the Valet's outside world creates an illuminating juxtaposition and framework for the action captured on film.

With such shows as Brief Encounter and The Black Rider, A.C.T. hasreceived recognition for presenting the American premieres of many groundbreaking theatrical works. Beginning with 2005's The Overcoat, Artistic Director Carey Perloff has formEd Strong connections with such acclaimed Canadian artists as Peter Anderson (who starred in The Overcoat as well as A.C.T's The Tosca Project) and Morris Panych (who wrote and directed last season's Vigil). Collier says: "This U.S. premiere is a product of a few years of great conversations and visits with Carey Perloff and the tremendous staff at A.C.T. Over time we discovered not only a shared vision for theater, but also a fantastic, supportive, and inspiring partner."

The original cast of this new interpretation of No Exit will be performing at A.C.T. for the U.S. premiere: Lucia Frangione as Estelle; Laara Sadiq as Inez; Andy Thompson, who is the founding
artistic and managing director of The Virtual Stage and designed thevideo projections, as Cradeau; and Jonathon Young as the Valet. The creative team, also from the premiere production and the Canadian tour, include sound designer Brian Linds, costume designer Kirsten McGhie, scenic designer Jay Gower Taylor, and lighting designer John Webber.

A.C.T.'s presentation of No Exit is made possible by executive producers Mrs. Albert Moorman and Mary and Steven Swig; producers Jeffrey W. and Jeri Lynn Johnson; and associate producers Nancy and Joachim Bechtle, Ronald Casassa, Myrkle and Madeline Deaton, Joan Eckart, Roberta and David Elliott, Vicki and David Fleishhacker, Dorothy A. Hyde, Charlie and Ann Johnson, Mr. Joel Krauska and Ms.Patricia Fox, Tim Mott, and Gary E. Roof and Douglas L. Light. A.C.T. would also like to acknowledge its 2010-11 season company sponsors: Priscilla and Keith Geeslin; Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen; Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson

Foundation; Burt and Deedee McMurtry; Patti and Rusty Rueff; Kathleen Scutchfield; Mary and Steven Swig; Jeff and Laurie Ubben; and Susan A. Van Wagner.

 

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