ACT Theatre's Artistic Director Kurt Beattie to Retire

A Contemporary Theatre Board President Colin Chapman announces that Artistic Director Kurt Beattie will retire at the end of ACT's 2015 50th Anniversary Season and will be succeeded by John Langs, a nationally recognized theatre artist who has served as ACT's Associate Artistic Director since 2013. Beattie, ACT's Artistic Director since 2003, will assume the role of Artistic Director Emeritus upon his retirement, stewarding long-term projects already in development as well as acting and directing in upcoming seasons.

"Kurt has been steadfast in his commitment to our loyal audience, to shepherding new works, and to creating a groundbreaking new programming model through our Central Heating Lab. The Board of Trustees is honored to offer Kurt the distinguished title of Artistic Director Emeritus. We look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary season with Kurt and we know that his legacy will continue to feed the artistic soul of ACT for years to come." says Chapman.

"My first role at ACT was in 1975 in Greg Falls' production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui," says Beattie. "I could never have imagined the 40 year journey I would take with this incredible theatre. I have great faith in what the future holds. John is both a sensitive artist and an ambitious producer. He will take bold chances and look for stories that further our community in unique, powerful, and entertaining ways. As the Board, Executive Director Carlo Scandiuzzi, and I worked on this transition process, it was very important to be responsible to ACT's audiences and supporters. I feel very fortunate to be able to work with John and to support his imagination as he assumes leadership of ACT."

Under Beattie's leadership ACT has produced 11 Mainstage world premieres with local and national playwrights including Yussef El Guindi, Steven Dietz, Elizabeth Heffron, Mike Daisey, and more. In 2007 he wrote a visionary manifesto for the theatre and planted the seed for ACT to be a contributor to the greater cultural ecosystem of Seattle. From there, the Central Heating Lab was created as a new initiative to present and co-produce multidisciplinary works, building partnerships with more than 50 performing groups and increasing ACT's attendance by 20,000 visitors annually. Beattie co-directed the 2012 epic production of Ramayana, involving more than 40 artists and designers over two years. Other accomplishments include producing the artist-driven Pinter Fortnightly series that morphed into a Mainstage festival in 2012; a multi-year collaboration with The Hansberry Project; producing the top grossing blockbuster, The Women in 2007; and hosting Sir Alan Ayckbourn to direct the American premiere of Sugar Daddies in 2013. In 2015 Beattie will direct Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Travesties. He is in the initial phase of development on the adaptation of a Japanese epic for the stage.

"We are also extremely thrilled at the passion, vision, and excellence that John Langs brings to ACT, and to Seattle," says Chapman. "In the past two years, John has exhibited tremendous skill as an artist and as a leader of our organization. He has an exciting vision for ACT's future that furthers our mission of expanding consciousness. We look forward to supporting John and Carlo as they lead ACT into its next 50 seasons."

Langs is one of the most sought after directors in the American theatre today. His 16-year freelance career has afforded him the opportunity to work at prestigious theatre companies across the country including Playwrights Horizons where he earned a Lucille Lortel Award nomination, eight seasons with American Players Theatre, the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, the Lookingglass Theatre Company, and many others in Los Angeles and New York. "ACT stands out as a beacon of creativity and collaboration - aligned with the innovative reputation Seattle is known for," says Langs. "I have deep admiration and gratitude for Kurt. I remember walking by ACT's window in 2008 and seeing his Manifesto banner displayed from the sidewalk. I was inspired and immediately drawn into the culture of support and generosity here. I look forward to building on the established relationships ACT holds, creating new ones, and engaging in conversation with the tremendous audiences that participate in the exploration of process, performance and ideas." In 2015 Langs will direct The Three Sisters in the Central Heating Lab, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play on the Mainstage, and the 40th anniversary of A Christmas Carol.

Kurt Beattie joined ACT's staff in 2001 as associate artistic director and was appointed artistic director in April of 2003. Beattie's productions at ACT include Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Grey Gardens, Ramayana (with Sheila Daniels), Double Indemnity, In the Next Room: or the vibrator play, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Rock 'n' Roll, Becky's New Car, Intimate Exchanges, First Class, The Pillowman, Mitzi's Abortion, The Underpants, Vincent in Brixton, Bach at Leipzig, Black Coffee, Alki, Fuddy Meers, Fully Committed, Via Dolorosa and A Christmas Carol. Elsewhere he has directed Things Being What They Are and Art at Seattle Repertory Theatre, as well as productions at The Empty Space, Intiman Theatre, the Hugo House, and the University of Washington. As an actor, he has appeared in leading and major roles at ACT, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, and The Empty Space. Beattie was the co-recipient of the 2004 Theatre Puget Sound Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award and the 2012 ArtsFund Award for Outstanding Achievement.

John Langs has directed at Playwrights Horizons, Ensemble Studio Theater NY, The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, The Lookingglass Theater Company in Chicago, Circle X in Los Angeles, The Resident Ensemble Players in Delaware, New Century Theatre, Washington Ensemble Theater and Seattle Shakespeare Company. Notable credits include King Lear (Seattle Footlight Award for Best Production of the Year);The Shaggs Philosophy of the World (nominated for Lucile Lortel and Drama Desk awards celebrating excellence Off Broadway; Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Award for Best Original Musical, Backstage Garland Award for Best Direction); Brothers Karamazov (seven LADCC Awards including Best Production of the year and Best Direction); John received a Gregory Award honoring excellence in direction for NCTC's The Adding Machine. John has guided over a dozen projects to their premier production. At ACT he has directed the Pinter Festival's The Dumb Waiter and Celebration, Middletown, Bethany, A Christmas Carol, and the Central Heating Lab collaboration with The Seagull Project's widely praised production of The Seagull.

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