ACT MFA Program Presents Ackerman's VOLLEYGIRLS 3/12-3/28

The A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program and Young Conservatory present the world premiere production of Volleygirls, Rob Ackerman's funny and moving look at the spirit and passion of team sports, directed by W. D. Keith. Featuring actors from the graduating class of the A.C.T. M.F.A. Program and young actors from the Young Conservatory, Volleygirls spikes a spirited, heartfelt look at a down-and-out high school volleyball team. Following a string of losses and facing their biggest rival, the girls of Saint Agnes hatch a wild plan to turn their flailing team around-while their self-defeating coach must confront his "loseritis." The action overflows from the court to the stands, as parents play out their own personal dramas. Volleygirls plays March 12-28, 2009, at Zeum Theater, located at Yerba Buena Gardens (Fourth and Howard streets). Tickets are $15.50-$20.50 and are available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.

Volleygirls marks the second collaboration between the two arms of the A.C.T.'s Conservatory following the success of The Wendy Play last season. "Volleygirls continues A.C.T.'s commitment to new works, and to integrating teaching, learning, and performing in our training programs," says A.C.T. Conservatory Director Melissa Smith. "Given the multigenerational dynamic of our students at A.C.T., it's only natural for us to explore ways in which the journey can be bridged between the M.F.A. Program and the Young Conservatory." Young Conservatory director Craig Slaight adds: "This commission offers us a rare opportunity to unite the talents of A.C.T.'s masters of fine arts and Young Conservatory programs in the launch of a brand-new play. Rob Ackerman's hard-hitting and often funny play, under W.D. Keith's wonderful guidance, leaps off the stage in a theatrical and fast-paced physical production about winning and losing and the challenges faced by young people in competitive sports today."

Receiving and providing mentorship is one of the cornerstones of A.C.T. M.F.A. Program's unique approach to actor training. A.C.T. M.F.A. Program students get a chance to work closely with professional actors in A.C.T.'s core acting company on A.C.T.'s stages-the American Conservatory Theater and Zeum Theater-and in classrooms, while mentoring young actors studying in A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory through their work on the annual production of A Christmas Carol and other productions such as Volleygirls. Many A.C.T. M.F.A. Program candidates also teach in the Young Conservatory over the summer.

A talented group of young actors makes up the cast of Volleygirls, including M.F.A. candidates James Bigelow, Nick Gabriel, Kelsey Venter, and Cat Walleck. Joining them as the enthusiastic members of the volleyball team are Young Conservatory actors Zoe Burnbaum, Madeleine Kelley, Caitlin Martin, Arianna Papalexopoulos, Katie Rich, Jacqueline Toboni, and Colin Woodell.

Ranked as one of the top programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program was the first theater training program in the country not affiliated with a college or university accredited to award the master of fine arts degree. The M.F.A. Program functions as the cornerstone of the A.C.T. Conservatory, which also includes the Summer Training Congress, Studio A.C.T., and the Young Conservatory. The third and final year of the program is designed to give students the opportunity to focus primarily on performing for a public audience. Past M.F.A. Program third-year productions have included works by Christopher Durang, Charles Busch, Marc Blitzstein, Georg Büchner, Caryl Churchill, George Farquhar, Henrik Ibsen, Robert O'Hara, Harold Pinter, William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, and Bertolt Brecht.

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory offers a broad range of theater training for young people aged 8 to 19. The ten sessions and four public productions offered throughout the year are designed to develop talent and creativity, as well as communication and cooperation skills, for young people with all levels of theater background. Working professional actors and directors lead students in a spectrum of classes, including acting, directing, voice and speech, musical theater, audition, and improvisation. Call 415.439.2444 or visit act-sf.org/conservatory for applications and information.

A.C.T.'s stage at Zeum Theater is dedicated to the development of new works, new forms, and new artists. A.C.T.@Zeum was launched in October 2001 with the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts Program's world-premiere staging of Marc Blitzstein's No for an Answer, directed by A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff. Zeum Theater is the current home of the Young Conservatory New Plays Program and gives A.C.T. an additional stage for readings, workshops, rehearsals, and other aspects of new play and production development.

Made possible by a generous grant from The Bernard Osher Foundation; additional support provided by the Crescent Porter Hale Foundation, the David B. Gold Foundation, and donors to A.C.T.'s season gala, Illuminate the Night, April 19, 2009.

TICKETS

Tickets for Volleygirls can be purchased by visiting A.C.T. Ticket Services, located at 405 Geary Street, by calling 415.749.2228, or via the A.C.T. website at www.act-sf.org. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts; please call Edward Budworth at 415.439.2473.