American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced that the record-breaking world premiere musical Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, which has been extended four times, will close July 31. This quintessential San Francisco production, the first stage version of Armistead Maupin's beloved novels, was passionately embraced by the Bay Area community, shattering all sales and fundraising records for a single A.C.T. production. The musical has been seen by more than 58,000 people to date and amassed the largest advance sale and the highest gross sales in the company's history-smashing the records previously held by Urinetown: The Musical. Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is the most expensive production that A.C.T. has produced and is made possible by unprecedented support from the donors of the Tales of the City Circle, which marked A.C.T.'s largest single-production fundraising drive. Additionally, the opening night gala for the production raised an impressive $967,000 for A.C.T.'s award-winning conservatory and expanding educational programs.
"Producing Tales of the City at A.C.T. has been an extraordinary experience in every way," says A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff. "To create a musical this ambitious from the ground up challenged every single one of us to work at the top of our game, and we were able to do what almost no regional theater ever does anymore-namely to create a highly successful new musical without commercial partners-by galvanizing the generosity of the Bay Area community and exciting record-breaking audiences to share in the work. Most of all, I am thrilled that Tales brought so many people (artists, staff, audiences, donors) together as a community to celebrate the richly imagined universe of Armistead's beautiful books. The hugely talented Tales company and creative team deserves much of the credit. We couldn't have asked for better collaborators." A.C.T. Executive Director Ellen Richard adds: "I can't imagine a better way to end my first season at A.C.T.-a show that connected with the Bay Area community, breaking all box office records in our company's history. We know that the excitement this show has created will continue to help us through the seasons to come. We have no immediate plans for a transfer to Broadway or to the West End; however, there are many conversations happening around the future life of this production and the cast recording. We are very optimistic about the possibilities in this beautiful musical's journey." Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City will run through July 31, 2011, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or visit the A.C.T. website at www.act-sf.org.
The remaining performance schedule for Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City includes 8 p.m. performances Tuesdays through Sundays (no 8 p.m. performances on July 17); 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays (no 2 p.m. matinee on July 17); and a 7 p.m. performance on Sunday, July 17. A.C.T. has scheduled a special American Sign Language-interpreted performance of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City on Saturday, July 23, at 2 p.m.
Three decades after Armistead Maupin mesmerized millions with his daily column in the city's newspapers, detailing the lives and (multiple) loves of Mary Ann, Mouse, Mona, Brian, and their beloved but mysterious landlady, Mrs. Madrigal, his iconic San Francisco saga comes home as a momentous new musical from the Tony Award-winning creators of Avenue Q (librettist Jeff Whitty and director Jason Moore) and the musical minds behind the glam-rock phenomenon Scissor Sisters (composers Jake Shears and John Garden). The capstone of the 2010-11 season, A.C.T.'s world premiere musical adaptation of Tales of the City unleashes an exuberant celebration of the irrepressible spirit that continues to define our City by the Bay. The general public is invited to join Tale Chasers, A.C.T.'s email fan club, to get access to exclusive looks into the development process, ticket information, and other special offers by visiting www.act-sf.org/TaleChasers.
