The Actors Company Theatre

The Actors Company Theatre (TACT) is an Off-Broadway theatre company that was founded in 1992 by a group of New York stage veterans. For their first several years, TACT produced a number of concert performances, a cross between a staged reading and a full production. In 2006, TACT began a residency at the Beckett Theatre on Theatre Row to produce two full plays a year. TACT focuses on reviving lesser-known productions that have not been performed in New York for several years. Their mission statement, according to their website, is "to present neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit, with a focus on creating theatre from its essence: the text and the actor's ability to bring it to life."^[1]

History

In the 2006/07 season, TACT took a bold step forward. Following their critically acclaimed full productions of Long Island Sound by Noël Coward (May 2002, world premiere) and The Triangle Factory Fire Project by Christopher Piehler and Scott Alan Evans (May 2004, world premiere), TACT presented a season of two full productions at The Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row on 42nd Street, becoming one of their resident companies.

For their Sixteenth Season, TACT followed the trajectory begun in 2006 and presented two more productions in their Mainstage at Theatre Row.

In addition to their Mainstage offerings, TACT is continuing its Concert Performance readings in the TACT Salon Series, presented at 900 Broadway (see Salon Series) as well as continuing newTACTics (see newTACTics).

For all their productions they commission original incidental musical scores through their on-going creative partnership with The Manhattan School of Music.

Current productions

The current 2013/2014 Mainstage season includes Natural Affection by William Inge and Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang. The current 2013/2014 Salon Series will focus on remarkable women playwrights. Plays include A Very Rich Woman by Ruth Gordon, Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress, Toys in the Attic by Lillian Hellman, and The Hollow by Agatha Christie.

Past productions

TACT has received notably positive reviews, particularly from the New York Times for its productions of Home^[2] and Eccentricities of a Nightingale.^[3]

Notable productions:

• Home – David Storey
• The Sea – Edward Bond
• The Runner Stumbles – Milan Stitt
• Eccentricities of a Nightingale – Tennessee Williams
• Bedroom Farce – Alan Ayckbourn
• Incident At Vichy – Arthur Miller

Salon Series

This series of rehearsed, staged readings takes place at the TACT studio at 900 Broadway beginning in November and features live music by composers commissioned through its partnership with the Manhattan School of Music. Highly popular with subscribers, the Salon Series allows TACT to investigate lost works of dramatic literature without constraints of cast size, sets, technical demands, or "impossible" production elements.

Awards and nominations

In 2012, TACT was named Company of the Year by the Wall Street Journal saying "...Smart programming, superlative productions, a track record of consistent excellence: TACT is what off-Broadway ought to be." In addition, their production of Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon brought TACT their first Drama Desk Award nomination, being nominated for Outstanding Revival of a Play. A list of reviews for TACT's other productions can be found on their website.

Members

TACT's co-artistic directors are founding members Scott Alan Evans and actor Cynthia Harris, along with Jenn Thompson.

Company members include:

• Cynthia Darlow – Actor
• James Murtaugh – Actor
• Joseph Trapanese – Composer

References

1. ↑ TACT – The Actors Company Theatre
2. ↑ Alighting in the Confines of a Lonely Cuckoo's Nest by Neil Genzlinger, nytimes.com, Published: December 8, 2006
3. ↑ A Heroine’s Inner Flame, Fueled by an Excess of Feeling by Rachel Saltz, nytimes.com, Published: May 9, 2008

External links

• TACT Official Website

Coordinates: 40°45′30.79″N 73°59′36.14″W / 40.7585528°N 73.9933722°W / 40.7585528; -73.9933722