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]

The Actors Company Theatre (TACT)
Address900 Broadway Suitue 905
New York City
United States
TypeOff-Broadway
Opened1992
Website
www.tactnyc.org

History

The Actors Company Theatre was founded in 1992 by a group of actors.[2] Beginning in the 2006–2007 season, TACT produced its Mainstage Off-Broadway productions in the Beckett Theatre.[3][4] The following year, TACT became a resident company of NYC's Theatre Row.[4] TACT also presented a Salon Series in a studio space at 900 Broadway.[3]

During 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.

TACT also ran a program for creating new works called newTACTics.

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

In January 2018, TACT announced that their 25th season would be their last.[5]

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 *Lovers *Lost in Yonkers Home[6] and Eccentricities of a Nightingale.[7]

Notable productions:

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 produced Neil Simon's "Lost In Yonkers" and Brian Friel's "Lovers" to critical and commercial success resulting in the Wall Street Journal naming TACT Company of the Year 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.

Year Award Nominated work Category Result
2012 Drama Desk Award Lost in Yonkers Outstanding Revival of a Play Nominated

Members

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

Company members include:

References
  1. TACT – The Actors Company Theatre Archived 2009-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Libbey, Peter (2018-01-19). "The Actors Company Theater Set to Close This Year". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  3. Desk, BWW News. "Award-Winning TACT/The Actors Company Theatre Announces 25th Season Will Be Final Season". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  4. "TACT/The Actors Company Theatre Announces 2010/2011 Season". DKC/O&M. 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  5. Clement, Olivia (19 January 2018). "The Actors Company Theatre's Upcoming 25th Season Will Be Its Last". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  6. Alighting in the Confines of a Lonely Cuckoo's Nest by Neil Genzlinger, nytimes.com, Published: December 8, 2006
  7. A Heroine’s Inner Flame, Fueled by an Excess of Feeling by Rachel Saltz, nytimes.com, Published: May 9, 2008

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