Theater News

Pam MacKinnon Named New Artistic Director at American Conservatory Theater

The appointment follows an extensive nationwide search.

Pam MacKinnon has been named Artistic Director of American Conservatory Theater.
Pam MacKinnon has been named artistic director of American Conservatory Theater.
(© David Gordon)

American Conservatory Theater has named Pam MacKinnon as its new artistic director. MacKinnon, a Tony Award winner, succeeds Carey Perloff, who will depart from American Conservatory Theater at the end of the 2017-18 season after 25 years.

MacKinnon will immediately begin planning the 2018-19 season alongside Perloff. In addition, she will begin partnering with the leaders of A.C.T.’s world-class actor training programs and community programs.

"I am thrilled and honored to be named artistic director of American Conservatory Theater," said MacKinnon in a statment. "I am eager to build on the company's rich legacy of artistic excellence and expand the vision and achievements of Carey Perloff, Edward Hastings, and founder William Ball to ensure that A.C.T. remains at the forefront of American theater. I look forward to furthering A.C.T. as a creative home for world-class artists and a place of rigorous artistic exploration and commitment in the Bay Area."

The artistic director search committee, led by Riemer, was composed of 10 members of A.C.T.'s board of trustees and three members of A.C.T. staff leadership. They were assisted by Greg Kandel and David Mallette from Management Consultants for the Arts.

Pam MacKinnon won Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her Broadway revival of Edward Albee's Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Currently running on Broadway is her production of Beau Willimon's The Parisian Woman, starring Uma Thurman. Other Broadway productions include Amélie, A New Musical, the world premiere of David Mamet's China Doll with Al Pacino, Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles, and more.