Theater News

Eugène Ionesco's Rhinoceros Joins the A.C.T. Season Lineup

A.C.T. announces the final production of its 2018-19 season.

Frank Galati will direct Rhinoceros, beginning May 29, 2019.
Frank Galati will direct Rhinoceros, beginning May 29, 2019.
(photo provided by Charles Zukow Associates)

Incoming American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) artistic director Pam MacKinnon announced that Eugène Ionesco's Rhinoceros — translated by Derek Prouse and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Frank Galati — will be the final production of A.C.T.'s 2018-19 season.

"I wanted to round out my first season as artistic director with a play for the ages," says MacKinnon. "I have loved Rhinoceros ever since I was in high school. As an adult theater-maker, I have never been able to find a translation that really sang off the page until now. Frank Galati's production — full of timely terror, transformational acting, and huge laughs — is the perfect capstone to A.C.T.'s 2018-19 season."

Rhinoceros will join the six previously announced productions, which include Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Sweat (September 26-October 21), Jaclyn Backhaus's telling of 19th-century American explorers Men on Boats (October 17-December 16), Edward Albee's satirical Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy Seascape (January 23, 2019-February 17, 2019), Mfoniso Udofia's drama Her Portmanteau (February 13, 2019-April 14, 2019), Lauren Yee's exploration of cultural identity, global politics, and basketball The Great Leap (March 6-31, 2019), and Kate Hamill's new stage adaptation of William Thackeray's classic novel Vanity Fair (April 17, 2019-May 12, 2019). In addition, A.C.T. will welcome back the Bay Area's holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol directed by Domenique Lozano.

Rhinoceros will run May 29, 2019-June 23, 2019.