A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) was founded in 1965 by Gregory A. Falls. The purpose of ACT was to present professional, contemporary theater--"to produce the important plays of our times, now while they have particular meaning and impact." The production policy was to present a variety of contemporary plays, using many different theater artists. ACT has an unusual record of educational-professional theater integration with over one hundred students and twenty-five educators involved in ACT productions from 1965-1972. In the second year, ACT included a children's theater. A Young Act Company (YAC), another part of ACT, began as a touring company, but evolved into a stationary repertory theater. The most active period in ACT's history began in 1973 with the appointment of Andrew Witt as General Manager. In the 1980s, ACT evolved from a summer season program to a year round theatre with its own buildings.
Songworks was a project to develop new music for the stage. The performances were used as a showcase for rising artists and songwriters.
Organized into 21 accessions:
Correspondence, minutes, reports, long range planning, fundraising, subject series, playscripts, financial records, committee files, press releases.
Open to all users, but access to some records restricted. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Some material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries except for Accession No. 2118-021.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
The bulk is production books from the 1978 and 1979 seasons. The rest of the material is all from Gregory Falls.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Personal files of Gregory A. Falls, ACT Artistic Director. About half of the material concerns finance and budgeting, especially for ACT's financial crisis in 1982 when layoffs occured for the first time.
Play scripts included are: "The Pushcart War" - first working version for 1980; "The Odyssey" by Gregory A. Falls and Kurt Beattie, ca. 1978, presented in 1979; "Catholics" by Brian Moore; "Ballymurphy" by Michael Neville; "The Greeks Part 1 : the War" and "The Greeks Part 2 : the Gods".
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Bulk of this accession is brochures, mailings, P.R. from 1981 season, and papers of Gregory Falls for 1981.
Subject Series in main body of accession include establishment of the Star Store in 1981.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
This accession is a mixture of the files of Walter Walkinshaw, the attorney for ACT, as well as Secretary of the Board of Directors, and of ACT material he has collected. It includes the original incorporating documents, when Gregory Falls owned ACT privately, and early Board minutes.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
This accession includes the files of Gregory Falls, ACT Artistic Director, and his activities in League of Resident Theatres.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Books for the 1982 productions are "Da", "Five x Five", "Fridays", "The Gin Game", "The Greeks - the Gods", "The Greeks - the War", "Waiting for the Parade". Books for the 1983 productions are "Crimes of the Heart", "The Dining Room", "The Dresser."
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Rights are retained by playwrights.
Material authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Material authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Material authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Materials authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Material authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.
Subject series include some more material about ACT's 20th Anniversary celebration in 1984.
Material authored by ACT may be quoted for publication.