Last updated August 28, 2010   

Albany Civic Theater

ACT's 60th season, 2010-2011

Season tickets are on sale now!.

Note: All productions are tentative until performance rights are secured. Musicals are indicated by an asterisk (*).

Sept. 10-25, 2010 - Alice in Wonderland, by Charlotte Chorpenning (Auditions July 12-14, 2010). Directed by Kaity Boyce. Based on the beloved novel by Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland takes us down the rabbit-hole with a young girl whose curiosity leads her into a world full of crazy and wonderful creatures. From the nervous White Rabbit to the cryptic Caterpillar to the tyrannical Red Queen, familiar characters tell a tale that will cause children and adults alike to see the world with just a little more imagination.

Oct. 15-30 ,2010 - Wait Until Dark, by Frederick Knott (Auditions Aug. 16-18. 2010.) Directed by Johanna Spencer. Susy Hendrix, a recently blinded housewife, unwittingly possesses a doll filled with illicit drugs. A brutal and sophisticated criminal coerces two small-time thugs into helping him con Susy into giving up the doll. When Susy fights back, a battle of wits ensues, leading to a shocking conclusion.

* Nov. 26-Dec. 18, 2010 - Meet Me in St. Louis; book by Hugh Wheeler, songs by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, based on the Kensington stories by Sally Benson. (Auditions Sept. 13-15, 2010). Directed by Jackie Tasker. Join the four Smith sisters at the 1904 World's Fair. The girls are in a state about the love life of their only brother, whom they suspect of ditching his hometown girl for a snob from the East. Memorable songs include "The Boy Next Door," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Whenever I'm With You."

Jan. 14-29, 2011 - Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters, adapted by Stephen Briggs. (Auditions Oct. 18-20, 2010). Directed by John Carone. This loving parody of Shakespeare's Macbeth transports the Scottish play to the small kingdom of Lancre, where three witches have their coven interrupted by the arrival of a royal baby in need of saving from a wicked duke and duchess. These "secret, black and midnight hags" must use all of their powers to try to bring about happy ending.

* Feb. 18-March 12, 2011 - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, music and lyrics by William Finn. (Auditions Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2010). Directed by Mat Genuser. This musical comedy chronicles the experience of six adolescent misfits vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. It’s about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

April 1-9, 2011 - Excalibur! The Story of Young King Arthur, by Michele L. Vacca. (Auditions Jan. 17-19, 2011). Directed by Diane Allen. This ACT YouThespian production, with a cast of children and teens, brings to life the grandeur of ancient British legend and lore through the eyes of the fabled master of wizardry and wit, the Magical and Mysterious Merlin the Enchanter, who re-creates the exciting and dramatic story of how young Arthur came to be one of the most celebrated kings in history.

Apr. 29-14, 2011 - The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson. (Auditions Feb. 21-23, 2011). Directed by John Elliott. Left deaf and blind by illness in her infancy, the young Helen Keller proves too much for her parents to handle, so they hire young Annie Sullivan to teach the girl Out of the tumultuous interactions between the combative Helen and the equally stubborn Annie finally born the miracle that unlocks Helen’s bounds and allows her to communicate with the world.

* June 10-July 2, 2011 - Oliver! Book, music, & Lyrics by Lionel Bart (Auditions March 6 (children) and March 7-9 (adults), 2011. Directed by Kay Roth. Based on Charles Dickens' classic "Oliver Twist." A young orphan finds himself entwined in London's underworld, where he meets up with the Artful Dodger, the unforgettable Fagin and his gang of young pickpockets. Memorable songs include "Consider Yourself," "I'd Do Anything," "As Long As He Needs Me."

July 22-30, 2011 - The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, by Stephen Adly Guirgis. (Auditions May 2-4, 2011. Directed by Rus Roberts. A courtroom drama exploring the tragic events surrounding one of history's greatest villains. Or is he? Counsel for the defense has a summons from God calling for a new trial for Judas. The trial is presided over by a Civil War era judge, and witnesses include Mother Teresa, Sigmund Freud, and Satan Himself.