Inside A.C.T.

By Annie Sears Edward Albee’s Seascape —playing through February 17 at The Geary—is a story of transition. Nancy and Charlie have recently retired. Energized by the possibility of change, Nancy wants to explore the world, but her husband Charlie is reluctant. As a character, Charlie is fearful of the unfamiliar. The same is not true of the actor playing Charlie. If you’ve seen a show at A.C.T. in the last 20 years, it ’ s likely you’ve caught actor James Carpenter. In addition to 12 years as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol , Carpenter has performed in A.C.T.’s Heisenberg (2018), Rock ’n’ Roll (2008),  ’ Tis Pity She’s a Whore (2008), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2005), A Doll’s House (2004), and Glengarry Glen Ross (2001). Now, he’s back as Charlie in Seascape . This familiar face is excited to be collaborating with the newest face of A.C.T. Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon is making her A.C.T. directorial debut with Seascape , exploring this story of transition as she transitio...

By Elspeth Sweatman and Annie Sears The 12 days of Christmas? For actor James Carpenter, it’s more like the 12 years of A Christmas Carol . This will be his 12th year gracing the Geary stage as tightfisted Ebenezer Scrooge. Carpenter has frequented A.C.T. stages for nearly 20 years, from Glengarry Glen Ross (2001) to Rock ’n’ Roll (2008) to Heisenberg (2018), and he’ll be playing Charlie in Edward Albee’s Seascape this coming January. But first, he returns to Scrooge. We recently sat down with Carpenter to hear about his intimate knowledge of this iconic character. James Carpenter as Scrooge and Sharon Lockwood as Mrs. Dilber in A.C.T.'s production of A Christmas Carol (2017). Photo by Kevin Berne. How does it feel stepping back into the role of Scrooge? Does he feel like an old friend? I don’t know that I’d call Scrooge an old friend. A mutual combatant, perhaps. A role I know I’m going to have to gird my loins for and ready myself to take on. This year, Anthony Fusc...

By Elspeth Sweatman It was while he was studying acting in A.C.T.’s Advanced Training Program (the precursor to the M.F.A. Program) in the early 1990s that Hal Brooks discovered he wanted to be a director. After getting his feet wet creating and directing in the Conservatory’s student cabaret, Brooks returned to New York, where he directed Don DeLillo’s Valparaiso and Will Eno’s  Thom Pain (based on nothing) , among other plays. Soon, he found himself not only directing off Broadway at The Public Theater, Second Stage Theater, and Manhattan Theatre Club, but also at regional theaters across the US. Now, Brooks is back where it all started, directing Simon Stephens’s  Heisenberg  for the Geary stage. We sat down with him to discover his love of Stephens’s work and two-person plays. Director Hal Brooks at the first rehearsal of A.C.T.'s 2018 production of Heisenberg . Photo by Taylor Steinbeck. What drew you to Heisenberg ? I’ve always been interested in the relatio...

By Taylor Steinbeck Heisenberg  director Hal Brooks has received many questions about the title of his play beginning performances next week at The Geary Theater. “People ask me, ‘Oh, is it about that zeppelin disaster? Is it about Breaking Bad ? No, it’s not,” says Brooks with a laugh. “Others ask, ‘Is it about Heisenberg, the scientist?’ To that I say, ‘It’s not about Heisenberg. It’s about a relationship—it’s looking at his ideas through a relationship.’” The cast and creative team of A.C.T.'s production of Heisenberg at the first rehearsal. Photo by Taylor Steinbeck. At the first rehearsal for Heisenberg , Brooks, an alumnus of A.C.T.’s Advanced Training Program, addressed a room full of faces both familiar and new, and admitted, “I am not a physicist.” With this disclaimer, he briefly explained the science behind Heisenberg . Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle asserts that you cannot measure both the velocity and location of a particle—you can on...

Meet James Carpenter, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol . Jim Carpenter A Christmas Carol continues through December 24. Learn more about the production and order tickets. How many times have you been in A Christmas Carol ? I’ve been in A Christmas Carol nine times, including understudying the Dennis Powers and Laird Williamson version A.C.T. produced from 1976 to 2005. I’ve played Scrooge during all nine runs. What's your favorite thing about San Francisco during the holidays? The street life. What is your favorite Christmas carol? “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” What are your favorite holiday traditions? Sharing of food. I drink a lot. What is the best gift you've ever given or received? My wife (received). What is your favorite moment in  A Christmas Carol ? The final moments. Who is your favorite character in  A Christmas Carol ? Um . . . Scrooge? Do I really have to explain? Mrs. Dilber and Mr. Fezziwig are tied for second place. Wha...