ACT Theatre
A nonprofit regional theatre organization in Seattle, Washington, known for contemporary, experimental, and premiere theatrical work.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
ACT Theatre, originally called A Contemporary Theatre and later also known as ACT Contemporary Theatre, is a nonprofit regional theatre organization based in downtown Seattle, Washington. Gregory A. Falls founded the company in 1965 while serving as head of the Drama Department at the University of Washington. Falls believed Seattle needed a serious alternative to conventional summer-stock programming and considered Seattle Repertory Theatre comparatively focused on classical drama. ACT therefore developed an identity centered on contemporary plays, ambitious new work, modern interpretations, and theatrical experimentation. The company presented its first performance on July 9, 1965, in a 454-seat thrust-stage venue at Queen Anne Hall. That building later became associated with On the Boards. Falls served as ACT's founding artistic director until 1988, establishing the institution as an important part of Seattle's professional theatre landscape. His successors included Jeff Steitzer and Peggy Shannon. The transition to a larger facility became a major turning point. After a prolonged search, ACT moved in 1996 to Kreielsheimer Place, the remodeled historic Eagles Auditorium Building at 700 Union Street in downtown Seattle, and opened its new home with a performance on September 1 of that year. Kreielsheimer Place contains two principal performance spaces of approximately 390 seats each. The Gregory A. Falls Theatre is a below-street-level thrust-stage venue, while the Allen Theatre occupies the former Eagles Auditorium and uses an arena, or theatre-in-the-round, configuration. The renovation preserved important historic features, including a gilded balcony, ornamental ceiling, and crystal chandeliers. The facility also includes the 4,539-square-foot Bullitt Cabaret and smaller performance and support spaces. The building complex includes the Eagles Apartments, a 44-unit moderate-income housing component, and connects by tunnel to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. ACT experienced a serious institutional and financial crisis in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Productions under Peggy Shannon at the new facility received weak critical and public responses, and her 1997 resignation left the organization with debt and declining subscriptions. Gordon Edelstein subsequently restored much of ACT's artistic reputation with programming that included prominent performers, experimental directors, composers, and playwrights. Some ACT premieres later transferred to successful New York runs, but the artistic ambition also increased costs. By 2003, the company carried approximately $1.7 million in debt, subscriptions had fallen to about 7,500, and its proposed appointment of Robert Egan could not be completed because ACT lacked the resources to honor the offer. A combination of donations, including a reported $500,000 contribution from Boeing chairman Phil Condit, operating reductions, and a stronger 2003 season under artistic director Kurt Beattie helped prevent closure. By the 2006 season, the company had resumed notably adventurous programming, including Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman and Seattle playwright Elizabeth Heffron's Mitzi's Abortion. John Langs became artistic director in December 2015, succeeding Beattie. In 2018, playwright Yussef El Guindi joined ACT's Core Company. ACT has presented numerous world, American, and West Coast premieres, and several productions have subsequently reached New York. It is a member of the League of Resident Theatres and participates in regional and national theatre networks. The organization has also frequently collaborated with Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. In 2025, ACT signed a merger agreement with Seattle Shakespeare Company. The combined organization's first production was Twelfth Night, which opened in the Falls Theatre on June 12, 2025; the merger was scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2025.
History
Gregory A. Falls founded ACT Theatre in Seattle in 1965. At the time, Falls led the University of Washington's Drama Department and was associated with the theatrical avant garde. He established ACT as an alternative to the city's summer-stock tradition and to what he regarded as Seattle's stronger emphasis on classical repertory. The company's first performance took place on July 9, 1965, in a 454-seat thrust-stage theatre at Queen Anne Hall. Falls remained artistic director through 1988. Jeff Steitzer then led the organization until 1995, followed by Peggy Shannon. ACT spent years searching for a larger and more suitable home before moving in 1996 to Kreielsheimer Place, a renovated historic building at 700 Union Street in downtown Seattle. The structure had originally been the Eagles Auditorium Building and was connected to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center by an internal tunnel. The redevelopment also incorporated the 44-unit Eagles Apartments, providing moderate-income housing. ACT opened its new facility on September 1, 1996. The complex's two principal theatres each seat roughly 390 people. The Gregory A. Falls Theatre uses a rectangular thrust-stage layout below street level. The Allen Theatre occupies the former auditorium above ground and was converted from a proscenium arrangement into an arena configuration. The renovation retained historic architectural details, including the auditorium's gilded balcony, decorative ceiling, and crystal chandeliers. A 4,539-square-foot Bullitt Cabaret and other smaller spaces complete the venue complex. The move brought both opportunity and difficulty. Productions associated with Shannon's tenure at the new facility were not well received by critics or audiences, and she resigned in 1997. ACT entered debt for the first time in its history, while subscriptions fell from approximately 11,400 in 1996 to 9,000 in 1997. Gordon Edelstein subsequently helped rebuild the company's artistic standing. His programming brought performers such as Julie Harris and Jane Alexander, as well as singer-songwriter Randy Newman, experimental director Joanne Akalaitis, and composer Philip Glass. Several ACT premieres later received New York productions. The artistic recovery did not eliminate the financial strain. Costs rose, and by 2003 ACT had accumulated approximately $1.7 million in debt. A proposed appointment of Robert Egan, then producing director of Los Angeles's Mark Taper Forum, could not proceed because the company lacked the financial capacity to honor the offer. Subscriptions declined to about 7,500, placing ACT at serious risk of closure. Donations, including a reported $500,000 contribution from Boeing chairman Phil Condit, together with cost reductions and a successful 2003 season under Kurt Beattie, stabilized the organization. ACT avoided the fate of Seattle's Empty Space Theatre, which closed during the same general period. By 2006, the company had returned to daring programming, staging works such as Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman and Seattle playwright Elizabeth Heffron's Mitzi's Abortion. Kurt Beattie was succeeded by John Langs in December 2015. In 2018, playwright Yussef El Guindi joined the company's Core Company. Across its history, ACT has become one of Seattle's leading theatres and has presented world, American, and West Coast premieres. It is affiliated with the League of Resident Theatres, Theatre Puget Sound, Theatre Communications Group, and other civic and arts organizations, and it has often collaborated with the 5th Avenue Theatre. In 2025, ACT entered into a merger agreement with Seattle Shakespeare Company. The inaugural production of the merged organization, Twelfth Night, opened in the Falls Theatre on June 12, 2025, and the merger was set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
- 2025
Merger with Seattle Shakespeare Company
[1]ACT signs a merger agreement with Seattle Shakespeare Company; Twelfth Night becomes the inaugural merged production.
- 2018
Yussef El Guindi joins the Core Company
[1]The playwright becomes a member of ACT's Core Company.
- 2015
John Langs becomes artistic director
[1]John Langs succeeds Kurt Beattie in December.
- 2006
Return to adventurous programming
[1]ACT's season includes ambitious contemporary works such as The Pillowman and Mitzi's Abortion.
- 2003
Financial rescue
[1]Donations, operating reductions, and a successful season under Kurt Beattie help ACT avoid closure.
- 1997
Leadership and subscription crisis
[1]Peggy Shannon resigns after weak reception to productions at the new facility; subscriptions and finances deteriorate.
- 1996
Move to Kreielsheimer Place
[1]ACT relocates to its renovated downtown Seattle home and gives its first performance there on September 1.
- 1988
Falls leaves the artistic directorship
[1]After more than two decades leading the company, Gregory A. Falls is succeeded by Jeff Steitzer.
- 1965
ACT is founded
[1]Gregory A. Falls establishes ACT in Seattle as a nonprofit alternative to conventional summer-stock theatre.
- 1965
First performance
[1]The company presents its first performance on July 9 at Queen Anne Hall.
Products and positioning
A Seattle-based nonprofit regional theatre with a longstanding emphasis on contemporary drama, ambitious new work, premieres, and theatrical experimentation.
Professional theatre · 1965
Mainstage productions
ACT's principal repertory offering consists of professionally produced plays and theatrical works staged in the Gregory A. Falls Theatre and Allen Theatre. The programming has historically combined contemporary drama, experimental work, reinterpretations, and premieres. The organization has presented works that later moved to New York and has maintained a profile as one of Seattle's major nonprofit producing theatres.
New work · 1965
New-play premieres
ACT has used its mainstage platform for world, American, and West Coast premieres. Its contemporary orientation gives playwrights and creative teams a venue for ambitious work that may not fit a strictly classical repertory model. The company has also supported local writers, including Elizabeth Heffron, and has connected Seattle productions with broader American theatre circuits.
Cabaret venue · 1996
Bullitt Cabaret
The Bullitt Cabaret is a 4,539-square-foot performance space within Kreielsheimer Place. Its smaller scale complements ACT's two principal theatres and allows the organization to present cabaret, intimate theatrical work, and other programming suited to a more flexible venue.
Brand decisions
2025
Merge with Seattle Shakespeare CompanyM&ABackground
ACT and Seattle Shakespeare Company agreed to combine their operations and artistic activities.
Action taken
The organizations signed a merger agreement and launched the combined relationship with Twelfth Night in ACT's Falls Theatre.
Aftermath
The merger was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.
2003
Scale back operations and stabilize the organizationStrategyBackground
ACT faced approximately $1.7 million in debt, falling subscriptions, and a serious risk of closure.
Action taken
The organization accepted donations, reduced its scale of operations, and mounted a stronger season under Kurt Beattie.
Aftermath
The measures helped preserve the company and enabled it to resume more adventurous programming in subsequent seasons.
Reported debt. Approximately US$1.7 million in debt (2003)
1996
Relocate to a larger downtown facilityStrategyBackground
ACT had spent years seeking a larger venue capable of supporting its expanding regional-theatre ambitions.
Action taken
The company moved from Queen Anne Hall into the renovated Eagles Auditorium Building, renamed Kreielsheimer Place.
Aftermath
The move expanded ACT's physical capacity but was followed by artistic criticism, subscription losses, and a severe financial crisis.
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