By Eric George Tauber
(Photo: Kevin Berne)
SAN DIEGO — For some, the results are spectacular as they have been for Carey Perloff, the Artistic Director of A.C.T., the American Conservatory Theatre based in San Francisco. Perloff has won numerous awards and distinctions for her work and collaborated with the likes of playwright Tom Stoppard, BD Wong (of Law & Order: SVU) and Olympia Dukakis.
And she’s not too shabby on the business end, either. At 27, Perloff was hired to run the Classic Stage Company from financial ruin. In 1989, when an earthquake collapsed the roof of ACT’s Geary Theatre, Carey Perloff came to the rescue.
“I was passionate about bringing A.C.T. back to life, in spite of a ruined building, a demoralized staff, a completely depleted financial situation, and a city in the midst of enormous change. Having to ask the most basic questions about why live theater could and should matter at that moment in that particular town was the beginning of a massive turnaround that has been thrilling and exhausting in equal measure,” she said in a brief interview.
Carey Perloff has written a memoir, Beautiful Chaos: A Life in the Theater and is stopping by the Old Globe on her book tour for a chat with Barry Edelstein, Artistic Director of the Old Globe and a leading authority on Shakespeare.
“More than a cherished friend of two decades, Carey Perloff is an inspiration to me,” said Edelstein. “When I took over Classic Stage Company I worked hard to emulate her successes there, and when I took over the Globe, I phoned her desk at A.C.T. in search of advice. She is a national leader in the American theatre, an artist of nuance and insight, and a warm, funny, and humane spirit. She’s also a very gifted writer, and I look forward to sharing her wonderful new memoir with San Diego.”
Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Carey Perloff will take place at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 15, in Hattox Hall, in the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
This special presentation is free to the public, though reservations are recommended. After the presentation, Perloff will also sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase.
Reservations can be made by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.
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Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. Your comment may be sent to eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com, or posted per below
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