ACT Theatre

ACT is a contemporary theatre where artistic ambition and civic engagement unite. ACT envisions a world where the power of theatre expands our collective understanding of community and our own humanity.

A Contemporary Theatre – ACT was founded in the summer of 1965 by Gregory A. Falls (1922-1997), head of the University of Washington’s theater department at the time. The theatre thrived in a former community hall at the base of Queen Anne Hill until 1996 when they moved into their new home, the historic Eagles Auditorium in downtown Seattle. We fulfill our mission and vision through three primary artistic programs, Mainstage, ACTLab and the Young Playwrights Program (YPP). In our 54 year history we have produced more than 300 shows for the Mainstage including 49 World Premieres, worked with more than 233 partners, established relationships with more than 1,000 individual artists, helped produce more than 1,400 partner performances including nine (9) World Premieres, and served thousands of middle and high school students throughout the Puget Sound in YPP. ACT engages with community partners, offers scholarship rentals that share the use of our amazing space downtown in a time when the price for space rental is prohibitive to some. Contemporary demands adapting to the times, and for 54 years ACT has and continues to do that.