Arts & Entertainment

A.C.T. Cancels SF Theater Runs Of 'Gloria' & 'Toni Stone'

American Conservatory Theatre is exploring possible recording options for patrons to view the productions from home during coronavirus woes.

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Photos from left: Kendra (Melanie Arii Mah) trades barbs with Dean (Jeremy Kahn) in "Gloria"; "Toni Stone" (Dawn Ursula) steps up to the plate while ‘Millie’ (Kenn E. Head) watches.
Photos from left: Kendra (Melanie Arii Mah) trades barbs with Dean (Jeremy Kahn) in "Gloria"; "Toni Stone" (Dawn Ursula) steps up to the plate while ‘Millie’ (Kenn E. Head) watches. (Credit: Kevin Berne)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The American Conservatory Theater has canceled future performances of two productions, "Gloria" and "Toni Stone," currently being staged in San Francisco, due to concerns over the new coronavirus.

"It is critical to prioritize the safety and health of our patrons, employees, artists, and students, and this is the responsible action to take," A.C.T. officials said.

Performances of the West Coast premiere of Lydia R. Diamond's "Toni Stone"at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater were planned through March 29. The play tells the real-life story of a trail-blazing Bay Area baseball player, Toni Stone, who became the first woman to play professionally in the Negro League.

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Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ "Gloria," a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize, was underway with an expected run through April 12 at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater. The dark comedy, set in an office of a new York magazine staffed by twentysomethings, explores coping with trauma and "the tales we tell each other to escape" as the characters compete for a book deal.

A.C.T. is hoping to develop a way for ticket buyers to experience these productions with recordings of the performances that could be accessed from patrons' homes.

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"We are still working on bringing this all together, but ticket holders will receive an email from A.C.T. with directions on how to access the recording sometime next week," officials said.

The theater is implementing a ticket-exchange policy, that will allow ticket buyers to exchange tickets for a future production during the 19/20 season. The season's final two productions are "The Rocky Horror Show" and "Poor Yella Rednecks: Vietgone Part 2."

Ticket holders also can donate their tickets back to the theater for a tax-deductible donation, or contact the box office at spring20exchange@act-sf.org or at (415) 749-2228 for more information. Those with tickets purchased through such third-party outlets as Goldstar and TodayTix are advised to contact the vendors for refunds.

A.C.T. is currently working on rescheduling classes and programs through A.C.T.’s MFA program, the Young Conservatory, Studio A.C.T, and the Education & Community Programs Department through the end of March.

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