One of only ten plays in the last fifty years to have won both the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for BEST PLAY in 1977. In separate cottages on hospital grounds, three terminally-ill patients and their families cope with the recognition, that they are going to die, and the realities of the lives they now live. But the play is not about death, “it thunders with life,” according to ABC-TV. It is absolutely up-lifting, brilliantly written said CBS-TV. Michael Cristofer, an American actor and playwright, may be familiar to you; he has appeared twice on ACT’s stage, both in THE CONTRACTOR and NO PLACE TO BE SOMEBODY.

An authentic look at Northern Ireland today by an American actor who lived in Ireland with his grandfather fortwo years. A rare look into the lives and hearts of the Irish Catholic people (the priests, the IRA, children and the young men)‘ who live in the Ballymurphy section of Belfast. The play is a funny, touching and ultimately moving story of those who try to avoid the violence, those who try to escape, and those who are driven to retaliation. BALLYMURPHY showcased at the Manhattan Theatre Club last year and is being revised for the ACT premiere production. Michael will be working directly with director Greg Falls in the revision of this work for the ACT production.

An unabashed love story. Seaman Harry Bales returns to The Sea Horse bar with plans to marry its formidable proprietress, tough-minded and bawdy Gertrude Blum. His plans encounter a major obstacle, the reluctant Gertrude herself, and their warm but spirited relationship is zealously tested: they fight, make up, fight again, spin dreams, make love, and reveal their long locked-up fears and secrets. The audience will take these two into their hezarts. This play, which won a Vernon Rice Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Playwright, makes a lovely, joyous evening in the theatre.

ACT’s “to be announced” play this season is MAKASSAR REEF, by noted Australian playwright Alexander Buzo. ACT’s American Premiere of this production will be the second production, following its World Premiere with the Melbourne Theatre Company last March 21. MAKASSAR REEF will be directed by Bill Ludel, the director of TRAVESTIES at ACT Theatre last season.

Makassar is an Indonesian coastal resort, about 350 miles from Bali. The play gathers together an assortment of tourists—from Australia, Geneva and more questionable origins—whose lives become entwined in passion, desperation and intrigue. Against this background of holiday atmosphere, Buzo has woven his tale of loves and losses, smuggling and adventure. The contemporary characters include Weeks, the Australian economist whose career and emotional survival are at the crossroads as he and his roommate, Beth, of nine years are on their “pre-marriage honeymoon”; Wendy, the forty year old mother who finds respite from her lonely life through an intense love affair; the mysterious Perry, whose endless search for adventure leads him into romantic involvements and drug running; Silver, an aging Dutch hippie thief; a radical Indonesian journalist and a powerful immigration official.

Buzo’s ironic wit and perception illuminate the characters “searching for values and identity in today’s footloose and disoriented society,” says Buzo.

Remember “l Get A Kick Out of You,” “Let’s Misbehave,” “lt’s Delovely,” “You’re the Top”? This 1934 musical comedy Combines; all those favorites plus ten more of Cole Porter’s hits in one of the funniest shipboard romances ever to hit the American stage. Sailing aboard a luxury ship bound for England are a handful of silly, love-struck characters who get in and out of each others’ ways, complicating each others’ lives and uncomplicating them in the end. Passengers include Reno Sweeney (the part that made Ethel Merman famous); her friend Billy Crocker, a stowaway on board to be near young and rich and beautiful Hope Harcourt; Moon-Face Martin, Public Enemy #13; Mrs. Harcourt and Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. lt’s a funny look at 1934 morals and mores. This musical blockbuster with a cast of more than 20 will leave your belly laughing and your feet tapping.