Emmy-Winning Star To Headline Ruby Jubilee

Stage, film, and television star Eric McCormack-best known for his Emmy Award-winning turn as Will Truman on NBC's "Will and Grace"-will headline American Conservatory Theater's Ruby Jubilee Gala Fundraiser April 22 at San Francisco's Four Seasons Hotel.

A celebration of A.C.T.'s 40th anniversary and a fundraiser for A.C.T.'s acclaimed conservatory training programs, the Ruby Jubilee will be held at San Francisco's Four Seasons Hotel and will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour preceding an elegant dinner in the Grand Ballroom, theatrically transformed by event designer Stanlee Gatti.

The event is sold out, but those interested in sponsoring an artist should contact the A.C.T. development department at 415.439.2470.

This historic salute to 40 seasons of inspired theater in San Francisco will include such luminaries as A.C.T. alumna and Ruby Jubilee Honorary Chair Annette Bening, and many actors who have graced the A.C.T. stage in the company's first 40 years, among them Olympia Dukakis, Bill Irwin, Lisa Kron, Matt McGrath, and A.C.T. alumnus Anika Noni Rose. In addition to McCormack's performance, A.C.T.'s Master of Fine Arts and Young Conservatory students will present a gala performance directed by Charles Randolph Wright. The A.C.T. Ruby Jubilee event chair is Patti Rueff. Presented by ValueAct Capital and sponsored by Trefethen Vineyards and Tiffany & Co., The Ruby Jubilee is made possible by the work of an event committee that includes the following A.C.T. supporters: Arlene Balin, Rachel Brewster, Dagmar Dolby, Alicia Elliott, Frannie Fleishhacker, Marilee Gardner, Priscilla Geeslin, Nancy Golden, Chandra Gordon, Dianne Hoge, Kathy Kenney, Jonathan Kitchen, Sheila Larsen, Nina LePage, Fred Levin, Nancy Livingston, Christine Mattison, JaMel Perkins, Serena Perkins, Lisa Pritzker, Sally Rosenblatt, Jan Sargent, Jo Schuman Silver, Carrie Spiegel, Patrick Thompson, and Diane Wynne.

A native of Toronto, Eric McCormack spent his formative years performing in theaters across Canada--most notably five seasons with the renowned Stratford Shakespearean Festival. On Broadway, he starred as Harold Hill in Susan Stroman's production of The Music Man and was a guest star in The Play What I Wrote, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Last spring McCormack appeared off Broadway in the American premiere of Neil LaBute's Some Girl(s). On television, McCormack appeared for two seasons on "Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years" and for eight seasons on "Will and Grace." As Will Truman, McCormack received five Golden Globes Award nominations for best actor in a television comedy series and four Emmy Awards for best comedy series. McCormack won the Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series in 2001. He has appeared in the films Holy Man, Free Enterprise and The Sisters, for which he won best actor at Atlanta's Dixie Film Festival. Through his company, Big Cattle Productions, he recently produced "Lovespring International," a comedy for Lifetime, and "Imperfect Union," a pilot for TBS.

One of the most anticipated Bay Area cultural events of the spring, The Ruby Jubilee will unite the Bay Area's most prominent community leaders and cultural philanthropists in celebration of 40
artistically inspiring seasons of A.C.T. in San Francisco. The evening will benefit A.C.T.'s acclaimed conservatory, which annually reaches more than 3,000 students of all ages through its heralded actor training and youth education programs. With schools depending more and more on the nonprofit community for students' artistic education, A.C.T. offers many students their first exposure to live theater. It is American Conservatory Theater's firm belief that theater provides a powerful opportunity to encourage the social, emotional, and intellectual development of young people, helping them become well-rounded individuals who contribute to society. -- www.act-sf.org