American Conservatory Theater and Theatre Bay Area Partnership Opens New Doors for Melissa Yandell Smith Library

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) and Theatre Bay Area have forged a new partnership for artists all around the Bay Area to access A.C.T.’s Melissa Yandell Smith Library collection.

The Melissa Yandell Smith Library contains nearly 15,000 titles including play scripts, books, videos, language and music recordings, music scores, and theater periodicals. The collection has been available to A.C.T. staff, students, and visiting artists, as well as drama teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District.

With the addition of over 1,000 members of Theatre Bay Area, the collection will expand its circulation as far as Santa Cruz and Salinas. Access to this specialized collection can benefit theatremakers from all disciplines and backgrounds.

Peter J. Kuo, Director of A.C.T.’s Conservatory, shared: “This library collection is an incredible resource for A.C.T.’s community, including its students and artists. I’m thrilled we are expanding access to the collection for a greater network of theater enthusiasts across the Bay Area! These materials serve their purpose when they’re read, witnessed, and even browsed. I invite TBA’s membership to fulfill the purpose of these materials.”

TBAs member community spans 11 Bay Area counties and beyond with individuals representing the full array of theatrical disciplines and nearly 200 companies. “Theatre Bay Area is thrilled to partner with A.C.T. and amplify the impact of its library collection. Resources like the Melissa Yandell Smith Library are essential for artists to hone their craft. Expanding access can springboard the artistic development of the whole region,” said Sean Fenton, Executive Director of Theatre Bay Area.