Bening began her career on stage with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival company in 1980 , and appeared in plays at the San Diego Repertory Theatre . She was a member of the acting company at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco while studying acting as part of the Advanced Theatre Training Program . There , she starred in such productions as Shakespeare 's '' Macbeth '' as Lady Macbeth . Bening also starred in productions of '' Pygmalion '' and '' The Cherry Orchard '' at the Denver Center Theatre Company during the 1985 – 86 season . She made her Broadway debut in 1987 , garnering a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in '' Coastal Disturbances ''
Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Annette Bening