Jeff Janisheski Appointed Head of O'Neill's NTI

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, after a national search, has announced the selection of Jeff Janisheski to lead the National Theater Institute (NTI), the accredited program for college students at the O'Neill.  As Artistic Director, Mr. Janisheski will provide oversight and vision for the program, teach in the core curriculum, and represent the program both locally and nationally.  Mr. Janisheski is currently the Associate Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company.  He will assume his duties as Artistic Director of NTI on September 1, 2008.  He replaces Michael Cadman, who will remain on faculty.

Founded in 1970, the National Theater Institute is a unique, leading program in theatrical education.  It is a one semester, study-away program that draws undergraduates from across the country for an intensive 14-week  immersion in theater.  Fully accredited by Connecticut College, NTI gives its students a broad based education in Acting, Directing, Design, Movement and Voice, and Playwriting.  Students additionally travel abroad for two weeks either to Stratford-upon-Avon or to St. Petersburg, Russia to study at academies and with professionals there.  NTI also administers the Moscow Art Theater School Semester (MATS), which sends a separate group of American undergraduates to the Moscow Art Theater to learn from the master teachers there for credit.

"I am hugely honored to be appointed Artistic Director of NTI, an extraordinary training ground for undergraduate students with a long-standing commitment to rigor and risk-taking," said Mr. Janisheski.  "Education has been at the core of my career in theatre, and it is a joy to be at an institution with an educational philosophy to which I so firmly adhere: that theatre at its core is about collaboration and dialogue; that the spirit of the ensemble is essential for nurturing new theatre; and that study of global perspectives is a necessary part of an excellent education. The O'Neill Center's long tradition of supporting young artists and new work is an inspritation to me. I look forward to working closely with Preston Whiteway, the Board, and the entire NTI staff as we build on this tradition, expand NTI's programming, collaborate with more theatres nationally and internationally, and lead NTI into the future as we energize and cultivate the next generation of theater artists."

"I am delighted to welcome Jeff to the O'Neill," remarkEd O'Neill Executive Director Preston Whiteway.  "Jeff brings a passion for teaching and a commitment to young people.  His international experience and perspective are especially appealing for a program such as NTI, with its broad exposure to international techniques.  I look forward to the coming semesters with confidence, and know that NTI's strength, rigor, and strong appeal to undergraduates will only increase under his leadership."

Jeff Janisheski currently serves as Associate Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company in New York City, where he helped create and run The Young Company.  In it, actors from Columbia University's MFA Acting program teach Shakespeare workshops in underserved New York City schools, and perform at CSC for the students from those schools.  Also at CSC, Mr. Janisheski directed the recent and well-received A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Mr. Janisheski received his MFA in Directing at Columbia where he studied with Anne Bogart and Brian Kulick; a BA in Theatre/Dance and Religion from Amherst College; and has trained extensively in Japanese Butoh Dance and Noh Theatre, in addition to further work with the Siti Company.  He has taught at the university level at Yale, Fordham, Amherst, Colgate,  SUNY Purchase, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and others.

Past directors of NTI have included Lloyd Richards, Lynn Britt, Richard Digby Day, David Jaffe, and Michael Cadman.  Students graduating from NTI have included: Jennifer Garner; John Krasinski (The Office); Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother); Jeremy Piven (Entourage); Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director, Manhattan Theater Club); and Susan Booth (Artistic Director, ALLIANCE THEATRE).

For more information about the O'Neill and its programs visit: www.theoneill.org