BWW Exclusive: 15 Hours to Stage a Scene at the National Theater Institute

A signature feature of the National Theater Institute, weekly Theater Labs challenge students to put all the skills gained in classes into practice. When given just 15 hours to stage a scene, students learn to trust their creative instincts. Under the mentorship of a professional director, NTI students gain practical experience with a wealth of classical and contemporary texts as well as have the opportunity to work as actor, director, designer, and/or dramaturge each week.

Over the last seven weeks, the National Theater Institute and National Music Theater Institute ensembles have worked with 12 guest directors on 14 plays and musicals.

There's no better way to appreciate NTI's breadth of training or access to industry professionals and master teachers than to take a look at this semester's Theater Labs:

WEEK 1

Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA PT.1 & 2

Guest Director: Gregg Wiggans

ASSASSINS music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman

Guest Director: Jonathan Bernstein

Special Guest: John Weidman

WEEK 2

Caryl Churchill's LOVE AND INFORMATION

Guest Director: Marina McClure (NTI Alum Fall '03)

FLY BY NIGHT conceived by Kim Rosenstock and written with Will Connolly and Michael Mitnick

Guest Director: Shira Milikowsky

WEEK 3

Robert O'Hara's AMERICAN MA(U)L & Marcus Gardley's the road weeps the well dry

Guest Director: Kym Moore

Special Guest: Marcus Gardley

GUYS AND DOLLS music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

Guest Director: Ethan Heard

WEEK 4

THE GOOD SWIMMER composed by Heidi Rodewald and written by Donna Di Novelli

Guest Director: Kevin Newbury

Special Guests: Donna Di Novelli and Heidi Rodewald

WEEK 5

William Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET & WEST SIDE STORY conceived by Jerome Robbins, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, and libretto/lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Guest Directors: Erin Ortman and Alex Gemignani

Special Guest: Michael Cadman, NTI Visiting Associate Artistic Director and Shakespeare Instructor

WEEK 6

Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL & Tennessee William's A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Guest Director: Jody McAuliffe

NEXT TO NORMAL with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt

Guest Director: Michael Berresse

WEEK 7

Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's THE THREEPENNY OPERA

Guest Director: Gisela Cardenas

Learn more about NTI's acclaimed semester-long, credit-earning training intensives by visiting www.NationalTheaterInstitute.org and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube (@NTIRiskFailRisk).