National Theater Institute Fall 2026 Semester - Eugene O'Neill Theater Center

The National Theater Institute (NTI) Semester offers 13 weeks of immersive theater training where you'll be encouraged to join the O'Neill's longstanding legacy of creative risk-taking and bold collaboration.





13 Weeks | 16-20 Credit Hours

Semester Dates: Sept. 8th-Dec. 13th, 2026



Choose your Focus:

Performance (20 Credit Hours)

Directing (16 Credit Hours)

Playwriting (16 Credit Hours)





THE NTI SEMESTER EXPERIENCE:

Classes & Mentorship from Industry Professionals: At NTI, you’ll take classes each week from professional working artists who are masters of their craft. Classes vary by focus but include subjects like Droznin Movement, Script Analysis, Crafting a Character, Stage Combat and Intimacy, Solo Work, and more. These teachers will also provide mentorship that goes beyond the classroom, offering advice for your future career.



Theater Labs: Each week, Theater Labs challenge you to put what you are learning in class on its feet. Under the mentorship of a professional guest artist, you’ll have just 15 hours to stage a series of scenes with a group of peers. You’ll develop your creative instincts and gain practical experience with a wide range of classical and contemporary plays and musicals.



Playwrights & Librettists Week: Drawing on the O'Neill's legacy of new work development, Playwrights and Librettists Week is dedicated to the staging of original one-act plays and musicals written, directed, designed, performed, and produced by your NTI ensemble under the mentorship of professional playwrights. This collaborative week supports and amplifies the voices of the next generation of American theater writers and exposes you to the process of developing new work.



London Residency: During a week-long residency abroad, you will train in Lecoq technique with the internationally renowned company Complicite, study with Frantic Assembly, and participate in a series of workshops, master classes, and Q&As. While there, you'll see exciting new work both on and off-West End, exposing yourself to the cultural, historical, and theatrical richness of London.



Theater Attendance: As an NTI student, you’ll take trips to NYC and to prominent regional theaters such as Yale Repertory Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company, and Hartford Stage. You may also attend workshops and performances by artists in residence on the O’Neill’s campus. Often NTI students have exclusive opportunities to learn more about the artistic process with the cast and creative teams.



Company Project: As the culmination of your NTI Semester, you’ll devise a piece of theater unique to your ensemble. Through public performances, you showcase what you have learned and what has inspired you throughout your time at NTI.





APPLICATION DEADLINES:

Priority Application Deadline: April 6, 2026 - Apply by this date to receive $2,500 off your program fee.

Regular Application Deadline: May 18, 2026 - Apply by this date for best consideration for admission and scholarship.