Jeffrey Sweet News

Broadway actor Garth Kravits has released a new parody video on the pitfalls of Oscar voting. Check it out below!

The National Theater Institute includes a vibrant community of over 3,500 alumni. The many talents of these actors, writers, directors, and designers can be seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in films, television, London's West End, and at every major regional theater in the U.S. Today, in an excerpt from The O'Neill: Transformation of Modern American Theater, we hear from Golden Globe Award-winning actress Jennifer Garner (Dallas Buyers Club, Alias, Juno, 13 Going on 30) about why she calls her 14 weeks at NTI 'integral to the growth of what I could do, what I could learn, what I could pursue, and what I was interested in. It was the most defining semester for me in college.' Plus, scroll down for photos of Garner in the program!

Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Chris Mannelli announce a change to the 2014-2015 season: The World Premiere of An Issue of Blood by Marcus Gardley, directed by Chay Yew, will replace the previously announced World Premiere of A Wonder In My Soul. An Issue of Blood was penned by Gardley in response to recent events and social injustices. An Issue of Blood runs April 3 - May 3, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, April 10, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Today, Risk Again! Notes from the National Theater Institute reflects on 12 defining moments of 2104.

Continuing its 40th Anniversary Season, Victory Gardens Theater announces the World Premiere of Samsara by Lauren Yee, directed by Seth Bockley. Samsara runs February 6 - March 8, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, February 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

New Jersey Repertory Company, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, will present the World Premiere of Angels and Ministers of Grace by Elaine Smith on October 23 through November 23, 2014. A poignant and compelling story of a close-knit, yet eccentric family's struggle to overcome life's ups and downs, Angels and Ministers of Grace captures the struggles that confront families today throughout the heartland and urban centers of America, and reveals the forces that threaten to destroy the American dream.

As I was reading The O'Neill: The Transformation of Modern American Theater by Jeffrey Sweet and walking through Launchpad of the American Theater: The O'Neill Since 1964, a 50th anniversary exhibit at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, it became clear to me that the ideas, principles, and people that have shaped the O'Neill and the National Theater Institute are still so very evident and become a part of every student who studies with NTI.

Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC), in association with Black Stars of the Great White Way - a Chapman Roberts and Richard Allen Center for Art & Culture, announces its production of the play, Hour Farther written by David Horace Greer, directed by Camilla Ross, and starring renowned stage and screen actor and singer, Kirk Taylor. Most recently, Mr. Taylor had the honor of working alongside the late Robin Williams and Mila Kunis in the film, The Angriest Man In Brooklyn directed by Phillip Alden Robinson.

'Extreme Whether,' a new 'eco-drama' written and directed by Karen Malpede, centers on an embattled American climate scientist living in an idyllic wilderness estate in the Northeast Coast. Set during the record-hot summers of 2004 and 2012, the play pits the scientist against his twin sister in a no-holds barred family struggle over land ownership and the future use of their wilderness estate. In one corner is John Bjornson, a composite of famous climatologists. In the other is his twin sister, Jeanne, an energy spokeswoman married to a skeptical lobbyist. Actor Jeff McCarthy ('Cheers,' 'Urinetown,' 'Chicago') heads the cast of six as the scientist. Theater Three Collaborative and Theater for the New City will present the work at TNC today, October 2 to 26, 2014, directed by the author.

Emerson Theatre Collaborative (ETC), in association with Black Stars of the Great White Way - a Chapman Roberts and Richard Allen Center for Art & Culture, announces its production of the play, Hour Farther written by David Horace Greer, directed by Camilla Ross, and starring renowned stage and screen actor and singer, Kirk Taylor. Most recently, Mr. Taylor had the honor of working alongside the late Robin Williams and Mila Kunis in the film, The Angriest Man In Brooklyn directed by Phillip Alden Robinson.

The National Theater Institute includes a vibrant community of over 3,500 alumni. The many talents of these actors, writers, directors, and designers can be seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in films, television, London's West End, and at every major regional theater in the U.S. Today, in an excerpt from The O'Neill: Transformation of Modern American Theater, we hear from actor-writer-director John Krasinski (Promised Land, Away We Go, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, Big Miracle, The Office) about why he calls his semester away at NTI "one the most influential moments of [his] life".

Victory Gardens Theater announces the first play of its 40th Anniversary Season: the Midwest Premiere of Rest by Ensemble Playwright Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Joanie Schultz. Rest runs tonight, September 12-October 12, 2014, with the press performance on September 19, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Continuing its 40th Anniversary Season, Victory Gardens Theater announces the Midwest Premiere of The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin, directed by Dennis Zacek and featuring Linda Reiter. The Testament of Mary runs November 14-December 14, 2014, with the press performance on Friday, November 21, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

'Extreme Whether,' a new 'eco-drama' written and directed by Karen Malpede, centers on an embattled American climate scientist living in an idyllic wilderness estate in the Northeast Coast. Set during the record-hot summers of 2004 and 2012, the play pits the scientist against his twin sister in a no-holds barred family struggle over land ownership and the future use of their wilderness estate. In one corner is John Bjornson, a composite of famous climatologists. In the other is his twin sister, Jeanne, an energy spokeswoman married to a skeptical lobbyist. Actor Jeff McCarthy ('Cheers,' 'Urinetown,' 'Chicago') heads the cast of six as the scientist. Theater Three Collaborative and Theater for the New City will present the work at TNC October 2 to 26, 2014, directed by the author.

Today, Thursday, August 7 at 6 p.m., come to The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for 'The O'Neill: On the Cutting Room Floor'.

On Thursday, August 7 at 6 p.m., come to The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for 'The O'Neill: On the Cutting Room Floor'.

Victory Gardens Theater hosts Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium for a one-night-only performance of the radio adaptation of Mercury Considers the Last Layer, written and directed by Trina Kakacek. Mercury Considers the Last Layer is a melodramatic romp, set in the dualistic world of burlesque, which follows the age-old quest of finding one's heart and one's self. Mercury was developed in the Victory Gardens Access Project Artist Development Workshop, with the lead male role written for actor, writer and Thespinariam Michael Herzovi. This special performance, which includes open captioning and American Sign Language interpretation, is meant for a mature audience. The performance is Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 7:30PM in the Zacek-McVay Theater at the Victory Gardens Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the first play of its 40th Anniversary Season: the Midwest Premiere of Rest by Ensemble Playwright Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Joanie Schultz. Rest runs September 12-October 12, 2014, with the press performance on September 19, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Due to early ticket demand, Victory Gardens Theater adds an additional week of performances to the run of Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Death and the Maiden now runs June 13 - July 20, 2014, with the press performance on June 20, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announces actor/writer/director Josh Radnor will participate in a discussion about his time at the O'Neill's National Theater Institute at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Bruno Walter Auditorium today, June 19, 2014.