Meet key characters from The Institute — Miss Salvati

Posted on September 25, 2016 by

Miss Salvati is the school librarian in the 2nd act Players’ fall show, The Institute. The Institute is an all-boys, Catholic, military high school on the edge of New York’s Greenwich Village where Miss Salvati is the only woman on the school’s faculty when our play opens in the fall of 1967.theinstitute_5-01

She helps guide the boys through the travails of their freshman year and remains a sounding board, confessor and mother-hen for them as they progress into their senior year. She also plays a key role in helping young Patrick Brennan deals with a major issue he faces.

Kirsty Collins will be portraying Miss Salvati, as well as playing Sarah Johnson. Kirsty’s Chicago theater credits include Dandelion Theatre’s The Hot Dog Stand and Buzz 22’s production of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. Watch here for a video of Kirsty talking about her character. Continue reading →

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Why you should see The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam War

Posted on September 24, 2016 by

The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam War, is set in the years 1967 through 1971, but the issues it raises about war and about sending the youth of America to fight in foreign lands is just as relevant today as it was in those bygone days.

The Institute is a coming of age story, a look at how boys turn into men and shape their own world views about duty, country and themselves. It begins at their 45-year high school reunion as the now senior citizens look back on their youth and then flashes back to their first day of high school in 1967.theinstitute_5-01

These young men, all for vastly different reasons, have decided to attend a Catholic military high school, one of only two in the country at the time, during the height of the Vietnam War. What’s more, they’ve picked a school on the edge of New York’s Greenwich Village, a counter-culture hotbed and the site of a bomb-making factory for the then-notorious Weather Underground anti-war movement.

If you think it all sounds too fanciful to have actually happened, think again. The play is based on playwright john N. Frank’s own high school years at just such a school. Continue reading →

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2nd Act Players nominated for Evanston Mayor’s Awards for the Arts

Posted on September 23, 2016 by

The 2nd Act Players, only four years after producing their first play in Evanston, have been nominated for the Mayor’s Awards for the Arts this year.evanston-arts-council

“We’re thrilled with the nomination, especially as this is our first year in our new theater home here in Evanston at the Northminster Presbyterian Church,” says 2nd act Players co-founder John N. Frank.

“We’ve been Evanston’s best-kept theater secret the past few years, but hopefully this nomination will encourage more of our fellow Evanstonians to come see our plays,” says Frank, who is also the artistic director.

The 2nd Act Players are currently in rehearsals for their fall show, The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam War, which opens Oct. 21 and runs weekends through Nov. 13. To purchase tickets, simply click this link. Continue reading →

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Meet our All-Star Cast, Director for: The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam War

Posted on September 15, 2016 by

 

The 2nd Act Players is pleased to announce both a cast of highly talented Chicago theater veterans and a dynamic, new director for its fall production of the original two-act drama, The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam War.The first play in our new home will be the drama, The Institute.

“Each year since our beginning in 2013, we have sought to broaden our talent pool and so deliver ever-more compelling shows to our audiences. The level of talent we have assembled this year is truly exceptional, our audiences have a lot to look forward to,” says 2nd Act Co-founder and Artistic Director John N. Frank. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s the night, party, learn about the 1960s and support the 2nd Act Players!

Posted on September 10, 2016 by

The 2nd Act Players’ 1960s soiree is only hours away, starting at 5 tonight, Saturday, at 922 Davis Street in downtown Evanston. The first play in our new home will be the drama, The Institute.

Stop by to have some appetizers, cookies, wine and cheese while hearing from a panel who lived through the turbulent 1960s about what that era was like.

You also can bid on more than 20 silent auction items, all donated by wonderful people and their businesses to support the 2nd Act Players and their fall show, The Institute, coming of Age During the Vietnam War. The show opens Oct. 21 in our new theater home at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Evanston.

Can’t make it tonight but still want to support the 2nd Act Players? Make your donations by clicking on this link.

Ready to buy your tickets for the show itself in October and November? Simply click here to go to brownpapertickets and order.

 

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Even more reasons to come to our Sept. 10 gala

Posted on August 30, 2016 by

The number of Evanston and North Shore businesses lending their support to the 2nd Act Players keeps growing daily as we prepare for our first-ever silent auction fundraiser and gala Sept. 10 at Creative Coworking in downtown Evanston.Temperance

Two of our favorite spots in town, Temperance Beer Co. and Few Spirits, have donated some amazing items for the auction. Love craft beers? Then come bid on a six-month growler refill from Temperance. If you haven’t discovered Temperance yet, you should, it has a great tap room just off of Dempster west of Dodge in Evanston.

FEW-Spirits-logo-Red-small-PreviewFew Spirits has given us a distillery tour and tasting for four. Few is another hidden Evanston gem, located in an alley just north of Main Street on Chicago Avenue. Our family did the tour/tasting last year and loved it, this is a great item to bid on for any lover of finely crafted spirits. Continue reading →

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16 great reasons to come to our Sept. 10 gala

Posted on August 25, 2016 by

Mark your calendars today to attend our 2nd Act Players 1960s soiree from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 10 at Creative Coworking in downtown Evanston. In addition to an amazing panel discussion on the turbulent 1960s we plan that evening, we’re having a silent auction that, at the moment, has 16 fabulous items you  can bid on and win.

Here’s the prize list as of today, we expect a few more to be added as well, more reasons to attend! Looking for a quick weekend get-away? How about an evening stay at Evanston’s beautiful Hilton Orrington Hotel? theinstitute_image-ad_3-01 (1)

Interested in acting? Come bid on a free level of classes at Chicago Green Shirt Studio, known for its Meisner technique classes!  Feeling the need for a makeover? We have a package from noted salon Teddie Kossof and a basket full of care products from Red7 Salon.

Want to take in a musical after you see our fall drama? Then come bid on tickets for two different Broadway in Chicago shows this season.

The list goes on, click the link here to see all the items and see you Sept. 10!!!! Continue reading →

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