The 2nd Act Players have begun work on its fall production, the original two-act play The Institute, which looks at the lives of four young men attending military school during the height of the Vietnam War.
“This is a much different look at that era than other plays have taken,” explains playwright John N. Frank. “The story of anti-war protests has been told over and over again, with Hair probably the most famous example. This is a story of young men growing up while also wrestling with very adult issues of war and what it means to serve your country.”
The Players assembled with friends in their new theater at Evanston’s Northminster Church recently to workshop The Institute before a select audience. A long discussion of the play, its characters and its plot and subplots followed.
“I value all the feedback so much, I’m already deep into rewriting,” says Frank. The goal is a final script that honors Frank’s vision for the play while also presenting compelling theater.
The Institute opens Oct. 21 and will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 13. Save the dates, tickets will be available soon on Brown Paper Tickets.