2nd Act Players’ founder John Frank to play Einstein

John N. Frank, co-founder of the 2nd Act Players, will be portraying an elderly Albert Einstein in a planned stage reading of a new play, Einstein’s Compass produced by Chicago’s Royal James Theater. The reading will take place Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. in The Merion, an Evanston senior-living residence. The part represents Frank’s […]

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Texas theater to premier Frank play, “Boys in the Basement,” in June, 2023

2nd Act Players’ Cofounder John N. Frank’s play Boys in the Basement will premiere as part of the 2022-2023 season for the Creative Corner Community Theatre in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This will be the first full production for Boys since Frank wrote, produced and acted in it at 2nd Act Players in 2015. “Boys […]

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A 2nd Act Players’ spotlight on — Bryan Jansen

Bryan Jansen, left, looking for love in "Boys in the Basement."

Bryan Jansen played The Whiz Kid in our 2015 production of Boys in the Basement. His character was a relative innocent in a world of male sharks, an innocent who looked at back issues of Playboy on stage every night. Bryan still holds the 2nd Act Players’ record for getting hit the hardest on stage […]

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Come see John Miraglia, buy tickets today

John Miraglia will portray Joseph in the 2nd Act Players’ production of the dynamic new one-act play Falling into Macy on March 11-26. Who is Joseph? Husband to Catherine, Joseph seems to have lost that spark of love that brought he and his long-time wife together. Will he find it again? Can mysterious character Macy help? […]

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Thank you to our wonderful donors

We would like to publicly thank those who donated while purchasing tickets for the show. You donated a total of $345 to 2nd Act Players.

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The final curtain for Boys in the Basement is today!

The last performance of the current run of Boys in the Basement is today, Sunday, Nov. 15. A few tickets remain, so if you’d like to see this riveting show, click here to get your tickets now. Several audience members at past performances have asked if this will be the last time the play is […]

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Tonight’s the night!!! Get your tickets today

Boys in the Basement returns to the stage at the Noyes Cultural Arts center in Evanston tonight for its final three performances of the current season!!! Don’t be sad, though, there’s still time to buy tickets and see the show. Find out what the three date rule is; hear about what yoga can do for […]

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Boys in the Basement thanks all our sponsors

Boys in the Basement would not have been possible without the support of all our sponsors, please patronize them — and tell them you saw their ads in our show programs and here on our website. E2 is a dramatic new set of two luxury apartment buildings in downtown Evanston, not far from the first […]

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Boys in the Basement is having an impact

My hope in writing Boys in the Basement was that it would let divorced men know that they are not alone, and that they can move on from bitterness and pain to build new lives for themselves. So I was touched to receive the following letter from a divorced man who saw our show. He […]

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The Media has discovered Boys in the Basement, your turn next

Boys in the Basement, the latest stage production from the 2nd Act Players, has been discovered, and widely covered, by the media because of its unique look at divorce from the male perspective. Columnist Jackie Philossoph conducted a Q&A with play author John N. Frank which appeared on the Chicago Tribune website, detailing why Frank […]

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