The Institute played to two standing-room only crowds at Xavier High School in New York Jan. 25-26. “We were adding chairs each night. Our veteran cast gave performances people will be talking about for a long time,” says 2nd Act Co-founder and the play’s director and author John N. Frank. Frank wrote the play in […]
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The 2nd Act Players are on their way to New York City for their Jan. 25-26 production of The Institute a little earlier than planned because of a major snow storm rapidly approaching their home base in the Chicago area. “We’re small which also makes us nimble. Our first rehearsal for our New York production […]
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We’ve assembled an all-star, veteran cast for the New York City staged-readings/ premiere of The Institute Jan. 25-26 at Xavier High School in Manhattan. Performances, which are free to the public, will take place each evening at 7:30, lasting roughly two hours The cast (and characters they will play): ALAN ALTSCHULER (DANNY/MR. DONALAN) Alan’s favorite […]
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The 2nd Act Players are taking their original drama The Institute to New York for staged readings January 25 and January 26 at 7:30 p.m., at the school which inspired the play, Xavier High School in Manhattan. The 2nd Act Players will be co-producing the play with Xavier Theatre and Film of Brooklyn, whose mission is […]
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The 2nd Act Players’ will be mounting a weekend of staged readings of Cofounder John N. Frank’s play The Institute next January in New York City. The performances, tentatively scheduled for Jan 25-26, will take place at Frank’s high school, Xavier, which serves as the inspiration for the setting of the play itself. “To see […]
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Julie Mitre has graced the 2nd Act Players’ stage twice in the past two years, first in The Institute and then as a dying mother in our early 2017 one-act play Last Days of Wonder. Writing us in late May, Julie tells us today “I am more involved with my role as Artistic Associate with Akvavit […]
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The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam War, is “Full of comedic relief, creative role changes and shocking plot twists,” says a review in the Loyola Phoenix. “The Institute…emotionally connects viewers to the characters as they develop friendships and embody the Jesuit value of being a person for others.” “For characters Frankie, Shamus, Patrick […]
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“The conspiracy theorist in me thinks the Cubs decided to finally go to the big show this year just to cost me ticket sales,” says Brooklyn-born Frank, who admits to being a life-long Mets fan. “I think they’re just trying to get payback for 1969, the Black Cat and…well you know the rest, including last year’s playoffs.”
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Opening weekend audiences raved about the 2nd Act Players world premiere of The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam War, calling it “extraordinary” and “terrific,” in evaluation forms filled out immediately after performances Oct. 21-23. “I got chills during the Martin Luther King scenes. Great job,” wrote one. “What a compelling story,” wrote another. […]
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Matt Lloyd has the interesting acting challenge of playing two major characters in The Institute, Frankie and Sgt. Major Marny. Frankie is a student hoping The Institute will lift him out of the ghetto where he grew up and set him on the path to a better life. He brings an enthusiasm to everything he […]
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