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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The Institute, Coming of Age during the Vietnam war, already is garnering widespread media attention. The new 2nd Act Players production has been featured in a story on the Chicago Tribune website and in a radio interview with WCGO’s Daniel French. Daily North Shore also has previewed the Oct. 21 opening of the show which […]
Read MoreMrs. O’Malley is a woman with a fierce love for her four sons who would do anything to protect them, even try to upend 100 years of tradition at The Institute. Mrs. O’Malley is the head of the Mothers’ Club at The Institute. A group known primarily for its fund-raising prowess, the club is turning […]
Read MoreYoung Kathy is carrying a terrible secret with her, one that makes her reluctant to let any boy get close to her, let alone one as forward as young Shamus.
Read MoreFrankie Johnson has been an outsider all his young life and that remains true at The Institute. Come see Matthew J. Lloyd portray Frankie in the 2nd Act Players’ fall production of The Institute, coming fo Age during the Vietnam War, opening Oct. 21. Frankie has no family history at the school, unlike many of […]
Read MoreShamus O’Malley, who will be played by Scott Stockwell in the 2nd Act Players’ upcoming production of The Institute, coming of age during the Vietnam War, is what’s known at the school as a legacy. His family of proud Irish Catholics has been sending young men to the school almost since it’s founding in 1847. For […]
Read MoreThe Institute, coming of age during the Vietnam War doesn’t open until Oct. 21, but already the buzz is building among people who have seen the script and are familiar with the story of four young men who attend a Catholic, military school during the height of the Vietnam War. The story is based on […]
Read MoreIt’s always interesting to see who the early ticket-buyers are for any new production we do. Often its people who know actors in the cast. But for our 2016 world premiere of The Institute, Coming fo Age during the Vietnam War, it’s been a much different phenomenon. Early ticket sales have gone almost exclusively to […]
Read More“We have never challenged a cast in a 2nd Act Players production to show their acting chops like we do with this script,” says 2nd Act Creative Director John N. Frank. He should know, he’s acting in this one himself!
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