Second Stage Theatre
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2011) |
Second Stage Theatre is an award-winning contemporary Off-Broadway theater company.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
The theatre's mission is to give new life to contemporary American plays and to produce the world premiers of new plays by both established and emerging playwrights. A fundamental part of its purpose is theatre education, which is accomplished through special performances for New York City school children, subscriber discussions with theatre artists, and an internship program.
[edit] History
Second Stage Theatre was founded by Carole Rothman and Robyn Goodman with the purpose of giving renewed life to existing plays. Second Stage’s first season kicked off in 1979 with a production of Bits and Pieces . The company utilized multiple venues throughout New York City until 1984 when 2ST found a permanent home, the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, an intimate 108 seat theatre at Broadway and 76th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Although the original idea of Second Stage was to avoid competition for new plays, Rothman and Goodman fell in love with productions that they couldn’t resist introducing to their audiences.
In 1999, Second Stage moved into a new home on the corner of West 43rd Street and Eighth Avenue. Previously a bank, the 1929 structure was redesigned for the stage by world renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The McGinn/Cazale Theatre is now home to 2ST's "Uptown Series", a two-play summer series that produces new work by up and coming playwrights.
[edit] Helen Hayes Theatre
It was announced on July 17, 2008 that Second Stage has acquired the right to purchase the Helen Hayes Theatre, a 597-seat Broadway house located at 240 West 44th Street in midtown-Manhattan. Second Stage is expected to close on the theater in 2012 and open its first season there in 2013.
When programming begins in the Helen Hayes Theatre, Second Stage will be the only theatre company on Broadway dedicated exclusively to the development and presentation of contemporary American theatrical productions. Second Stage will also become one of only four non-profit theatre companies that own and operate theatres on Broadway. The company will continue to lease and operate its original theatres on the Upper West Side and in Midtown Manhattan.
[edit] Uptown Series
"2ST Uptown" was created in 2002 as a program to help develop and provide a voice for a new generation of theatre artists. It has helped launch and advance the careers of several up-and-coming playwrights, including Lesyle Headland, Michael Mitnick, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Adam Bock, Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph, and Dan O'Brien.
The series seeks to develop the skills of emerging playwrights by providing them with the support of a major artistic institution. Many of the playwrights involved are making their New York City debuts through the 2ST Uptown program. Second Stage is a gateway between a plethora of young American talent and the New York theatre scene.
The plays are presented in the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, on Broadway and 76th Street on the Upper West Side. Second Stage's Associate Artistic Director, Christopher Burney, serves as the series' Curator.
[edit] Awards and Mentions
The company's more than 125 citations include three 2009 Tony Awards for Next to Normal including Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley), Best Original Score Written for the Theatre (Tom Kitt (musician) and Brian Yorkey), and Best Orchestrations (Tom Kitt (musician) and Michael Starobin), the 2007 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (Julie White) for The Little Dog Laughed, 2002 Tony Award for Best Director of a Play (Mary Zimmerman for Metamorphoses), the 2002 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Body of Work, 25 Obie Awards, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Clarence Derwent Awards, nine Drama Desk Awards, six Theatre World Awards, 13 Lucille Lortel Awards, the Drama Critics Circle Award and 15 AUDELCO Awards. In 2010 Next to Normal received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
[edit] Notables
[edit] Plays/Playwrights
|
[edit] ActorsOver the years, many notable actors have brought their talent to Second Stage. For some, it was a launching pad to a successful career on stage and screen. For others it has served as an inviting place to return to the stage after years away. Among the many actors who have been through the doors include:
|
[edit] External links
