Second Stage Theater

Second Stage Theater is a New York City-based theater company founded in 1979 by Robyn Goodman and Carole Rothman. It is known for producing innovative and provocative works by American playwrights such as Lanford Wilson, Terrence McNally, and Richard Greenberg. Second Stage Theater has also hosted productions by renowned directors like Mike Nichols, Jerry Zaks, and Jack O'Brien. The company has been a launching pad for the careers of many notable actors, including Kevin Spacey, Allison Janney, and Laurie Metcalf.

● History

Second Stage Theater was established in 1979 with the goal of showcasing new and innovative works by American playwrights. The company's early productions included plays by Sam Shepard, David Mamet, and Wendy Wasserstein. In the 1980s, Second Stage Theater became a hub for Off-Broadway productions, hosting works by Athol Fugard, Caryl Churchill, and Tom Stoppard. The company has also collaborated with other prominent theater companies, such as the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Public Theater. Notable producers like Scott Rudin and Jeffrey Richards have also been involved with Second Stage Theater productions.

● Productions

Second Stage Theater has produced a wide range of plays and musicals, including works by Tony Kushner, August Wilson, and John Guare. The company has also hosted productions of classics like Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. In recent years, Second Stage Theater has produced plays by emerging playwrights like Annie Baker, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Ayad Akhtar. The company has also collaborated with composers like Tom Kitt and Jeanine Tesori on new musical theater works.

● Venue

Second Stage Theater is currently housed in the Helen Hayes Theatre on West 44th Street in New York City. The company also operates a secondary venue, the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, which is located on West 76th Street. The Helen Hayes Theatre has a seating capacity of over 600 and has hosted numerous Broadway productions, including Hadestown and What the Constitution Means to Me. Second Stage Theater has also produced works at other Off-Broadway venues, including the Lucille Lortel Theatre and the New York Theatre Workshop.

● Education_and_Outreach

Second Stage Theater offers a range of education and outreach programs, including workshops, masterclasses, and internships. The company has partnered with organizations like the New York City Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts to provide theater education programs for students and community members. Second Stage Theater has also collaborated with universities like New York University and Columbia University to offer theater training programs. Notable educators like Anna Deavere Smith and Oskar Eustis have been involved with Second Stage Theater's education programs.

● Notable_Productions

Some of Second Stage Theater's most notable productions include Lanford Wilson's Burn This, Terrence McNally's Lips Together, Teeth Apart, and Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out. The company has also produced musicals like Next to Normal and The Last Five Years. Second Stage Theater has hosted productions of plays by international playwrights like Harold Pinter and Eugene Ionesco. The company has also produced works by emerging playwrights like Dominique Morisseau and Martyna Majok.

● Awards_and_Nominations

Second Stage Theater has received numerous awards and nominations for its productions, including Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and Obie Awards. The company has been recognized for its contributions to American theater by organizations like the National Theatre Conference and the Theatre Communications Group. Second Stage Theater has also received funding from organizations like the Shubert Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Notable award winners like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Cynthia Nixon have been involved with Second Stage Theater productions. Category:Theater companies in the United States