The Blackfriars Repertory Theatre is a Dominican Apostolate which proclaims the saving power of the Gospels via the theatrical medium.
Blackfriars Repertory Theatre
141 E. 65th Street
New York, NY 10021
http://www.blackfriarsrep.com/
About Blackfriars Repertory Theatre
The Order of Preachers–the Dominicans–was founded in the 13th century by St. Dominic in order to save souls through preaching and to rectify the corrosive effects of heresy on culture through dedication to the Truth. The Dominican charism esteems art as a formidable witness to the Incarnation and as an invaluable instrument of evangelization.
Blackfriars Repertory Theatre carries on the illustrious theatrical heritage of the Dominican Friars in New York of the Province of St. Joseph. In 1940, Dominican Fathers Urban Nagle and Thomas Carey founded and conducted the Blackfriars Guild: a national association of Catholic theatre companies comprised of twenty-two chapters throughout the country.
Moreover, Fathers Nagle and Carey together ran the only professional level theatre sponsored by a Catholic organization in the United States, and the first religious theatre ever tried in New York City. The Blackfriars Theatre–until recently, popularly regarded as the American stage’s oldest continuous Off-Broadway theatre–was Located at 320 West 57th Street. Blackfriars provided the proverbial great first break to several acclaimed theatre artists including playwright Robert Anderson, actors Geraldine Page, Eileen Heckart, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, Darren McGavin, and Shelley Berman, and producer Elizabeth McCann.
Blackfriars Repertory Theatre preserves the philosophy and ideals of the original Blackfriars Guild “dedicated to producing plays of artistic merit which reflect the spiritual nature of man and his destiny.” This new initiative is comprised of a devoted company of priests and lay people. Blackfriars Repertory Theatre is committed to producing high quality theatre of all kinds that edifies, uplifts, entertains, and inspires.
Blackfriars Repertory Theatre works in close collaboration with the Providence College Theatre Arts Department, with Compagnia Elsinor, an association of three theatres throughout Italy under the direction of Franco Palmieri, and with St. Malachy’s Church, The Actors’ Chapel, New York City.
HISTORY OF BLACKFRIARS’ PRODUCTIONS:
October, 1998: Premier of The Sacrament of Memory, White Plains, NY
Spring, 2001: The Living Silence, Premier Season, Mamaroneck, NY
February, 2002: Off-Broadway production of Damien by Aldyth Morris, Jose Quintero Theatre
Spring, 2002: The Living Silence, Second Season
Summer, 2002: Release of the CD cast recording of The Living Silence
September 7, 2002: The Living Silence, Featured Presentation of the Magnificat Congress, Hilton Hotel, New York
September 24, 2002: Dialogue of Destiny, Dominican College, Blauvelt, NY
Spring, 2003: The Living Silence, Third Season
June 14, 2003: Premier of The Drama of Light, Archdiocese of New York Movements Day, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY
October, 2003: Off-Broadway production of The Sacrament of Memory, Dicapo Theatre
December, 2003: Infant Holy Christmas Concert, NYC
Tour, 2004: Maurice and Therese: Story of a Love, NY, MD, PA, MA
March, 2004: The Drama of Light, NYC