The O'Neill Critics Institute
(formerly the National Critics Institute)
Background
It's a new name, but it's the same idea-writing theater criticism. Good theater needs good criticism. As playwrights, directors, designers, and actors work to develop their craft and create work that challenges them and their audiences, they need the informed eyes and ears of the critic to celebrate their achievements, to give honest evaluations of their work, and to encourage them to continue to work to create exciting theater. Critics are also needed to inform the public about individual plays and about the importance of theater itself. Good theater criticism is necessary for the healthy life of the theater.
It is for these reasons that KCACTF, in partnership with the Eugene O'Neill Institute, sponsors the O'Neill Critics Institute (OCI). While OCI may work slightly differently from region to region, in general at each festival student critics spend a few days working with an invited guest critic. The student critics write reviews of some of the productions at the festival, discuss these reviews with the guest critic and the student critics, and by the end of the festival submit a review that demonstrates what they see as their best work. One student critic from each region is selected to attend OCI workshops at the Kennedy Center. At the Kennedy Center, at least one student critic is selected to attend the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center during its national playwriting conference in the summer. All expenses are paid to both the Kennedy Center and the O'Neill Institute, and student critics at both sites have the opportunity to work with nationally recognized theater critics.
OCI in Region II follows this format: Beginning on the second day of the festival, students meet with the guest critic in a seminar format, where they talk about theater in general and the plays they see at the festival and where they share their reviews of the work they have seen. Although the experience is intense and time-consuming, with five or six scheduled sessions, the atmosphere is open and collegial, and students generally leave festival recognizing they have learned a lot and grown as student critics and writers. Indeed, the selection of a person to go to the Kennedy Center experience is usually viewed as far less important than the experience itself.All students from the region are eligible to participate in OCI. A student does not need to be nominated by a respondent or faculty member. There is no pre-screening of writing or resumes. OCI is also open to students of all disciplines and class levels. In the past, it has included first-year college students as well as graduate students. Although most participants come from theater programs, students in English and journalism are also welcome and can bring important insights to the discussions and to their reviews. Indeed, students with backgrounds as varied as cultural history and psychology could also contribute to and grow from the experience. The most important attributes participants share is a love of theater, the ability to write, and a desire to use these skills to help contribute to the development of strong theater.
Students planning on participating in OCI should pre-register. While we will accept registration when they arrive at the festival, we prefer that students sign up ahead of time so that adequate space can be planned for. In addition, students who pre-register will receive any materials the Guest Critic or OCI coordinator may want students to have before the festival.
The most important things to bring are a passion for good theater and an active inquiring mind. However, students should also know that much of the writing they will do occurs at night, after they have seen an evening show. We cannot guarantee that they will be able to have late night computer access at the host school. Thus, student critics are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop computer with wireless capability. While having a laptop is not absolutely necessary, not having one may make the experience more difficult and frustrating. If students do not have a laptop with wireless capability, they should see if they can borrow one from the school library, technology support office, or academic department.
As a critic, you should be able to get guest access to the wireless network at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Also, it appears that all of the host hotels also have free internet access, so you will be able to do work in your rooms.
If you have any questions or want to talk to me more about NCI or the Production Review Website, please contact me. I will be happy to respond to faculty and student inquiries.
Ralph Leary
Department of English
Clarion University
Clarion, PA
16214
814-393-2533
E-mail: leary@clarion.edu
We look forward to another wonderful festival with lively discussions and strong writing from our student critics.