Gerald W. Lynch Theater
212.237.8363
http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/theater
John Jay College offers its students a variety of opportunities for participation in theatre and play production, as well as access to nearby Lincoln Center and Broadway productions.
A major departmental production is mounted each semester in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater, a state-of-the-art facility located in Haaren Hall. In addition to stage productions, performances of work often conceived and performed by students, and hosted by one or more clubs or college programs, are held each semester in alternative spaces at the College. The Department of Communication and Theatre Arts presents a vibrant theatre program that dates back to the earliest days of the College. Many productions involve criminal justice themes, and have included major plays in the repertoire of world drama ranging from Greek tragedy to plays by contemporary playwrights, including: Oedipus Rex, The Merchant of Venice, Marat Sade, The Bald Soprano, Short Eyes, Equus, For Colored Girls… and Crimes of the Heart.
Kafka’s The Trial and Sidney Kingsley’s Detective Story were recognized by major New York critics, while more recently, The Crucible and Macbeth drew large, enthusiastic crowds and glowing accolades from students and the community alike. Musicals like Godspell, Brecht’s Happy End , and Once Upon This Island have offered John Jay’s multi-talented students the opportunity to showcase their acting skills, as well as their instrumental and vocal talents. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the College, departmental productions generally involve close collaboration with student clubs, the John Jay Players (the student theatrical group) and Women’s Studies.
In recent years, departmental productions have been featured in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, main stage productions have won praise from festival adjudicators, and student actors and technicians have been invited to perform and attend workshops at regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festivals. For information on performances, students may contact the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts.