his page celebrates how the Ignatian tradition still inspires artists and audiences today. Click on some of the links here to find out about theatre practitioners and groups throughout the world. We will update this page throughout the Ignatian year, so if you know of a group you would like to be represented here, contact us so we can add them.
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"Show me a successful individual, and I'll show you someone who had positive influences in his or her life. The late Bob Stone, my mentor, was a former actor and professor at Fordham University. Bob was one of those influences in my life. He believed in me and gave me something to live up to... I am here by the grace of God, humility, and hard work"
- Denzel Washington
“We were talking about Ignatius' 'Spiritual Exercises', and Father Dan [Berrigan]said to me, in passing, ‘Did you know that Stanislavsky (who is the first modern theorist of acting, who kind of put a bible of acting together) based his book on Ignatius' 'Spiritual Exercises'?’” And a lightbulb went off in my head. It was like, I’m supposed to be here, in the middle of the jungle, to hear this. And it really changed something in me. I became very proud of the profession I had chosen, and the luck I was having. It had a real profound effect on me.”
- Liam Neeson
JOSEPH A. BROWN, SJ; Ph. D
Actor, Director, Instructor
“Gem of the Ocean,” by August Wilson. Character: Solly Two Kings (with Martin Rasheed, as Citizen Barlow). SIUC THEATER. 2018.
My engagement with theater has been full-time as an instructor in a Theater department, only from 1974 to 1979, when I taught in the program at Creighton University. Before and after that period, my theater work has been as an actor and director, mostly in academic productions, but also in community theater projects. That has been true since 1962 (when I entered the Society of Jesus) to the present.
Bill Cain
Writer for theater and film, Theater Director, Film and TV Producer & screenwriter
Bill Cain’s work in theater and film have won, among others, the Peabody Award, the Writers’ Guild Award, best play awards in Los Angeles, D.C, San Francisco, back-to-back Steinberg/American Critics’ Awards and the Joseph A. Callaway award for Broadway production.
Nicholas D'Agosto
Actor, Writer & Podcaster
A professional TV/Film actor, his podcast God & Other Delicacies asks believers and non-believers alike - "How and When were you introduced to the idea of God in your life?"
George Drance, SJ
Actor, Director, Teacher
"Calderon's Two Dreams" Magis at La Mama 2017 features two plays by Calderon de la Barca about salvation and liberation. Calderon was Spain's Shakespeare and became a priest while still writing plays.
Erik Ehn
Writer, Director, Teacher
Ehn in the Wilbury Theater space (Providence, RI) during rehearsals for Not I/Ill Seen (Beckett shorts)
Grant Garinger, SJ
Director of Theatre and Film
Fr. Grant Garinger, SJ teaching some theatre majors in an Acting for the camera class at Marquette University.
Joe Hoover
Playwright, Actor
Joe Hoover and Rocio Mendez in Joe's play "Jay and Ruby Get Religion" at the Davenport Theatre in New York City, 2015.
Kristin Kusanovich
Director/Choreographer/Movement Coach
Students in Santa Clara University's Anima Collective during a weekend retreat of silence, movement, writing, and fellowship, prior to rehearsals commencing.
Martin Ngo, SJ
Actor, Improvisor
Martin Ngo, SJ plays Jung in this 7-episode mini-series on the web called "Love Rules" written and produced by his Second City improv troupe.
Perry Petrich, SJ
Production Manager and Teacher of Stage Management at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, CA
Fr. Petrich, SJ in rehearsal for an original work at Jesuit High School in Carmichael called "WHAT!?!?, a Game Show," about truth in today's USA.
Damian Torres-Botello, SJ
Playwright, Performing Artist, Director, Activist-Artist
“American Privilege” devised and directed by Damian Torres-Botello, SJ with Detroit Mercy Theatre Company. Shown: DeShawn King, Andrew Guay and Savanah Wright. Photo by Evans Tasiopoulos
Robert VerEecke SJ
Choreographer/ Director
The Principle and Foundation from “For the Greater Glory of God,” a dance/theater piece inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola.
Michael A. Zampelli, SJ
Teacher, Associate Professor of Theatre
Fordham University
San Ignacio de Loyola (Zipoli and Schmidt) staged at the Church of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale, Rome, one of several contemporary productions of Jesuit-related performance pieces.