The Greek Theatre of New York (GTNY) was founded by actor, writer, producer Yannis Simonides and his colleagues in 1979, and it has since served Greek and English speaking audiences with acclaimed productions in the USA and internationally. The company has sought to approach the classical, medieval and contemporary Hellenic repertory with discipline, delight and occasional irreverence.
GTNY has collaborated with distinguished artists, such as Olympia Dukakis, Nicholas Kepros, Yannis Houvardas, Loukas Skipitaris, Theoni Vachliotes Aldredge, Robert U. Taylor, Dionyssis Fotopoulos, George Tsontakis, Kostas Mourselas, Manolis Korres, Yannis Glezos, Caryn Heilman, Dan Georgakas, Vangelis Fampas, and has always been mindful of nurturing young talent in all fields of the performing arts. Over the years it has become known for its festivals of new plays, its solo and ensemble performances, its children theatre tours and its imaginative staging of Greek oratorios.
Productions over the years have included Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Sophocles’ Electra, Euripides’ Iphigenia in Tauris, Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, Thesmophoriazousai and The Birds, Kazantzakis’ Greek Passion, Theodorakis’ Song of the Dead Brother, Kambanellis’ Nameless Fairytale, Kornaros’ Erotokritos, Gregorios’ Christos Paschon, Simonides’ Epitheorisi, Alexandriad, Cavafy and Smyrne, Korres’ Happy Sunset, Skourtis’ The Nannies and Karaghiozis in America, Makriyannis’ Memoirs, and Plato’s Apology of Socrates.
Ellen Stewart of La MaMa ETC praised GTNY as one of her “brightest children”, and Melina Mercouri championed it as “the longest living and most accomplished theatre of the Greek Diaspora”.
GTNY is organized as GREEK THEATRE FOUNDATION INC., a non-profit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation in the State of New York, and is doing business as the Greek Theatre of New York.
