# National Players > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/National_Players > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/National_Players.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Players > Source revision: 1357155356 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American travelling theatrical company}} {{Multiple issues| {{Primary sources|date=February 2008}} {{context|date=September 2024}} }} The '''National Players''' is the longest-running classical touring company in the United States. == Classical Touring Company == After 70 consecutive seasons of touring, this acting company has given approximately 6,600 performances and workshops on plays by [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare), [O'Neill](/source/Eugene_O'Neill), [Molière](/source/Moli%C3%A8re), [Shaw](/source/George_Bernard_Shaw), [Kafka](/source/Kafka), [Sophocles](/source/Sophocles), [Aeschylus](/source/Aeschylus), [Aristophanes](/source/Aristophanes), [Stoppard](/source/Stoppard) and [Peter Shaffer](/source/Peter_Shaffer). Currently a program of [Olney Theatre Center](/source/Olney_Theatre), National Players has performed for the public in 41 states, reaching young audiences in areas that are isolated geographically or economically – audiences that would otherwise never see live performances of classic plays. In response to invitations from the [Department of Defense](/source/United_States_Department_of_Defense) and the [State Department](/source/State_Department), Players have toured [Europe](/source/Europe), [Asia](/source/Asia), and the [Middle East](/source/Middle_East) performing for American military. During the [Korean War](/source/Korean_War), they made a six-week tour of [Japan](/source/Japan) and [Korea](/source/Korea) to entertain GIs, and have been to 5 [White House](/source/White_House) receptions in appreciation for outstanding service. === History === National Players was founded in 1949 by [Father Gilbert V. Hartke](/source/Father_Gilbert_V._Hartke), OP, a prominent arts educator and head of the drama department at [Catholic University of America](/source/Catholic_University_of_America). His mission was to stimulate young people's higher thinking skills and imaginations by presenting classical plays in accessible ways. A single twin-bill truck-and-station-wagon company, traveling under the banner of "Players, Incorporated," "University Players, " "Players," and finally "National Players," has continued to bring classic productions across the country from September to May. === How Players Works === A nationwide search of graduates of college and university theater programs leads to the casting of members of the touring company. In the tradition of traveling players, the troupe arrives a few hours before the scheduled performance to prepare the stage: raise the set, hang and focus the lights, check sound equipment and props, and arrange dressing rooms, before donning costumes and make-up. When the final curtain falls, they do everything in reverse. === Production History === The company went on hiatus during the COVID-19 Omicron wave and will remain so until at least 2026 due to improvements to the Olney Theatre Center campus.{{cite news |title=Olney Theatre Center extends National Players hiatus |url=https://dctheaterarts.org/2023/08/10/olney-theatre-center-extends-national-players-hiatus/ |access-date=9 January 2025 |publisher=DC Theater Arts}} Tour 70: [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare)'s ''[Twelfth Night](/source/Twelfth_Night),'' a stage adaptation of [Jules Verne](/source/Jules_Verne)'s ''[Around the World in 80 Days](/source/Around_the_World_in_80_Days),'' and Arthur Miller's ''[The Crucible](/source/The_Crucible)''. Tour 69: [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare)'s ''[Othello](/source/Othello),'' a stage adaptation of [Lewis Carroll](/source/Lewis_Carroll)'s ''[Alice in Wonderland](/source/Alice_in_Wonderland),'' and an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's ''[The Great Gatsby](/source/The_Great_Gatsby)''. Tour 68: [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare)'s ''[Hamlet](/source/Hamlet),'' a stage adaptation of [John Steinbeck](/source/John_Steinbeck)'s ''[The Grapes of Wrath](/source/The_Grapes_of_Wrath),'' and an adaptation by Eric Coble of Lois Lowry's ''[The Giver](/source/The_Giver)''. Tour 67: [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare)'s ''[A Midsummer Night's Dream](/source/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dream)'' and ''[Julius Caesar](/source/Julius_Caesar_(play))''; [Benjamin Kingsland](/source/Benjamin_Kingsland)'s adaptation of [Charles Dickens](/source/Charles_Dickens)' novel ''[A Tale of Two Cities](/source/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities)'' Tour 66: [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare)'s ''[As You Like It](/source/As_You_Like_It)'' and ''[The Tempest](/source/The_Tempest)''; [Christopher Sergel](/source/Christopher_Sergel)'s adaptation of [Harper Lee](/source/Harper_Lee)'s novel ''[To Kill a Mockingbird](/source/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird)'' Tour 65: [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare)'s ''[Macbeth](/source/Macbeth)'' and ''[Comedy of Errors](/source/Comedy_of_Errors)''; an adaptation of [Homer](/source/Homer)'s ''[Odyssey](/source/Odyssey)'' === Credits === The National Players have received accolades from [Walter Kerr](/source/Walter_Kerr), drama critic emeritus of ''The New York Times''; Patrick Hayes, founder and managing director of the Washington Performing Arts Society; and the late [Helen Hayes](/source/Helen_Hayes). Players' alumni include [John Heard](/source/John_Heard_(actor)), [Laurence Luckinbill](/source/Laurence_Luckinbill), [Gino Conforti](/source/Gino_Conforti), [John Slattery](/source/John_Slattery), [Daniel Hugh Kelly](/source/Daniel_Hugh_Kelly), [Stan Wojewodski](/source/Stan_Wojewodski) (former Dean of the Yale School of Drama) and David Richards (drama critic for the New York Times). Most recently, National Players received special recognition from [The Shakespeare Guild](/source/The_Shakespeare_Guild), presenter of The Golden Quill, the Sir John Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.nationalplayers.org National Players Website] {{authority control}} Category:Theatre companies in Maryland Category:Catholic University of America Category:Performing groups established in 1949 Category:American organizations established in 1949 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [National Players](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Players) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Players?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.