33 Years and Growing: A Partnership Built on Innovation and Community

When Jim Nicola became Artistic Director of New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW), he quickly realized that while New York was an incredible place to create, artists needed to step outside the city to hear their own voices. They needed time and space to reflect on their craft, deepen relationships with collaborators and build community. This realization led to the birth of an enduring partnership between NYTW and Dartmouth College, a relationship that began in 1991 and has flourished ever since. Nicola's predecessor and Dartmouth alum Jean Passanante '75 helped lay the foundation by facilitating the initial connection between NYTW and Dartmouth. Over the last 33 years, the annual summer residency has evolved into a vital space for artistic exploration and community building.

For three weeks every August, the NYTW team and their artists-in-residence arrive at Dartmouth's idyllic campus to engage in a rich mix of activities: class visits, workshopping new plays, rehearsals, communal dinners and informal gatherings that encourage collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas. "Our time at Dartmouth is for process work," says Aaron Malkin. "It's not necessarily about making a play. It's about processing the world that we're living in, making space for new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of being." This emphasis on process over product creates a dynamic atmosphere where multiple groups of artists work simultaneously, fostering an environment where diverse voices and perspectives intersect. 

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A brown bag session during the 2015 NYTW Dartmouth residency. Shown from left to right: Sharon Washington '81, Sheryl Keller, Lee Sunday Evans, Boo Killebrew, Oksana Mysina. Photo courtesy of the artists

"There's something about being immersed in this place that allows artists to pause, reflect and connect in ways that are impossible in the bustle of the city," says Mary Lou Aleskie, Howard Gilman '44 Executive Director of the Hop. "The environment here nurtures a kind of creative openness that enriches both the artistic process and the community that forms around it."

Over the years, the residency has hosted many artists and birthed over 75 projects that have gone on to have remarkable lives beyond Dartmouth. Participants have included Denis O'Hare, Sharon Washington, Doug Wright, Dael Orlandersmith, Anaïs Mitchell, Kristina Wong, Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, Rachel Chavkin, Jeremy O. Harris, Martyna Majok and Ayad Akhtar. Rent, Hadestown, Kristina Wong: Sweatshop Overlord, The Laramie Project, Quills and An Iliad are just a few of the iconic works that have had remarkable lives beyond Dartmouth.

The NYTW residents engage deeply with Dartmouth students. Through the course "Summer Theater Lab," students rigorously observe the rehearsal process, participate in seminars and even share their own work. "Dartmouth students bring their incredible intelligence and curiosity to the artistic process," notes Malkin. And it has been equally meaningful for the students to get to engage with professional artists. The residency also fosters collaborations with Dartmouth faculty, such as talks that add layers of context to the pieces being developed.

Evolution & Expansion: This Season at NYTW
As NYTW transitions under the leadership of new Artistic Director Patricia McGregor, the partnership with Dartmouth is expanding. "Having developed some of our signature works at Dartmouth, our singular partnership will nourish the next generation of artists and storytellers from early explorations to full productions," says Gregor.

In the fall of 2024, We Live in Cairo, a powerful musical about the Egyptian revolution workshopped at Dartmouth in 2018 served as a prototype of a broader vision for the partnership—using art as a nexus for community and conversation. NYTW and the Hop with support from the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy organized a series of events that centers the community represented on stage with the goal of rippling outwards.

The events involved Professor of Middle Eastern Studies Ezzedine Fishere, whose expertise deeply enriched the creative process. A former Egyptian diplomat, novelist and scholar who was an active force in the 2011 revolution, Fishere had already been collaborating with the playwrights during their Dartmouth residency, offering insight that reflects both historical accuracy and contemporary relevance. He continued consulting with the theater company and participated in post-show discussions exploring the Egyptian revolution and its universal themes. "As a novelist and an academic, I always thought both roles informed each other," Fishere said. "We Live in Cairo does exactly that. What students get out of attending rehearsals or watching a show is a lot more than what you can explain in a classroom. 

Dartmouth also hosted the development of a second work featured in the 2024/25 NYTW season Becoming Eve, which was workshopped on campus in 2023. Following a performance, Dartmouth Professor of Religion Rachel Feldman was in conversation with Rabbi Abby Chava Stein whose memoir is the basis of the work. Together they discussed the themes of Eve, which tells the story of the child of a prominent Hasidic family whose identity as a trans woman comes into opposition with the strictly gendered world in which she was raised. Feldman, whose class on gender and Judaism explores similar questions, asked whether traditions can also be sources of creative inspiration and liberation—even if they have also caused harm. "The play is a testament to the life-giving potential of sacred sources and the resilient, healing power of Hasidic joy," she said. "I am proud of Dartmouth for supporting one of the most transformative works of Jewish theater I have ever seen."

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Tommy Dorfman and Richard Schiff in Becoming Eve. Photo by Matthew Murphy courtesy of NYTW

By bringing plays that unpack timely social issues and complex topics in a way that only art can, NYTW encourages artistic bravery—inviting both creators and audiences to engage with challenging themes. This aligns with the Hop and Dartmouth's commitment to facilitating conversations that bridge political and personal divides says Aleskie, noting that both NYTW and the Hop are dedicated to pushing boundaries. "We believe in creating space for stories that stir thought and reflection," she adds. 

As NYTW and the Hop continue this journey, the possibilities for expanding community engagement and continuing to explore the intersection of scholarship and artistry are boundless. "We're not just making theater," says Aleskie. "We're building community, deepening inquiry, and expanding the boundaries of what live performance can be."

This article first appeared in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Hop Fwd.