Giving a creative home to theatre artists – located at the Catholic Center at NYU.
The Rhapsodic Theatre Ensemble is a training ground for NYU acting students dedicated to the art of classical performance. Inspired by the Polish Rhapsodic Theatre and the early creative life of Karol Wojtyła (St. John Paul II), we prioritize the actor’s voice and the integrity of the text.
Rhapsodic Theatre Ensemble is open to all NYU acting students in New York City!
The ensemble offers acting students the chance to work closely with professional theatre artists in an exploratory, rehearsal-based process. Participants deepen their classical acting skills through text analysis, voice and movement work, and performance in a professional setting.
Students apply by completing an online form and submitting a self-tape audition performing one classical monologue. Selected applicants will be invited to an in-person callback at the Catholic Center at NYU.
Click on this link to apply.
The word rhapsodic comes from the ancient Greek rhapsōidos, meaning “one who stitches songs together” or “one who recites an epic poem.” It refers to a performer who brings text to life through the spoken word, rhythm, and imagination. For Rhapsodic Theatre Ensemble, the term reflects a commitment to center around the text and the actor’s voice–connecting with an ancient form of storytelling.
The name also honors the Polish Rhapsodic Theatre, a movement founded during World War II that emphasized the power of the spoken word over spectacle. Working under censorship and oppression, these artists believed that language and imagination could preserve human dignity, culture, and truth. Karol Wojtyła (later St. John Paul II) was the co-founder of this company as well as an actor and playwright in it.
