History Of Invictus Theater
Invictus Theater was formed in 2004 over a cup of coffee at a diner on the west side of Manhattan. One foolish actor said to another, “I’m thinking of starting a theater company.” Of course, the other foolish actor responded “Hey, let’s do it!!” (and then hoped the other guy would pick up the check). Those two actors were Thomas Ryan and John Stanisci and for the rest of 2004, they both tried to answer the daunting question: “How the heck do you start a theater company?” Over the course of several months, John and Tom brought together a talented group of actors who shared their vision for forming a theater company. Invictus then began an association with Michael Parva and Katherine Heberling of The Directors Company. In April 2005, the company launched it’s first production with the Off-Broadway New York premiere of Murder In The First by Oscar nominated screenwriter Dan Gordon (credits include The Hurricane with Denzel Washington, Wyatt Earp with Kevin Costner and many more). Hailed as “…a Standout” by The New York Times, the award winning production was nominated for seven New York Innovative Theater Awards. In 2006, the moving true story of Irene Opdyke was introduced to the company. The next year and half was spent in the development of Irena’s Vow by Dan Gordon. Today, we are proud to be presenting this powerful tale of courage and heroism to the New York theater community. Once again in association with The Directors Company, Invictus is thrilled to welcome special guest artist , four time Tony nominee, Tovah Feldshuh, in the role of Irene Gut Opdyke.

Mission Statement
Invictus holds a passionate belief in the undying spirit of the actor and the vital need for expression. It is our wish to provide opportunities to highly skilled artists who have dedicated themselves to the fulfillment of their dreams and are as yet undiscovered by the entertainment industry. We wish to support these individuals who work to see their dreams fulfilled and long to create a lasting impact on theater audiences through the power and beauty of breathtaking, dramatic theater. Thus, the company’s name was born - INVICTUS, which is Latin for “unconquered.“