The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center has announced the appointment of Chris Jones, chief theater critic and a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, as Director of the O’Neill’s National Critics Institute (NCI), effective immediately.A “boot camp for theater writers,” NCI is an intensive two-week workshop, designed for arts journalists, bloggers, and critics looking to strengthen their skills in an increasingly competitive and fast-paced industry. The Institute convenes annually at the O’Neill’s Waterford campus alongside the National Playwrights Conference and National Music Theater Conference. Dr Jones succeeds Dan Sullivan, a co-founder of NCI, who served as Director from 1999 to 2013. Mr. Sullivan, a former critic for the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, will continue with NCI as a faculty member. Mark Charney will also continue as Associate Director of the program. The 2014 National Critics Institute will convene June 28 to July 13. For more information about the Institute and to apply for the 2014 session, visit www.theoneill.org/professional-development-and-education/nci. Press contact: Shawn Purdy/Slate PR (235-6813)...