Founded in 1979 by Jeffrey Horowitz, Theatre for a New Audience is an esteemed non-profit classical theatre. For 30 years, it has continually produced acclaimed and imaginative productions of Shakespeare and the classics and offered major arts education programs.

Many of today's finest artists, including Julie Taymor, Mark Rylance (former Artistic Director, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, Robert Woodruff (former Artistic Director, American Repertory Theatre), Bartlett Sher (Tony Award winning director of South Pacific), and Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham, work at Theatre for a New Audience. Drama critics have recognized the company with multiple awards. The Theatre has toured nationally and internationally, and its work has been featured on Public Television.

Theatre for a New Audience offers the largest programs in the New York City Public Schools to introduce Shakespeare and other classics. In conjunction with a program of staff development workshops and artist residencies, students see morning matinee performances of the same quality productions as seen by general audiences.

ABOUT THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Shakespeare and classic drama are enduring expressions of the human condition. Begun in 1984, our programs to introduce Shakespeare and classic drama have served nearly 120,000 students, ages 9 through 18, in New York City Public Schools city-wide.

The programs meet New York State, New York City Learning Standards for English Language Arts and the Arts, as well as the Department of Education's Curriculum Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Theater, and are curriculum-based. Students see full productions at an Off-Broadway theatre in a comprehensive program that also includes staff development workshops for teachers, teaching artists' visits to the classroom, a culminating event where students perform their own work, and a final reflection session.

The programs promote literacy by incorporating listening, speaking, reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Students use language in all its forms, both oral and written. The focus is inspiring students to read and allowing them to recognize the power of ideas, the beauty of language and the benefits of engaging in language activities.

Research analysis and data show that Theatre for a New Audience's programs help improve student capacity and performance. By approaching Shakespeare as drama, students incorporate new words and allusions in their oral and written vocabularies in activities such as discussions, debates and essays; students have increased confidence in oral exercises such as role playing and interpretation; students' understanding of drama is enriched and the literate environment of the classroom changes.

The programs help build teacher capacity by learning to use drama activities to support teaching the English Language Arts Curriculum.

Continuing assessment is a key component. Each year, participating teachers evaluate the quality of our staff and materials and the programs' effectiveness in meeting learning standards. Our teaching artists follow up each residency with a reflection session, in which the students and teachers process the experience.

Theatre for a New Audience teaching artists are provided with 60 hours of training, which includes topics such as Creating a Rubric to Assess Student Achievement, Conducting Professional Development Workshops, Working with Special Education Students, Working in an Educational Environment, and Adapting Lessons to fit the Grade Level. Many of our teaching artists return year after year, adding continuity and depth to the program.

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THE WORLD THEATRE PROJECT

"I wish this program could be part of the regular curriculum. It teaches kids people skills, organization, writing, and reading (interpreting) on a very high level."
- Aliki Giakas, Teacher, PS 122

"When I see... the more reticent class really beginning to open up, it reminds me how valuable this whole program is in bringing out an entirely different dimension in individual kids and a class as a whole."
- Michelle Ajami, English Teacher, MS 54

"I loved seeing the students invest in the writing, acting, directing, producing, and all other aspects of the program."
- Valerie Kimbrough, Drama and English Teacher, IS 49

"I am truly proud to be a part of the Shakespeare Program."
- Marie Maignan, Teacher, PS 235

For grades 5-9, the World Theatre Project is a 13-week program that introduces students to Shakespeare and other great playwrights. The Program can be tailored to meet specific school needs. The components are:

10 teaching artists visits to the classroom. In partnership with the teacher, a Theatre for a New Audience teaching artist uses theatre activities to prepare students to see the play and to assist students and teachers for the Culminating Event. The approach is that Shakespeare is drama to be performed, not only literature to be read.

9 hours of professional development workshops for teachers. With the assistance of a Theatre for a New Audience teaching artist, teachers refine strategies for linking the play to Language Arts or another curriculum. Teachers are directly involved in planning for the needs of their students. They receive Study Guides with grade appropriate lesson plans and a copy of the play.

Attendance at Theatre for a New Audience's off-Broadway production of Shakespeare or another classical play. Seen by students in morning matinees, this is the same full production also seen by regular theatregoers.

A Culminating Event in which students perform scenes from the play for parents, administrators and their peers. After attending the play, teacher and students choose a scene to interpret and perform. The teaching artist returns to the classroom to help rehearse. Students expand their horizons and the scope of their literate environment by being exposed to new ideas and participating in creative activities.

A final Reflection Session. The teaching artist, students and teachers reflect on the experience of the residency and culminating event.

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NEW VOICES

"My students looked forward to writing and even those who were hesitant at first wanted to be heard by the end."
- Dalia Schwartz, English Teacher, Off-site Educational Services

"I love this program and how it can change a young person's outlook on life."
- Deborah Gillick, English Teacher, Thomas Askin Youth Program

For grades 4-12, New Voices is a 13-week program in which students write their own plays inspired by classical literature. The program can be tailored to meet specific school needs. Its components are:

12 artist visits in the classroom. Our teaching artists/playwrights teach the elements of playwriting to students, who in turn write their own short plays.

9 hours of professional development workshops for teachers build teacher capacity for incorporating drama activities to support teaching the English Language Arts curriculum. Teachers receive a Study Guide with grade appropriate lesson plans.

An Actor Workshop with professional actors who help develop the plays by visiting classrooms to read students' first drafts aloud.

Culminating Event. To validate students' work, the actors return and perform staged readings of completed scripts for an audience of parents, administration and peers.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information regarding our programs, please contact:

Theatre for a New Audience
154 Christopher Street, Suite 3D
New York, NY 10014
Telephone 212-229-2819 ext. 18
Fax 212-229-2911

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SUPPORT FOR ARTS IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Contracts with the New York City Public Schools cover only one-third of the costs associated with these education programs. As a non-profit organization, Theatre for a New Audience raises the difference to subsidize these programs and make them available to schools. Theatre for a New Audience extends its deepest thanks to the individuals, foundations, corporations and government agencies that have provided their support.

Major support for Theatre for a New Audience's Arts in Education programs is provided by The Educational Foundation of America, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Foundations, Heckscher Foundation for Children, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, The Starr Foundation, and donors to the Theatre's Spring Gala.

Additional support provided by: The Louise and Ardé Bulova Fund, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, and The McGraw Hill Companies.

Theatre for a New Audience's Arts in Education programs are also made possible, in part, with public funds from Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national initiative sponsored by the National Endowment of the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest, the New York State Council on the Arts' Empire State Partnership and the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs.

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