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“In all categories, Theatre for a New Audience’s drama program received the highest ratings from teachers and staff.”
- New York City Department of Education’s Office of Research and Evaluation
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“Theatre for a New Audience is widely and deservedly admired for taking Shakespeare to the city’s public schools.”
- The New York Times
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“Theatre for a New Audience’s drama programs are a direct path to literacy. They are an important addition to every student’s education.”
- Sharon Dunn, former Senior Assistant for the Arts, NYC Department of Education
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“Theatre for a New Audience’s programs are the largest of their kind for introducing Shakespeare and classic drama in the New York City Public Schools. Research shows that students involved in these applied learning activities have improved reading and writing skills.”
- Dr. Charlotte K. Frank, Regent, New York State, Former Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, New York City Department of Education
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Shakespeare and classic drama are among the most enduring expressions of the human condition. Theatre for a New Audience offers the largest programs in the New York City Public Schools to introduce Shakespeare and other classics. Begun in 1984, our programs have served over 123,000 students, ages 9 through 18, in New York City Public Schools City-wide.
- The programs meet New York State and New York City Learning Standards for English Language Arts and the Department of Education’s Curriculum Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Theater, and are curriculum-based.
- 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 to inspire students to read and allow 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 is changed.
- The programs help build teacher capacity by learning to use drama activities to support teaching the English Language Arts Curriculum.
- Summative 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. Formative assessment is on-going. 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 conducting professional development workshops, working with students with special needs, and adapting lessons to fit the grade level. Many of our teaching artists return year after year, adding continuity and depth to the program.
For further information on the Theatre’s Arts Education programs, please contact:
Katie Miller
Education Director
Theatre for a New Audience
154 Christopher Street, Suite 3D
New York, NY 10014
Telephone: 212-229-2819 ext. 18
Email: kmiller@tfana.org |
