Theatre for a New Audience

Theatre for a New Audience's mission is to develop and vitalize the performance and study of Shakespeare and classic drama. Founded in 1979 by Jeffrey Horowitz, the Theatre is internationally recognized for its three to four annual Off-Broadway productions of Shakespeare, classic drama, and contemporary plays. In its 32 seasons, the Theatre has consistently earned prestigious nominations and awards, including Drama Desk, OBIE, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel, and Tony awards. The company created and runs in-depth arts in education programs that introduce Shakespeare and classic drama to students in New York City’s public schools. Since 1984, the program has served 124,000 students. It provides 13-week, in-school Shakespeare and playwriting residencies for grades five to 12, and includes attendance at productions and professional development for teachers. Since 2005, the company has participated in the Drama Studio of the New York City Department of Education Summer Arts Institute.

 

As part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, Theatre for a New Audience will produce Much Ado About Nothing as part of its World Theatre Project, a 13-week arts-in-education residency for middle- and high-school students. The company’s teaching artists will be in residence at ten underserved public schools located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and across the region. With the classroom teachers, they will lead a projected 900 students in a study of the play that will prepare them to attend student matinees of Theatre for a New Audience’s Off-Broadway production of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Arin Arbus. The production is part of the Theatre’s regular season for general audiences and is not altered in any way for the students. The residency’s curriculum guide is aligned to New York State and New York City Learning Standards. The program provides professional development for classroom teachers. Following the matinees, the teaching artists guide students through the creation of their own scenes from the play, which are performed by the students at culminating events in their schools for classmates, teachers, and parents. The programs have a proven track record in impacting literacy and critical thinking skills, improving student motivation, and sparking creativity.