Theatre for a New Audience

New York, New York

Founded in 1979, Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA) has grown from a touring Shakespeare company into a leading off-Broadway theater that is recognized nationally and internationally for the quality of its productions, service to artists, and in-depth arts education programs. During its 30-year history it has produced 30 of the Bard's plays alongside classics and distinguished contemporary plays in the tradition of Shakespeare. These plays bridge past and present, explore common themes, and represent diverse cultures. TFANA's productions have earned many awards and nominations, including the Tony, Drama Desk, Obie, and Lucille Lortel awards. In 2001-2002, the company became the first American theater company to be invited to perform Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, and were invited back in 2007 to perform its production of The Merchant of Venice, featuring Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham. TFANA works with some of the finest American and international artists, including directors Sir Peter Hall, Doug Hughes, Bartlett Sher, and Julie Taymor, and actors Kathleen Chalfant, Stephen Spinella, John Turturro, and Mark Rylance. These aesthetically diverse artists share the conviction that great drama expressed through great language will tell our stories, open our minds, and urge us to think about our world.

As part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, Theatre for a New Audience's 2009-2010 season will feature its Off-Broadway production of Measure for Measure at The Duke on 42nd Street. The World Theatre Project will serve students and teachers in New York City Public Schools throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island. The
World Theatre Project is a 13-week residency program that introduces middle-school students to Shakespeare, and is the largest of the company's educational programs. It is comprised of 10 visits to each participating classroom, which are led by a trained Teaching Artist in partnership with a teacher; nine hours of staff development for participating teachers, tailored to focus on curriculum areas of interest; attendance at a student matinee; a culminating event where students perform scenes they have written based
on the play; and a reflection session where all stakeholders, including the teaching artist, teacher, and students, discuss the effectiveness of all the elements of the program.

Visit them at: www.tfana.org