Theater Programs

Through its arts programs, The Children's Aid Society encourages youth to stretch their imaginations and push their creative boundaries. The study of the dramatic arts allows children to express themselves, experience the energy of live performance and explore issues of responsibility, commitment, trust, teamwork, self-esteem, risk and success.

Our two most comprehensive theater-enrichment programs are:

• The New Acting Company, based at our Philip Coltoff Center at Greenwich Village.
• The Advantage Theater Program, located at the Mirabal Sisters Campus in Washington Heights.

The New Acting Company alone offers more than 300 students each year the opportunity to perform before classmates, parents, friends, teachers and the theater-going public at the site's state-of-the-art 130-seat theater space.

Less formally, we offer drama workshops and performance opportunities at virtually every Children's Aid center and school, as well as classes that include musical production, and even popular Claymation workshops for our deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Whether they are backstage or onstage, our children and teens are able to develop their imagination while engaging in a fun, safe and creative environment.