NYU Steinhardt Educational Theatre

05/14/2026

Congratulations to all of our graduates this year! We are so excited to see what you do outside the walls of NYU. However we also look forward to seeing you in the future. This is not a goodbye, once a Violet always a Violet!

04/24/2026

Mark your calendars, it’s our End of the Year Party! Come celebrate the end of the 2025-26 Academic Year with us. Friday, May 8th, 4:30-5:30pm in the Pless Hall 3rd floor Lounge.
Light refreshments will be provided.

04/22/2026

THIS WEEKEND!

The American premiere showcases NYU’s long-standing tradition of artistic innovation and commitment to reimagining canonical works for modern audiences.

“The audience will experience vibrant storytelling in a mode that is unusual as the dynamic percussion ensemble feeds and inspires the actors’ expressiveness on stage,” said Smithner, clinical professor of Educational Theatre in Steinhardt’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. “We have contemporized the costumes and setting from the original production to make a colorful and compelling new work.”

Set to a score for percussion instruments, including a lithophone, an ancient instrument made of tuned stones, Astutuli tells the story of a town taken in by a con-man who convinces them that he has a garment so beautiful that it is invisible to the dumb or unworthy. Concerned they might be considered ignorant, the townspeople pretend to see it.

Tickets available in the link in our bio!

04/15/2026

Special summer course announcement!

Step into a deeper level of character work.

In this summer intensive, graduate-level version of Acting: Character Study, participants will focus on what makes a performance feel real. Together, participants will explore the inner life of the character, build a strong physical presence, and bring clarity to the relationships within both scene and monologue work as they investigate the text. Through focused rehearsal and exploration, participants will strengthen their connection to the work and develop their ability to make clear, confident choices as actors.

If you’re ready to deepen your craft and trust your instincts, this summer course will meet you there.

MPAET-GE.2252 Acting: Character Study
3 credits
July 13-30, 2026
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:00am-1:00pm

This course is open to current graduate students, undergraduate Juniors and Seniors, and non-degree students.

04/10/2026

Upcoming event April 18th at 5pm!

60 Years of Impact: Celebrating NYU’s Program in Educational Theatre

Founded in 1966 by Lowell and Nancy Swortzell, the Program in Educational Theatre at NYU Steinhardt has been a pioneer in the field for 60 years, serving as a vital space for exploring theatre’s potential in schools and communities. Our program has consistently affirmed that theatre is more than just production and performance. It is a powerful laboratory for cultivating justice, empathy, and civic action across the lifespan.

As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we’re gathering a diverse panel of alumni to explore the evolving landscape of theatre for social and civic engagement in classrooms and communities. We’re looking to highlight the practitioners who have taken our program’s tools into the world and used them to spark dialogue in schools, cultural organizations, community centers, correctional facilities, healthcare settings, and more.

This panel discussion will move beyond the “how-to” of Educational Theatre to explore the “why” and “where” of our work today. We’ll consider the following questions:

* How has the 60-year history of this program shaped our unique approach to arts-based inquiry, education, and activism?
* How are we adapting theatrical practice to serve modern civic needs in non-traditional spaces?
* How do we navigate the responsibilities of facilitation and the ethics of classroom and community-centered work?

04/08/2026

Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, from 8 to 10 p.m. ET. Iris Cantor Theatre, 38 W. Houston Street. Tickets on sale now!

The production consists of a 14-member percussion ensemble from Steinhardt, as well as actors from Steinhardt and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. It is directed by Clinical Professor of Educational Theatre Nancy Smithner and conducted by Music Professor of Percussion Studies and Director of the Percussion Studies Program Jonathan Haas, with scene and costume design by contemporary artist Doug Frohman.

The rarely performed play with music features a cast of 22 from across the University accompanied by the NYU Steinhardt Percussion Ensemble.

04/08/2026

Our final Fall Course Highlights features 3 storytelling focused classes.

Storytelling in the Classroom and Beyond examines the art of storytelling and how it can enhance curricular subject areas.

Studies in Directing explores different techniques for theatre directors.

Shakespeare’s Theatre I is an introduction to Shakespeare’s most popularly produced plays through analysis, performance, directing and more.

Courses open to all Graduate students with Storytelling open to undergraduate Juniors and Seniors with permission.

04/03/2026

Creating Ethnodrama and Documentary Theatre is taught by Clinical Professor Joe Salvatore, author of Creating Ethnodrama: A Theatrical Approach to Research. The course will guide students through an ethnodramatic research project in collaboration with the Verbatim Performance Lab’s current projects. The process will go from creating a research question, conducting interviews and culminate in the creation of an original script.

The Verbatim Performance Lab internship ranges from 1-3 credits and works directly with the Lab and their projects. This can include data collecting, coding, performance support, facilitation and more.

04/01/2026

These two courses offered this fall examine our identities as artists and educators. The Teaching Artist course introduces and explores the collaboration between artists and teachers. While Theatre for Young Audiences culminates in a presentation of an original TYA production concept.

Both courses available to all NYU graduates regardless of focus and The Teaching Artist open to Undergraduate Juniors and Seniors with permission from the Instructor.

03/27/2026

The course highlights today are focused on two courses that are deeply rooted in community, social and civic engagement Applied Theatre l explores a range of genres focused on community and participatory arts forms. Whereas Introduction to Theatre of the Oppressed focuses specifically on the sociopolitical activist forms developed by Augusto Boal.

Both 3 credit offerings with Introduction to Theatre of the Oppressed being a 3 week intensive.

Open to all graduate students. Applied Theatre I also open to undergraduate juniors and seniors!