Project Classics

Founded in 2009, Project Classics is CTH’s core education program, which consists of in-school and after-school theatre workshops as well as a six-week summer Shakespeare Intensive for students from the Dream Center and the Global Community Charter School. Summer Intensives culminate in student-led performances held for friends, family and the community. 

Our talented teaching artists build students’ skills in voice and speech, movement and dance, text analysis, scene study, character development, stage combat, music, and playwriting. 

In 2019 Project Classics will have served roughly 250 students. As many theatre programs are quite costly, we are thrilled that we provide ours at no cost to our students.

The Young Company, a Collaboration with Columbia University School of the Arts

For over a decade, Columbia University’s The Young Company (TYC) has been forging a dynamic relationship between its graduate acting students and the teens of New York City.  Now in partnership with CTH, Columbia University’s third year MFA Acting students present a 90-minute production of a Shakespeare play that is staged and designed specifically for diverse and underserved audiences. Additionally, CTH acquires Actors Equity Association membership for Columbia’s MFA students, priming them for success upon graduation. 

From April 15-17, 2022, The Young Company presented William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Christmas Carol in Harlem

In December 2019, CTH produced “A Christmas Carol in Harlem” at Aaron Davis Hall at City College Center For The Arts, including three matinee shows dedicated for roughly 750 public school children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. 

While there are annual holiday offerings downtown such as Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular and The Nutcracker, such performances are often cost prohibitive and not reflective of New York City’s diverse population. We believe that “A Christmas Carol in Harlem” fills this need for a local, affordable ($10 per student) annual holiday performance that truly resonates with the Uptown community.

In adapting to the new live landscape, CTH released free archival recordings of A Christmas Carol in Harlem alongside educational materials for students and teachers across the world.

Support Provided By

Casement Fund

Michael Tuch Foundation

Rubin-Ladd Foundation