ESPA students receive special benefits within the theater community. These perks are just one way that Primary Stages and our fellow artistic organizations recognize and reward students for their dedication to the community and commitment to their craft.
ESPA students frequently receive complimentary theater tickets. Previous ticket offers have included the Broadway productions of Airline Highway, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, and The Visit, and Off-Broadway productions of Clinton the Musical and Significant Other at Roundabout.
Currently enrolled students will receive a discount code for $20 tickets to Primary Stages productions, subject to availability. Students may also occasionally receive complimentary ticket offers to select Primary Stages performances.
Keep an eye out for emails with fun ticket offers!
Currently enrolled students receive discounts to the following organizations. In addition, Student IDs are distributed each semester. These IDs have often enabled our students to receive discounts at theaters and other commercial stores. Upon registration, students will be given a welcome packet with further information about accessing these discounts.
Current acting and directing students are offered one hour per week of complimentary rehearsal space at Primary Stages for class assignments, subject to availability. Contact Miranda Wilson at miranda@primarystages.org to reserve your space.
Current writing students have access to the Primary Stages photocopier each week for class assignments.
Classes take place in our administrative offices and rehearsal studios, offering students the opportunity to interact closely with all members of the Primary Stages staff.
Jam Sessions provide our writers with one of the most valuable commodities in NYC theater: space to work. By giving our playwrights a quiet room at Primary Stages, the freedom to create their own agenda, and the encouragement to invite collaborators, Jam Sessions enable our students to write, read, workshop, and receive feedback at key points in their play development process. Jam Sessions are limited to currently enrolled students and are first come, first served when space is available.
Click here to access the Jam Sessions calendar and reserve space.
The Shop program invites ESPA's early-career artists to observe rehearsals, readings, workshops, tech, and other opportunities at Primary Stages and partnering theater companies in New York City during our Fall and Spring semesters. The focus of the program is to provide our students with an inside look at how professional play development processes work—an important education that requires a firsthand experience. Through the introductions made in the Shop program, our students have been invited into exclusive literary groups, cast in industry readings, and hired as assistants on full productions. Participation is limited to currently enrolled students, and lasts for one semester.
Past partnering companies have included Primary Stages, The Lark Play Development Center, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Second Stage Theatre, the Vineyard, and Women's Project.
Information about the Shop Application will be distributed to enrolled students in their welcome packet. Participation is limited to currently enrolled students.
Do you have an upcoming project that you would like to share with the ESPA community? Garner the support of your fellow ESPAtriots by letting us know!
To be promoted, email the following information to braley@primarystages.org:
Based on availability in our social media calendar, we will:
We continue to be so proud of the work that our ESPA Artists are doing in and out of the classroom, and look forward to helping you promote it to our community!