“In Transit was a huge hit with my students. They were universally enthusiastic about the show and really appreciated the virtuosity of the cast - such wonderful singing and acting! They could relate to the show not only as subway riders, but as people who struggle to find themselves...it helped them think and feel and question. Our in-class discussion the next day was one of the highlights of the year so far.”
- John Amann, Teacher at Liberty High School
“Thank you so much for providing student matinee tickets to our students and staff at City-As-School. It was again a cultural delight to be an audience member for "Black Tie" and I especially enjoyed the talkback. I hope that our high school will continue to benefit from all that Primary Stages has to offer in the near future. Again, thank you.”
- Sonya M. Tunstall, Teacher at City-As-School
In order to ensure that students receive access to Off-Broadway theater, Primary Stages established its Free Student Matinee Program in 1995. Through this program, students attend a Primary Stages theater production at no cost to the schools and interact with professional theater artists. Following each matinee performance, students participate in a talkback session during which they ask questions and express their immediate impressions of the production. These sessions allow for intimate interaction between the actors, the creative team and the students.
During the 2010/2011 season, Primary Stages Arts Education Program served more than 900 New York City public high school students, ages 15 to 18.
Recent participating schools of the Free Student Matinee Program included: A.P. Randolph High School, City-As-School (Brooklyn), Flushing High School, GED-Plus Learning Center, Harlem Renaissance High School, High School of Fashion Industries, High School of Telecommunications Arts & Technology, Hillcrest High School, Independence High School, John Bowne High School, Liberty High School for Newcomers, Murry Bergtraum High School, Renaissance High School for Musical Theatre and Technology, Talent Unlimited High School, Thurgood Marshall Academy, University Neighborhood High School and Urban Assembly for Media Studies.
If you are a teacher or principal and would like to be added to our Education Program mailing list, please contact Sue Breger at
sue@primarystages.org.
A very special thanks to New York State Council on the Arts for supporting Primary Voices for the 2011/2012 Season.
Primary Stages thanks the following donors who have specified funds toward our education programs in recent years:
Rose M. Badgeley Residuary Charitable Trust
Colgate-Palmolive Inner City Education Fund
Senator Thomas K. Duane
Assemblyman Richard Gottfried
Manhattan Delegation
Council Speaker Christine R. Quinn
Councilman Daniel R. Garodnick
Kathy Barrett
Craig Bereson
Linda Bergman
Philip Carrubba
Angie Cunningham
EF Gillis
Delia Gorga
Reva & Josh Greenberg
Einar Gunn
Ann & Irwin Jacobs
Claire Kinsella-Holtse
Karen La Rosa
Beth Neimeyer
Doug Nevin
Barbara & David Thomas
Margaret & Gary Wendlandt
Lynn Wright
Joanne Zeigler
If you are interested in making a contribution in support of Education Programming at Primary Stages, please contact Director of Development
Jessica Comas or click the
Donate Now button on the right side of this page.
