How We Are Unique

HIGH NEED
Opening Act specifically targets New York City’s highest need schools: we reach out to schools that have low reading scores (less than 30% of incoming freshmen reading at grade level), low graduation rates (less than 54% of students graduating in four years), and an evident lack of theater programming. And we stay only as long as we are needed; when teachers we collaborate with feel strong enough to lead a program on their own, we move on – to the next school where students need a stage.

FREE
We offer our programs at no cost to schools so that regardless of fluctuating school budgets, our students can depend on us.

COST EFFECTIVE
90% of every dollar donated to Opening Act goes directly to our programs. We keep our administrative costs low and invest our resources in excellent instruction, making our programs professional and cost effective.

QUALITY INSTRUCTION
Opening Act’s programs are led by a select group of teaching artists with extensive experience in both theater and education. To ensure that our teaching artists have the mastery and leadership skills they need to guarantee a successful program, we select only the highest-quality teaching artists and provide long term rigorous training to each one. Read more.

CONTINUITY
While many organizations provide short-term “access to the arts,” Opening Act’s year-long programs give students a sense of ownership, commitment and community. The continuity of our program impacts the entire school community, which knows their school participates in a special artistic opportunity.