named programs · 9 · from sources
What they call their work
Arts Residency Program
Offers fall, spring, full-year, and after-school theatre residencies for K-12 students, aligned with NYS learning standards, culminating in performances or film screenings.
Autism Spectrum Program
Specialized theatre curriculum developed in partnership with QSAC for children and adults on the autism spectrum, offered in Whitestone, Douglaston, and the Bronx.
Filmmaking and Media Arts
Hands-on program where students learn storyboarding, scriptwriting, camera techniques, and editing, culminating in a final film screening.
Happy Birthday Mr. Shakespeare
Free annual online celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday with games, activities, and live performances for students.
Literature Alive! and Literature Alive Junior!
Curriculum that adapts classroom literature into performance for grades 3–5 and K–2, using oral storytelling and dramatization.
Shakespeare in ACTion
Touring program that introduces students to Shakespeare through performance, including adapted plays like Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, with interactive workshops.
Snowflake-apalooza
Free annual online holiday event featuring carols, crafts, and performances for families and students.
Touring School Performances
Professional productions adapted for student audiences, such as Othello and A Christmas Carol, performed live at schools across New York.
Writing for Performance
Program for grades 4–7 where students write, direct, and perform original plays based on classroom themes such as history or conservation.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Youth Theater Arts Education 4 activities
- Curriculum-based performance adaptations in collaboration with schoolsCollaborates with classroom teachers and educational institutions to adapt classroom literature and school-based themes into oral storytelling, dramatic performances, and creative projects performed by students, integrating arts into academic learning.
- Shakespeare in ACTion touring programProduces and tours "Shakespeare in ACTion," an interactive theatrical introduction to Shakespeare designed for students reluctant to read his works. The program includes live performances and workshops delivered to nearly 100 schools, currently in its 8th tour.
- Summer theater camp for underserved youthRan a week-long overnight Theatre Summer Camp at the Seminary for the Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Neck, NY, serving students from inner-city communities with immersive theater training and performance opportunities.
- Theater education programs for K-12 studentsDelivers in-school and after-school theater education programs for elementary and high school students through 12-week, 25-week, and full-year arts residencies that build creative skills in acting, scriptwriting, stage design, and performance. Programs culminate in final performances or creative projects presented to families, teachers, and classmates, serving approximately 6,000 student artists annually with a team of 22 teaching artists.
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Professional Theatrical Production 3 activities
- Adaptation and production of theatrical works for student and adult audiencesProduces original and adapted theatrical works for students and adults, including Shakespearean plays, American literary classics by authors such as Mark Twain and Nathaniel Hawthorne, and original Christmas-themed productions. The organization has produced over 20 original and adapted works, including seven Shakespeare adaptations and 13 original Christmas plays viewed by over 45,000 students across New York State.
- Development of original documentary and social-issue theaterCreates original interview-based plays that explore social issues, such as Crossings, which examines the experiences of recent immigrants to New York City. The play was produced at the NYC Fringe Festival, St. John’s University, and presented internationally at the Outsider theatre festival in Poznan, Poland, representing the United States.
- Live performance tours of classic plays for schoolsProduces and delivers live, adapted performances of classic plays such as Shakespeare’s 'Othello' to schools, exploring themes like jealousy, deception, love, and betrayal. Performances are scheduled between March 24 and May 22, 2026, aligned with school calendars.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Annual free online family eventsHosts annual free online events including Snowflake-apalooza, featuring Christmas carols, snowflake crafts, and live performances, and Happy Birthday Mr. Shakespeare, featuring games, activities, and live performances to engage students and families in arts education.
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Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
- Film and media arts education for studentsOffers hands-on filmmaking programs where students learn storytelling through visual media, including storyboarding, scriptwriting, camera techniques, and video editing. Students use professional-grade equipment to produce films showcased in final screenings.
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Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Post-show interactive workshopsProvides interactive post-show performance workshops led by teaching artists to deepen student understanding and engagement after live theatrical performances, reinforcing thematic and artistic content through participatory learning.
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Art Programs for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Specialized theater programs for autistic children and adultsDevelops and delivers specialized theater curricula for children and adults on the autism spectrum in partnership with QSAC, offering tailored programming launched in Whitestone and Douglaston in 2018 and expanded to the Bronx in 2019. These programs use performance-based learning to support engagement and communication.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$149K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$149K100%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$181K
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$145K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$55K
Cash$88K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$55K
Liquid reserves5.8 mo
4 years on record · 2019–2022 · YoY revenue -28.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Wood | Chief Financial Officer | 4 | $3K |
| Robert Choiniere | Managing Director - Board Chair | 40 | $1K |
| Scott Barrow | Key employee | 40 | $1K |
board members · 2
- Matt Greenberg — Board Member
- Matt Joslyn — Board Member
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Archdiocese of New York Partner — Partners to deliver in-school performing arts programming to schools in the archdiocese.
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Collaborated with STAGES on developing arts residency programs for students
- Classroom Teachers Partner — Collaborates with STAGES Teaching Artists to align theater programs with classroom curriculum.
- Classroom Teachers Partner — Collaborates with classroom teachers to select and adapt books that students are already studying.
- Diocese of Albany Partner — Partners to provide in-school performing arts programming to schools in the diocese.
- Diocese of Brooklyn Partner — Partners to deliver long-term performing arts residencies to over 50 parochial schools in Brooklyn and Queens.
- East Side Montessori (NYC) Partner — Collaborated with STAGES on developing arts residency programs for students
- Immaculate Conception Center Partner — Venue for performances in Douglaston, NY.
- NYC Fringe Festival Partner — Presented the play Crossings at this festival.
- Outsider Theatre Festival Partner — Represented the United States at this international theatre festival in Poznan, Poland.
- Quality Services for the Autistic Community (QSAC) Partner — Collaborates to develop and deliver a specialized theatre curriculum for children and adults on the autism spectrum.
- Scott Barrow Partner — Artistic Director who leads outreach and scheduling for in-school programming.
- Seminary of the Immaculate Conception Partner — Site for clean-up weekends, summer camp, and community engagement activities.
- Shakespeare Society of New York Partner — Collaborated with STAGES on developing arts residency programs for students
- St. James Cathedral-Basilica Partner — Hosted Stages on the Sound’s operations and productions in Brooklyn, NY.
- St. John’s University Partner — Hosted productions of the play Crossings.
- Teachers Partner — Collaborates with classroom teachers to align performances with classroom literature curricula.
- The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture Partner — Venue for performances in Manhattan.
- Times Square Group Partner — Collaborated with STAGES on developing arts residency programs for students
- Wang Center Partner — Collaborated with STAGES on developing arts residency programs for students
- Woodside, Queens Partner — Delivers theater education programs in partnership with schools in Woodside, Queens.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Curriculum-Integrated Theatre for Academic Reinforcementmethodology: arts-integrated_educationBy adapting classroom literature and standards-aligned curricula into theatrical performances, the organization reinforces academic learning through embodied practice—because performing stories deepens comprehension and retention more than reading alone.
- Modernization and Physical Engagement to Increase Accessibilitymethodology: inclusive-theatre_educationBy modernizing classical texts and using oral tradition and physical engagement, the organization increases accessibility for reluctant learners and neurodiverse students—because contemporary language and kinesthetic learning lower barriers to understanding complex themes.
- Project-Based and Apprenticeship Learning Progressionmethodology: project-based_learning_progressionBy progressing from foundational concepts to hands-on culminating projects and integrating students with professional actors, the organization builds mastery and real-world connection—because sustained, mentored creative practice develops skill, confidence, and career exposure.
- Theatre as a Dual-Purpose Educational and Engagement Toolmethodology: arts-based_educationBy using theatre to teach academic content and develop personal skills, the organization fosters deeper student engagement and improves communication, creativity, and confidence—because active participation in performance makes learning experiential and emotionally resonant.