named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Birthday Parties
Theater-themed birthday events featuring games, speeches, stage combat, or clowning led by company members
Kids as Teaching Artists
Program where older youth from the Rogues teach Shakespeare to younger children in schools and community settings
Knaves
Training program for youth aged 8-14 focusing on movement, voice, stage combat, and Shakespearean text through theater games and rehearsal
Rogues
Teen division for actors aged 14-18 who perform in challenging productions and serve as teaching artists in schools and community groups
Summer Shakespeare Sessions
Seasonal program offering workshops and performance opportunities in Shakespeare's plays
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Youth Theater Arts Education 4 activities
- Touring youth theater productions and school outreachOrganizes touring productions performed by teen actors who present Shakespeare and classical plays at festivals and schools nationwide, with participants also serving as teaching artists and engaging in educational outreach to community groups.
- Youth Shakespeare and classical theater productionsProduces and stages annual theater productions of Shakespearean and classical plays for youth aged 8–18, including performances of works such as The Winter's Tale, Richard III, Julius Caesar, and Saint Joan, with regular auditions, rehearsals, and public performances held at venues like the Nyack Center and Palisades Presbyterian Church.
- Youth theater mentorship modelOperates a mentorship model in which older, experienced youth actors mentor younger and newer members, supporting their development through progressive roles from minor to lead parts over time.
- Youth theater training programs by age groupProvides structured theater training for children aged 8–14 in movement, voice, stage combat, dance, and Shakespearean language through interactive games and rehearsal-based learning, and offers advanced performance opportunities and training for teens aged 14–18 through evening rehearsals and progression within the program.
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Children's Themed Birthday Parties 1 activity
- Themed theater programming and birthday eventsHosts birthday parties featuring theater games and skill-building activities in speeches, stage combat, or clowning, and produces theatrical seasons organized around annual themes such as friendship, authority, and the supernatural.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$164K
Contributions & grants$7K4%
Program service revenue$157K96%
Investment income$60%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$163K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$91K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$87K
Cash$85K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$87K
Liquid reserves6.3 mo
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue -3.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 4
- Jessica Wahlstrom — Director
- Laura Appelbaum — Director
- Nora Zimbler — Director
- Ryan King — Director
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Fieldstone Middle School Partner — Directed Cinderella at Fieldstone Middle School, indicating a partnership in scholastic theatre.
- Helen Hayes Youth Theatre Partner — Collaborative directing experience with Brady Amoonclark on productions such as The Wizard of Oz, Xanadu, and Mary Poppins.
- Jerome Robbins Foundation Funder — Foundation that provides financial support for theater and dance programs.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary grant funder supporting the organization's programming through state arts funding.
- Nyack Center Partner — Hosts performances of Children's Shakespeare Theatre productions.
- Nyack Village Theatre Partner — Directed Closer at Nyack Village Theatre, reflecting a collaborative relationship.
- Orange & Rockland Utilities Funder — Corporate partner providing grants through its Community Investment Program for arts and culture initiatives.
- Palisades Presbyterian Church Partner — Hosts performance venue for theatrical productions.
- Palisades Presbyterian Church Partner — Provides performance venue for productions.
- Palisades Presbyterian Church Partner — Provides venue space for performances.
- churches Partner — Hosts performances in church venues as part of community programming.
- community spaces Partner — Uses community spaces as performance venues.
- festivals Partner — Participates in festivals as a performing company.
- schools Partner — Performs Shakespeare productions at schools during national tours.
strategies · 3
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.
- Peer-Led Learning and Mentorship Modelmethodology: peer_mentorship_modelBy involving older youth in mentoring and teaching roles for younger participants, the organization reinforces learning and builds leadership because peer education strengthens retention, models positive behavior, and creates continuity within the program.
- Process-Based Classical Theater Educationmethodology: process-over-performanceBy prioritizing deep engagement with Shakespeare's language and rehearsal process over polished performance outcomes, the organization fosters artistic development because sustained textual study builds deeper understanding, confidence, and personal insight in young people.
- Thematic Engagement with Classical Textsmethodology: critical-themes-in-youth-theatreBy structuring productions around critical themes such as authority, resistance, and identity, the organization helps youth connect with complex social and human questions because Shakespeare’s plays serve as a mirror for personal and collective exploration in a safe educational setting.