When People’s Theater Project began providing access to theater instruction to middle and high school students in the largely Dominican community of Washington Heights, 85% of the residents indicated they had never been to a theater production. Today, students at PTP are learning that the theater arts can be a powerful tool, not only for entertainment, but also for developing language skills, raising awareness of community issues and advocating for change.
Fast Facts:
- PTP currently provides 1,200 young people at 32 sites with hands-on, multi-session collaborative theatre-making experiences.
- In 2016, 96% of PTP participants reported that their public speaking skills improved, 94% said their ability to work as a team improved, 94% reported their ability to think critically improved, and 94% said they are more connected to the social justice theme they addressed.
- Program completion by participants of PTP’s public youth programs in 2016-17 was 86%.