Program areas at MTC
Manhattan Theatre Club's mission since 1972 has been to develop and present new work in a dynamic, supportive environment; to identify and collaborate with the most exciting new as well as accomplished artists; and to produce a diverse repertoire of innovative, entertaining, and thought-provoking plays and musicals by American and international writers. Since 1989, MTC Education, which uses the power of live theatre and playwriting to awaken minds, ignite imaginations, open hearts, and change lives, has also been an important part of our work. In the year ending June 30, 2022, Manhattan Theatre Club proudly reopened its theatres after the 18-month COVID shutdown and produced a robust slate of plays which were attended by 145,023 audience members: the Broadway premiere of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's "Lackawanna Blues", "Skeleton Crew" by Dominique Morisseau and the Broadway premiere of "How I Learned to Drive" by Paula Vogel at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway; and the world premiere of "Morning Sun" by Simon Stephens, the world premiere of "Prayer for the French Republic" by Joshua Harmon, and the American premiere of "Golden Shield" by Anchuli Felicia King Off-Broadway at NY City Center Stage I. In the same year, MTC commissioned 13 new plays, held 22 developmental readings and workshops, continued institutional work on both new and ongoing EDI initiatives, and reached 2916 learners, many of whom were experiencing live theatre for the first time, through the portfolio of programs run by MTC Education.
Artistic development: mtc focuses on presenting new york, american and world premieres of innovative Theatre of the highest quality. Mtc's artistic development department oversees the development of new works, nurturing the growth of plays that go on to be produced at mtc and at other theatres around the country and the world. We strive to build ongoing relationships with playwrights, supporting them throughout their careers and creating an environment in which writers and Theatre artists are supported by the finest professionals in every aspect of production. Mtc's artistic development program offers commissions, script evaluation, dramaturgical support, readings and workshops. This year, we have reaffirmed our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and undertaken plans to prioritize, expand, and re-envision our policies and actions. In this process, we are guided by our desire to support black, indigenous, and poc theatre-makers and to amplify their voices-a desire which has impacted our programming and artistic planning, including commissions and virtual offerings, as well as our administrative policies and initiatives regarding our staff, board of directors and producing practices, including audience development. More information can be found at www.manhattantheatreclub.com.
Through classroom and on-site workshops and informed encounters with the works on our stages, mtc education awakens minds, ignites imaginations, opens hearts, and changes lives. We engage learners of all ages and from disparate communities - locally, nationally, and internationally - in an array of programs tailored to their respective needs and circumstances. These include in-school residencies, student and family matinees, teacher workshops, an after-school playwriting program, and an internet-based distance learning playwriting and production project. Stargate Theatre, our workforce readiness and Theatre making project, enables young men from difficult circumstances to create, rehearse, and perform an original play in our off-broadway black-box Theatre. Our robust Theatre management training program cultivates the next generation of Theatre professionals. In response to the pandemic, mtc education reconfigured most of our programs for remote delivery, thereby enabling students and teachers to continue to participate in creative, interactive theatre-based learning experiences via live and pre-recorded video.