By engaging with the artistry on Lincoln Center Theater’s stages and bringing teaching artists to New York City’s classrooms, Open Stages unlocks the power of theater to ignite the imagination.

All season long, thousands of New York City public high school students take their rightful places in our audience. For some students, the High School Program means a first visit to the theater and to Lincoln Center. Both the students and the theater are transformed.

Our in-class work is equally transformative. Whether students are writing a song, personalizing a line of Shakespeare, or negotiating a creative choice with their classmates, Open Stages stands for excellent theater and first-rate education.

Open Stages is hands-on
Students participate in theater activities that promote critical thinking, provide opportunities for creative expression, and celebrate the human spirit.

Open Stages is creative teaching
Teachers receive professional development to use theater to deepen student engagement and promote collaborative learning.

Open Stages is a partner with New York City's public schools
Our High School Program operates at no cost to schools. In our extended in-school residencies with teaching artists, participating schools pay fees that are highly subsidized by our supporters. Open Stages nurtures deep partnerships with schools that lack the resources to sustain arts programming.

For more information, please email education@lct.org