NYTW BLOG

As the Education & Engagement Associate, and before that as a 2050 Administrative Fellow, I found writing for the NYTW Blog an incredibly inspiring aspect of my time at the Workshop. Creating posts to document the history of Mind the Gap or solo performances at NYTW made me feel proud—they were opportunities to celebrate the work of our intergenerational participants and engage with a legacy of diverse and iconic artists. Interviewing community partners and sharing their stories reminded me of why I love doing what I do. And illustrating the impact of our shows, events, and collaborations affirmed my own long-term interests in theatre: to always make bold, new work that is issue-oriented and community-created.

July 17, 2026 by Marty Chandler, Emma Yaniger, Dylin Taylor

It’s the start of summer! Now that the school year and the season at NYTW have both ended, we thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on our year of Education & Community Engagement programming. In addition to another successful season of our after-school programs, including Mind the Gap (in NYC and London) and a comedic new work created by our Youth Artistic Instigators, we hosted a range of in-school residencies through our Learning Workshop program, and a variety of community engagement events through our For the Culture series.

June 25, 2026 by Marty Chandler

In just one calendar year, NYTW staff, artists, friends, neighbors, and community partners gathered outside on East 4th Street for a variety of events that each echo the block’s long-standing history of artistry and community-building. Take a look back with us at all the fun we’ve had breaking bread and celebrating together, from last summer to this one!

June 24, 2026 by Marty Chandler

Since 2017, New York Theatre Workshop has partnered with Southwark Playhouse and London South Bank University to bring our Mind the Gap program over to London for a week of intergenerational theatremaking. Just last week, NYTW Director of Education & Engagement Psacoya Guinn and Education & Engagement Associate Marty Chandler headed across the pond to facilitate the program again this year, guiding participants through interviews and devising exercises which culminated in the group’s final ‘works-in-progress’ performance of their piece titled “Is This the Real Life?”

Amidst the busyness of the program, Marty sat down with our partner from Southwark Playhouse, Head of Participation David Workman, to reflect on the history of the partnership and the impact of the program on its participants.

June 17, 2026 by Marty Chandler

Now that the In the Bricks Festival has wrapped, take a look back at our For the Culture events hosted by the NYTW Education & Community Engagement team in collaboration with our presenting partners, community partners, and artists on stage. Through meaningful conversations to new connections while breaking bread on East 4th St, we had a blast connecting with so many communities surrounding the Festival’s celebration of our shared humanity. Be sure to join us next season for even more talkbacks, community events, and opportunities to gather with one another!

June 16, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

NYTW’s intergenerational theatre program, Mind the Gap, has been connecting teens and elders through the power of storytelling for over sixteen years. Over the course of several weeks, participants interview one another in intergenerational conversations, getting to hear stories from each other’s lives, as well as their dreams, fears, and ways of seeing the world. From these exchanges, each participant writes a short play inspired by what they learn from their partner, and these plays are performed by professional actors on a day of public readings.

May 21, 2026 by Marty Chandler

Students from NYTW’s partner schools are attending a matinee performance of The Peculiar Patriot this week, and you can join them in reflecting on the themes of the play with this edition of “The Brief” Study Guide! Learn about Liza Jessie Peterson’s development of the play and its production history, unpack the prison industrial complex, and understand the historical significance of the play’s title and the importance of community. Then, join us at the Workshop and see Liza’s final run of the play, concluding her 25 years of work with this piece.

May 18, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

Surrounding the In the Bricks Festival, NYTW Education & Engagement has curated a variety of events for our For the Culture series in collaboration with community partners and the Festival’s presenting partners, as well as an event for our Mind the Gap program alumni. We invite you to join us and get to know these organizations during a post-show conversation or community gathering, and to learn more about them below in the meantime!

April 23, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

Teaching artist and theatremaker Kurt Brungardt has dedicated his career to bridging people to the body-mind connection through the arts. Most recently, Kurt has returned to East 4th St in partnership with Rod Rodgers Dance Company (RRDC) to create the NeuroArts Wellness Lab, a community-based lab which brings scientists and artists together to create evidence-based programming to improve brain and body health.

I sat down with Kurt to discuss his story and work, our collaboration as partners in the community, and his goals for the future as the NeuroArts Wellness Lab continues to develop here on the block.

April 20, 2026 by Marty Chandler

Now that MY JOY IS HEAVY has taken its final bows, take a look back at our line-up of For the Culture events that NYTW Education & Engagement hosted throughout the run of the show. From meaningful post-show conversations with our partners to joyous events including our Arts & Community Day, we had a blast connecting with so many communities to celebrate the themes of the show.

April 13, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement