Category: Opportunities

Opportunities for students.

Juneteenth Celebration

Manhattan Youth is excited to celebrate Juneteenth at an event on Pier 25, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, on Sunday, June 19th. 

The celebration will include vendors, music, art, food, youth activities and more! Manhattan Youth wants to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth with the community. 

As part of this event, MY would love to hear from the PPAS middle school students – especially what Juneteenth means to them. If your child would like to submit a creative expression, they would love to showcase it at the event. This can be a song or poem, an essay or story, a painting or photograph — all types of artistic expression are welcomed! 

Submit student submissions.  (Middle School Students Only)

If your child is interested in submitting their work, they have to submit it no later than Tuesday, June 14th.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Matthew McGlennen at mmcglennen@manhattanyouth.org.

Performing Arts Conservatory

The Performing Arts Conservatory introduces and cultivates a love of performing arts in third- to eighth-grade students (children ages 8 to 14) by emphasizing dedication, discipline, and enjoyment in dance and musical theater. Students are exposed to a multidisciplinary arts education while building our three core values of confidence, character, and community.

The Conservatory is devoted to delivering quality instruction in dance (ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern and contemporary) and musical theater in a safe, nurturing, and fun-filled environment. Over the course of seven weeks each summer, students of all skill levels learn the magic of dance, stage presence, vocal technique, and ensemble work. Students also have opportunities to experience the rich artistic vibrancy of their city on local field trips.

The Conservatory’s multidisciplinary curriculum is taught by professional New York City-based artists and led by experienced artists and arts educators; our Dance Director has over 20 years of professional experience in teaching and performing and our Musical Theater Director is an arts educator and Broadway performer. Students receive additional support from an enthusiastic, talented, and dedicated team of youth counselors who combine a love of theater and dance with a desire to help young people achieve their highest potential.The Conservatory concludes with a showcase performance and celebration. Family, friends, and community members are invited to watch students share the fruits of their hard work throughout the summer.

Get more info and register.

New York Teen Shakespeare Intensive

The New York Teen Shakespeare Intensive is a two-week summer training program for young actors ages 15 to 19. Students delve deeply into Shakespeare’s works, characters, and language through a progressive program of physical movement training and character development techniques to prepare them with the fundamentals required for university and the professional acting arena.

For the third year in a row, the intensive is being presented in an online format. The program will run from July 11-July 22, culminating in an invited showcase on the final day. The classes will be held between 10am and 3pm EST on Zoom.

The program is able to offer three students from PPAS partial-tuition scholarships of $170.00 The recipients must be ambitious students in good academic standing that you and your colleagues recommend. The tuition has been adjusted for the online format from $2,350 to $850 USD. There are just a few spots left, and we want to make sure your students don’t miss out on this opportunity. 

Additional information about the program can be found on their website: newyorkteenshakespeareintensive.com

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact them at (914) 893-6617 or email info@newyorkteenshakespeareintensive.com

Dance in Focus Intensives

Dive into the world of dance in this free weekend program! Learn and create new choreography in fun, supportive workshops led by professional artists, and attend performances by world-class dance companies. The program culminates in a final performance where teens work together to create and perform an original piece that showcases their creative styles and new skills.

With the end of the school year in sight, apply today for one of two remaining programs:

Word. Sound. Power. Intensive with Jade Charon: Mar 27, Apr 2, Apr 3, Apr 9, Apr 10
Deadline: Mar 13, 2022

DanceAfrica Intensive: May 26, May 28, Jun 4, Jun 5 
Deadline: May 14, 2022

Get more information and apply now!

NYC Votes Youth Ambassador Program

New Yorkers ages 14-18 who are passionate about civic engagement, voting, and democracy can apply to join the 2022 NYC Votes Youth Ambassador team! This paid opportunity will run from May-August, with an option to stay on through November 2022. Ambassadors will earn up to $175 per month for 10-15 hours of work. For the time being, this opportunity will be entirely remote, with a possibility for 2 days/week in person programming during the summer months. As we continue to face a global pandemic, the integrity and accessibility of our elections are at stake. Now more than ever we must work together to educate and mobilize our communities about the importance of civic engagement–especially at the local level.

NYC Votes Youth Ambassadors are a community of young people who care about our city and our democracy. Ambassadors will be expected to complete weekly tasks, long-term projects, and engage in regular meetings. The Ambassadors will be trained to become the next generation of community leaders in New York City. Participating in the program provides not only an opportunity to work alongside a city agency and learn more about voting and local government, but also to develop leadership, public speaking, and community organizing skills. Participants should be available from 5-7pm on Wednesdays for virtual team meetings, as well as 9-5pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer months for potential in-person programming.

Get more info and apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 25th at 5:00pm.

Hear Me! Monologue Showcase

Students currently living and attending high school in New York City, grades 9-12, are eligible to audition for the Hear Me! Monologue Showcase. There is no cost to apply or participate.

Students will submit a video audition performing a monologue of 2.5 minutes or longer written by an American playwright (or Shakespeare). Students may select any monologue they prefer, regardless of gender.

The application deadline is Friday, March 11th. Get more info about the showcase and apply.

2022 Keen Teens Auditions

Keen Teens is a free production and performance opportunity for high school students interested in theater! Working with professional playwrights, directors, designers and technicians, students will perform in the world premiere production of three new short plays written exclusively for Keen Teens by C. Quintana (AZUL at Diversionary Theatre & SCISSORING at INTAR Theatre), Bleu Beckford-Burell (2021 Page 73 Playwriting Fellow), and Stephanie Swirsky. The plays are then published by Concord Theatricals and made available to be performed in high schools across the country.

Students who are cast will rehearse once a week, after school, beginning February 14th, plus three weekend rehearsals in late April/early May. The plays will be performed at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row for five performances in mid-May.

You can find out more info about the program and create your audition. For anyone who’s not an actor and is interested in directing, tech (lights/sound), design (scenic/costume), stage management, or producing, students have the opportunity to assist members of Keen Teens’ production team — please email keenteens@keencompany.org to set up an interview.

CreateHER Applications

Applications are now open for the spring session of CreateHER, a free program for girl-identifying and non-binary high school students interested in writing and producing for theatre.

Through this program, students are given the technical and creative tools to take their ideas from page to reality. CreateHER provides high-level playwriting and producing courses and features guest speakers who are leaders in the theatre industry: from producers and general managers, to groundbreaking playwrights, dramaturgs, and marketing directors. By the end of the semester, all students write, produce, and present a short play of their own, which will be presented on May 22nd.

Classes are held on Sundays from 9:30am-12:00 PM, beginning February 6th. Applications are open through January 22nd. To apply, visit the CreateHER Web site.

Free Summer Arts Program

Summer Arts Institute (SAI) is accepting applications for their free, in-person, 4-week arts program held at The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens. The program, for intermediate and advanced level students, offers majors in film, dance, concert band, orchestral strings, theater, visual arts, and vocal music, and is open to current 7-11 grade students.

Applications are due by February 6, and virtual auditions are due by February 25 (in-person call backs April 2–3). You can watch a video about the program and fill out the application form. For more information email summerarts@schools.nyc.gov

Mind the Gap

Mind the Gap is a free, intergenerational theatre program in which elders [ages 60+] and youth [ages 14-19] interview each other and write or devise short plays inspired by their personal stories. Mind the Gap’s primary goal is to use theatre as a creative tool to increase empathy and communication between generations. No theatre experience is required to participate in the program.
Visit their Web site for more information.