The Hunts Point Children’s Shakespeare Ensemble challenges 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in Hunts Point to bring the work of William Shakespeare to life.

In collaboration with the world-renowned Public Theater, the Hunts Point Children’s Shakespeare Ensemble is a troupe of young actors and singers who work for 8 months to perform a professionally produced, 90-minute Shakespeare play, complete with sets, lights, costumes, and original music. The program gives students the opportunity to examine, comprehend, and internalize a Shakespeare play with the aim of owning and embodying the characters, the text, and the story.

Focused on increasing student confidence, literacy skills, critical thinking, school engagement, social skills, emotional intelligence, and building ensemble, students explore the universal human themes in Shakespeare’s work, while also developing the focus, discipline, and long term commitment necessary to accomplish putting on a 90-minute piece of theater.

Students rehearse twice a week after school and, after NYC DOE Winter Break, on Saturdays as well. Rehearsal intensives are scheduled during the Mid-Winter and Spring Break. 

Featured In: Making Shakespeare: The First Folio | GP on PBS

Watch Past Performances:

Romeo and Juliet (Hunt's Point Children's Shakespeare Ensemble 2023)

The Tempest at The Newman Theater