Bringing Free, Professional Shakespeare to Students, Seniors, and Community Groups

New York Classical Theatre is offering daytime matinee performances of our summer shows to make our productions more accessible to students (best suited for grades 6 and above), seniors, and community groups. Whether you’re an educator looking to bring Shakespeare to life for your students or a community leader seeking engaging cultural experiences, these performances offer a unique opportunity to experience professional theater outdoors in iconic New York City spaces.

Our 2026 Summer Show will begin with open rehearsal in May followed by performances starting in early June. Show title and schedule will be released in early 2026!

Why We’re Doing This

  • Increased Accessibility: Most of our performances are in the evening; these matinees allow those unavailable at night to experience our all-professional, all-free live theater.

  • Educational Impact: Shakespeare comes alive when performed. Our productions provide a dynamic, interactive way to explore classic literature and theatrical techniques.

  • Community Engagement: These performances create shared cultural experiences for diverse audiences across NYC.

Enhancing the Learning Experience

For teachers, educators, and adult class leaders, we provide:

• Pre- and Post-Performance Discussion Guides
• Connections to Curriculum and Learning Goals
• Interactive Q&A Opportunities

How to Attend

We welcome schools, senior centers, community organizations, and other groups to attend. To express interest and receive updates, please fill out our our form found at the button below:

Matinee Group Interest Form

Learn more about what to expect here.
Questions? Please contact Colin Knapp, Director of Development & Communications at colin@nyclassical.org

Download our 2025 student curriculum