Robert Zukerman, Director (212) 741-7077
Brenda Brown, Associate (212) 741-7977

The Theatre Program offers support to professional theatre companies with ongoing production and development programs. The Program also supports service organizations that build and reinforce administrative and institutional skills, provide resources and information, support the professional development of artists, and enhance education about and access to theatre for audiences.

Program funding reflects the importance and validity of a full range of theatrical expression; that is, traditional forms (classic, contemporary, and musical theatre) and experimentation that crosses disciplinary boundaries toward the creation of new forms of theatrical experience. The Program encourages work that reaches underserved audiences and constituencies, and that provides opportunities for diverse artists and administrators.

The Program encourages imaginative approaches to theatre for young audiences.

The Program welcomes proposals that are creative and experimental in their use of new technology. Such proposals may include the use of technology in stagecraft or set design, technology-based art and collaboration within commissions and productions, the use of websites for educational materials and programs, exhibitions, performances, and publications.

First time applicants must apply to the New Theatre Advancement category. Any applicants that have not received funding in the previous year are strongly encouraged to consult with Program staff well in advance of the registration deadline. Applicants may make only one request to the Program. 

Organizations requesting for Theatre Artist Commissions should refer to the Individual Artists Program.

Artistic Evaluation

The Council must be able to evaluate the applicant's artistic quality on an ongoing basis. In addition to your written application, a NYSCA representative may attend and evaluate your events.  

Artistic audits are conducted by a Council consultant who is expert in the particular field and whose report of the event becomes part of the evaluation process.

To schedule an artistic audit, you must inform the Program of your events at least four weeks in advance. When requesting an artistic audit, please include the name of the event, date/time, location, contact person, phone, email, etc. The Theatre Program will not audit more than one production per season for any applicant.

New applicants to the Program and those applicants returning after an absence of more than two years are required to have two audits before the application deadline to be eligible for funding.

New applicants must have at least one artistic audit before the registration deadline. Toward that end, new applicants are strongly advised to consult with the appropriate Council program staff well before that date. This consultation provides a valuable interaction between staff and applicant which will help guide you in developing your NYSCA application. We encourage advance planning to ensure that we are able to respond appropriately to your artistic audit request.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be able to document payment to professional artistic personnel.

Producing organizations must offer no fewer than 24 performances of at least two productions each year. Ensemble or process-based theatre companies that create productions in a non-traditional manner are excepted. In these cases, organizations must have offered a home season of at least eight performances within the year prior to the application deadline .

The Program does not support community theatre, commercial or student productions, and generally does not support carnivals, sideshows, parades, and variety shows.

Evaluative Criteria

Grant requests in this Program are evaluated in accordance with the relevant agency-wide criteria.