Freestyle Repertory Theatre
Freestyle Repertory Theatre's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
In 1988 we adapted our adult show and reached out to the audiences of the future- Kids In School!
Since then, we have brought our unique blend of comedy improvisation and curriculum-based subject matter to public and private schools throughout the tri-state area...and beyond!
"explore the art of improvisational theatre"
~ Laura Livingston ~
Principals and Teachers Love Us!
"The children have never enjoyed anything as much! This was- just to see their faces light up... everyone wanted to be onstage, and that's the whole point- to give them confidence to come up and just spontaneously do stuff. That's our goal anyway..."
-Principal
Shipley School, Bryn Mawr PA
"You guys were awesome; you guys are so creative, I just don't know how you came up with everything just so spur of the moment and working off the kids, and it was just wonderful."
-Diane Zinze, PTA Parent, William Mason Elementary School, Montvale N.J
Theatresports
Presented as a sporting event, TheatreSports(TM) is two teams of actors challenging each other to spontaneously create a series of ever-changing scenes, stories and poems based on the suggestions of the audience.
The show demonstrates a collaborative creative process, and highlights creative use of language, historical periods, authors and literary styles. Many scenes include the active participation of the students onstage.
At the end of each challenge the audience votes on which team did the best job, points are awarded by the referee and at the end of the match a winner is declared.
The Write Stuff
Through the use of good improvisational technique - teamwork, spontaneity and creative risk-taking - FRT enables students and faculty to explore the world of theatre, with its connection to literature and creative writing, in a new, enlightening and hands-on way.
Workshops
Freestyle Rep's Arts-In-Education Program is known throughout the northeastern United States for its successful use of improvisation to introduce children to the excitement of live theatre. Each year, the program's performances, workshops and residencies reach at least 30,000 young people from an extraordinarily wide range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
How Great Parents and Excellent Teachers
Inspire Cooperation
Sed vulputate sodales nulla at tristique. Pellentesque iaculis congue est, a venenatis lorem faucibus vitae. Integer aliquam eget velit in sollicitudin. Morbi bibendum, sapien id rutrum interdum, diam ex porttitor erat, semper accumsan quam quam ac augue.
Donec fringilla sodales lacus in congue. Suspendisse sit amet euismod lacus, ut placerat enim. Proin molestie, enim vitae fermentum tincidunt, turpis est laoreet sapien.
Click to Download Free Report
Who We Are
"Two Teams Of Improvisors Challenge Each Other To Do The Best Artistic Work- And YOU Are The Judges!"
Laura Livingston
Laura Livingston is Freestyle Rep's Artistic Director. Sometimes she actually writes plays down. Five of her plays have been produced in New York City in the past two years..
What We Do
History
In 1982, a group of actors assembled to explore improvisation, at that time an art form on the outer fringes of theatre. The desire to share improvisation’s unique interaction with a live audience, led to weekly performances for adults in New York City, to the development of an award-winning schools program, & eventually, to the formal incorporation of Freestyle Repertory Theatre. Since its foundation, the company has been led by artistic director Laura Livingston & executive director Michael Durkin; & guided by its mission:
To explore the art of improvisational theatre & to take it to as wide an audience as possible.
At present, FRT is focused exclusively on its programs for children & families. We feel a theatre company must present only its best work to children, for the same reason that one hopes children are fed only the best food: to nourish them as they grow – in this case, to nourish a developing understanding & appreciation for theatre.
Every year our ON-SITE PERFORMANCES introduce thousands of students to the excitement of live theatre at their schools & community centers. Hundreds receive in-depth improv instruction in their classrooms through our RESIDENCIES PROGRAM. Our FAMILY PERFORMANCES for the general public bring children & parents into neighborhood theatres. In our TEEN EDITION, dedicated high school groups learn to collaborate with each other to perform in their own improv show.
Freestyle Rep teaches 10-week residencies at PS 321 in Brooklyn. A fourth grade teacher tells us how the work helps her students:
"One of the things I've noticed is that Improvisation is so helpful in Social Studies; they use a lot of improvisational techniques when they work on projects together"
- 4th grade teacher, PS 321 in Brooklyn
This mom just sat in on a Freestyle Rep improvisational theatre class at PS 321 in Brooklyn, NY. She shares her reaction.
"You're giving them a lot of fantastic tools to help them think about story and how to help each other get from point A to point B, make mistakes, get out of them, and make something really fantastic. Very impressive, and I think it should be in schools all the time- it's really, really impressive!"
-4th grade Parent, PS 321 Brooklyn
"...Most theatergoers have at most one or two times a week to attend a show, if that often, and the time spent with Freestyle is well-rewarded in entertainment.
As a hard-boiled critic who finds more than a few Broadway level productions a strain, I probably laughed more here than at Broadway's ultra-high profile [shows]. More than that, I was enchanted by the troupe's unfailing ingenuity…"
-A CurtainUp Review
Freestyle Repertory Theatre in TheatreSports
by Brad Bradley
"A Wonderful Assembly"
Would You Like To Support Our Work?
DONATE HERE
Freestyle Repertory Theatre is funded, in part, by New York State Council on the Arts and generous patrons like you.
In 1988 we adapted our adult show and reached out to the audiences of the future- Kids In School!
Since then, we have brought our unique blend of comedy improvisation and curriculum-based subject matter to public and private schools throughout the tri-state area...and beyond!
Please call us to arrange a fun, educational, and CREATIVE assembly for kids grades k-12 at 212-362-4978
Click the Button Below to Start
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | User Agreement
Copyright © 2017 - Conquer Theme by ClickFunnels
