Legal Name Of Organization
Manhattan Class Company, Inc.
Purpose Of Funds
The MCC Theater Youth Company is a free after-school program for New York City public high schools interested in acting and playwriting designed to help young people find and use their own unique voice through the collaborative creation of theater pieces. Weekly acting and playwriting labs, respectively led by a professional director and playwright, are held in CD3, as are the professional-quality productions of original student work that are produced with the support of other theater professionals. In addition to providing writing and performance opportunities for student members, Youth Company productions also serve as a first introduction to live theater for most of the YC’s audience members. Youth Company members come to CD3 from all five boroughs of New York and from a diverse background. This year’s nearly 70 member Youth Company was comprised as follows: 60% Latino; 30% African-American; 7% Caucasian; 2% Asian. The split between boys and girls was 50/50. Approximately 58% of program members are from low-income families, with 2 members this year from the foster care system. The Youth Company membership has grown by nearly 20% each year for the last two years. We expect to work with 70 students again next year, a combination of returning and new students. This year’s Youth Company audience grew by approximately 40% over last year for a total of nearly 1,400 audience members. Much of this increase was due to additional student matinees. We expect the number of audience members we serve to remain stable or increase in 2009-10. In 2008-09, the Youth Company program budget was $127,460. For 2009-10, the budget will be $142,840.
