As a parent, you can be confident that PTW is a long-lasting support system to help your child succeed on and off the stage.  It’s not only in the professional arts that students succeed. We can help your child get into their dream college, build a strong work ethic, and foster relationships that will bring them joy for a lifetime.   

“Past students have gone onto great things, which gives us a lot of confidence in the teachers and the philosophy. I don’t come here to say I hope my daughter’s famous; I think that the education she receives here will do her good in any field or in any path she chooses in life.”

Holly Palker, PTW Parent

Your child is joining their very own ‘theatre family’. It’s easy for new students (even shy ones) to make friends quickly and connect with others. Older students take on the role of mentor to new and younger students, sharing with them the kindness and encouragement they had bestowed upon them. The result is an environment where students make life-long friends, flourish and feel comfortable at every stage of their creative journey.

Learning and joy in every lesson.

We have a high return rate of students, with many continuing until they graduate high school. It’s not just because PTW is fun, but because students are constantly stretching, learning and moving closer to their performance goals. Each class follows a specific curriculum which not only teaches the ‘how’ of techniques, but also the ‘why’.

With a deeper understanding of their chosen craft, students become self-reliant and smart performers. This is driven by Executive Artistic Director, Dean Kravitz, who is passionate about education in the arts. Dean has a BA in Music from Yale, a Masters in Education, studied extensively at Eastman School of Music, Westminster Choir College, University of the Arts, and is a certified NJ teacher. Using the educational principles of instructional scaffolding, brain-based learning, and Madeline Hunter’s principles, makes PTW different from other performing arts schools.

Optimum environment for learning and significant growth. A small class size (typically 5-12 students) means teachers get to know the strengths of your child and their specific opportunities for growth. Within the group setting, the curriculum is designed so that your child also gets one-on-one mentoring for their personal goals.

For example, a voice teacher may be working with one student on intonation, another on projection, and another on diction while the entire class works together on the same song. All students have a chance to perform solo work when classes perform at PTW shows, and most importantly, in all PTW classes each child is celebrated.

“It’s incredible how whether you’re at the beginning of your career as a child here or whether you’ve been here 10 years, they treat you the same. And they give everybody a lot of really phenomenal individual attention.”

Elaine Schwartz, Occupational Therapist & PTW Parent

Your child will join the group where they can grow the most. PTW works hard to build an environment where students are challenged, but also feel comfortable and happy. With 12 different class tracks, students are placed within their age group, but since age groups have multiple level classes for each discipline, students are placed with their age group AND at the best level for their learning.

For example, a 9-year-old advanced student would be placed with advanced students in the same age-range. A 16-year-old beginner would be placed within a class with other beginner teenagers rather than beginners who are much younger. This helps students experience optimum learning and a positive experience without feeling uncomfortable or out-of-place.

“For every area of practice, there’s different levels within each age group. So you don’t have to worry about your child not being put at the right level, and they’re with kids their own age. It’s great.”

Meryl Levenberg, PTW Parent

Students can become diversified performers: “Triple Threats”. A unique benefit for students at PTW is the ability to get a comprehensive singing/dancing/acting/musical education all in one place, with expert teachers in each area. As a parent, you can drop your child off at PTW and have your child enjoy multiple classes in separate disciplines all in one day.

For example, a child can get a private singing lesson, an acting class and a private guitar lesson in just one trip. One location, no performance date conflicts (all classes perform on one date for each show), and one payment to track (we offer payment plans to make it even easier).

“I never thought I could grow so much in singing, and dancing, and acting. It was just amazing.”

Kendall K., PTW Student