about us
- Home
- ›
- History & Programs
Our Vision
TADA!’s vision is that all young people grow up feeling successful, creative, confident, accepted, and accepting of themselves. Through the ability of people learning to express themselves well we can break down barriers of racism and inequality and create positive, active citizens.
Our Mission
Values
We value TADA!’s unique programming. Our innovative and responsive approaches to musical theater adapt to the evolving landscape of our community and world, serving and supporting the TADA! Family (board, staff, students, and families and audiences) for over 36 years.
We value creating high-quality, innovative, professional musical theater productions, programs, and experiences that inspire, transform, empower, challenge, and engage our TADA! family and the greater global community.
We value an ensemble-based environment where the TADA! family collaborates as a team and works together respectfully and creatively. All TADA! programs and experiences are rooted in ensemble, and through ensemble based practices, we strive to make everyone involved feel brave to explore and authentically express themselves and their identity. By exploring the depths of others and cultivating empathy, we find space for our true selves to shine.
We value and encourage everyone in the TADA! family to share their voice and be heard. We want our staff, board, ensemble members, students, and families to feel seen, heard, and free to advocate for themselves. We strive to provide leadership opportunities at all levels; in the classroom, rehearsal room, and behind closed doors with our staff and board members.
We value diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility, and justice. We value providing all people an opportunity to create, imagine, learn, and experience the joy of musical theater, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, nationality, and immigration status.We are committed to being an actively anti-racist and anti-oppresive organization, believe that racial division is a key tool of oppression, and that we gain strength and power in learning and sharing our histories, cultures, and experiences. We commit to urgent action, innovation & transformation within the world and in our own organization.
We value professionalism, integrity, and accountability in all aspects of our work. We value highly trained and versatile musical theater professionals who are dedicated ambassadors and champions of TADA! Youth Theater’s mission, vision, and values in person and online. We commit to continuous improvement and professional growth.
We value creating a brave, transparent, and supportive culture of growth through respect, collaboration, and teamwork where the TADA! Family feels empowered to take risks and explore their interests and identities at their own pace in order to grow into kind, empathetic human beings.
We value creating a brave space that encourages and supports creativity where everyone is respected and included. Through supportive ensemble-based productions, programs, and experiences, we see growth in self-expression, risk-taking, and self-confidence.
We value and have a deep passion for musical theater as an art form that empowers, educates, and transforms people from all different backgrounds.
We value TADA!’s unique programming. Our innovative and responsive approaches to musical theater adapt to the evolving landscape of our community and world, serving and supporting the TADA! Family (board, staff, students, and families and audiences) for over 36 years.
History
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Antiracist Statement
Over the past year, TADA! has been unpacking and examining what it means to be an antiracist, multicultural organization and a leader within the youth theater and arts education fields.
TADA! is committed to providing every child an opportunity to create, imagine, learn, and experience the joy of musical theater, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, nationality, and immigration status.
We admit that we don’t have all the answers right now, but what we do know is that we must embrace change to reflect the mission, vision, and values of TADA! as it stands today.
Overview of Programs
Resident Youth Ensemble of TADA! (RYET)
At the heart of TADA! is the Resident Youth Ensemble, a unique, award-winning, completely free, pre-professional theater training and positive youth development program, which annually serves between 60-80 children aged 8 -18.
Membership into the Ensemble is by audition only. Once in the Ensemble, members receive free training in theater etiquette, dance, voice, and acting, as well as valuable experiences that teach life skills such as time management, discipline, accountability, and conflict resolution. Members perform in Mainstage productions and at special events throughout NYC.
For more details visit our Resident Youth Ensemble page.
Education
TADA!’s Education Department provides unique and engaging arts programming that inspires students from all racial, economic, and social backgrounds. We specialize in musical theater and the co-creating of original work through singing, dancing, and acting.
For over thirty-five years TADA! has offered year-long classes and camps at our onsite location as well as in-school residencies and after-school programming in both public and private schools all across New York City and the five boroughs. Everything that we teach at TADA! is rooted in the core belief that we are better together. All programming is based on ensemble-building techniques that facilitate an equitable and active learning environment where cooperative, personal, and creative growth are fostered in a structured and supportive setting.
For more details visit our Education Department page.
Production
TADA!’s original thought-provoking, innovative and socially relevant musical theater productions are commissioned specifically for performances by the Resident Youth Ensemble. These musicals have been written, scored, arranged, directed, choreographed and designed by artists with backgrounds in Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, recording and film industry.
Productions run for 17 – 35 performances, unlike other youth theater companies, and are intended for young audiences and their families. TADA!’s themes often empower performers and audiences to realize that they are vital members of society who can make the world a better place. Written specifically for their age group, productions are designed to address the needs of today’s youth and teens. Themes such as self-acceptance, acceptance of others, family life, growing up, finding your place in the world, and bullying are typical subjects that members and audiences can relate to.
For more details visit our Artistic Overview page.