About PTW: New Jersey’s Premier Performing Arts School Founded by Juilliard Graduates

Welcome to Performers Theatre Workshop (PTW), a leading NJ Performing Arts School where passion for the arts transforms into a lifetime of achievement.

Our History

Established in 1984 by Esther and Howard Kravitz, Juilliard graduates and longtime educators and performers who drove all over New Jersey and Manhattan to give their two children all the lessons young performers require, Performers Theatre Workshop (PTW) is designed to meet every students performing needs “under one roof.” With outstanding instruction, performance opportunities, and genuine caring, PTW quickly became an integral part of many children’s lives, and has often been called “my theatre home” by PTW students.

In its over 30 years of existence,Performers Theatre Workshop has increased its student enrollment more than ten times over, and at present is acclaimed as one of the foremost performing arts schools in New Jersey and in the New York metropolitan area. Conveniently located in Millburn, NJ, we attract students from Essex, Morris and Union County, and throughout the state.

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Adding to PTW’s popularity is the relaxed, noncompetitive environment of the school.

“Our students create many new friendships with other students who share their love for theatre, and find themselves acquiring a whole new set of ‘acting friends.’ PTW’s special environment, along with expert theatrical training, helps children develop into confident and empowered young people who won’t shy away from taking center stage as they grow into young adulthood and invariably face the opportunities and challenges that life will present to them. PTW not only trains children to perform, but it prepares them to perform better on the stage of life.”

– Elisabeth Kravitz, PTW Executive Program Director

Why PTW Stands Out:

  • Expert Faculty: Our conservatory-trained teachers are not just educators but also mentors with extensive professional credits, embodying our belief in learning from those who practice what they preach.
  • Non-Competitive, Supportive Environment: We believe in fostering growth and creativity in a space where students are encouraged to take risks and support one another, building friendships that last a lifetime.
  • Customized Learning Paths: Recognizing that each student has unique needs and goals, PTW designs personalized paths of study to ensure every young artist reaches their full potential.

The PTW Mission

Performers Theatre Workshop’s mission is to provide the highest caliber of performing arts education to students of all ages and abilities, and to foster individual growth in a caring, supportive artistic community.

 

In order to accomplish this mission, Performers Theatre Workshop:

Provides a warm, safe environment where students feel encouraged to take risks and grow.

Surrounds students with expert, conservatory trained teachers who have extensive high level professional credits to serve as both teachers and mentors who encourage students to reach for high standards and their personal best.

Creates a positive, fun environment where friendships and love for the arts grow and flourish.

Builds each student’s self-confidence on and off stage.

Carefully places each individual student in classes appropriate to his or her age, level and experience.

Designs customized courses of study to meet a student’s individual needs and goals.

Builds a framework for students to develop focus, responsibility and a strong work ethic.

Fosters a sense of community and teamwork in a non-competitive environment where people strive to do their best while supporting and encouraging their peers.

Provides a variety of unique performance opportunities for students to demonstrate the new skills they have mastered.

Creates musical arrangements and harmonies customized to fit the range and ability of individual performers.

Celebrates the growth and accomplishments of all students

Our Objectives

Discovering the full potential that exists within each person is what we are striving for at PTW.

Creating a warm, supportive and culturally rich environment where every person can feel good about themselves as they grow through creative expression.

Selecting people on our staff with whom we can entrust our ideals. These are outstanding and gifted artists who are currently working in their respective fields and wish to share their expertise and love for the theatre with others.

Challenging each student is an important part of the PTW ideal, and the program is designed for the individual to accelerate at his own pace. Thus, the flexibility of class placement is primarily based on ability rather than age.

Building a positive influence on a child's future is a key concern at PTW.

Regardless of ability or choice of course, we recognize our responsibility to help each person to acquire not only the given skills, but to build the inner resources of self-confidence and self-worth.

"The most exciting part of our history", says Executive Artistic Director Dean Kravitz, "is that PTW alumni have become successful in all aspects of life, in many diverse professions. Our alumni have attributed much of their success, whether in theatre or outside of theatre, to the training, work ethic, and self-confidence they received at PTW".

 

Discover PTW, a premier NJ Performing Arts School, where we're eager to welcome your child into our supportive theatre family!

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We are located in Millburn & Maplewood, NJ and have students from all throughout the Tri-state area.