For The Culture

Surrounding the In the Bricks Festival, NYTW Education & Engagement has curated a variety of events for our For the Culture series in collaboration with community partners and the Festival’s presenting partners, as well as an event for our Mind the Gap program alumni. We invite you to join us and get to know these organizations during a post-show conversation or community gathering, and to learn more about them below in the meantime!

April 23, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

Teaching artist and theatremaker Kurt Brungardt has dedicated his career to bridging people to the body-mind connection through the arts. Most recently, Kurt has returned to East 4th St in partnership with Rod Rodgers Dance Company (RRDC) to create the NeuroArts Wellness Lab, a community-based lab which brings scientists and artists together to create evidence-based programming to improve brain and body health.

I sat down with Kurt to discuss his story and work, our collaboration as partners in the community, and his goals for the future as the NeuroArts Wellness Lab continues to develop here on the block.

April 20, 2026 by Marty Chandler

Now that MY JOY IS HEAVY has taken its final bows, take a look back at our line-up of For the Culture events that NYTW Education & Engagement hosted throughout the run of the show. From meaningful post-show conversations with our partners to joyous events including our Arts & Community Day, we had a blast connecting with so many communities to celebrate the themes of the show.

April 13, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

For MY JOY IS HEAVY here at NYTW, access has been woven into both the fabric of the piece itself and the audience experience of the production. From open captions projected onto a dedicated section of the set design to various affinity nights and to technical choices to make every show a relaxed performance, these intentional decisions are the result of many conversations between The Bengsons, the creative team, NYTW staff, and access dramaturg Alison Kopit.

Alison took some time a couple weeks before tech rehearsals began to tell me about her story of developing the practice of access dramaturgy, as well as her work on My Joy is Heavy.

March 11, 2026 by Marty Chandler

MY JOY IS HEAVY is just around the corner here at the Workshop, and our Education & Engagement team has partnered with nine organizations to reflect on the conversations around love, joy, and care that The Bengsons open up through their piece. These themes of the show are embodied in the impacts our partner organizations have on families, caregivers, and artists. From groups working at the intersection of the arts and healing, to health service and advocacy organizations, to performance groups for artists of all backgrounds and identities, we are honored to be working with these partners. We invite you to join us for a post-show conversation or community gathering to get to know them more, and read more below in the meantime.

February 12, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

All the fun of TARTUFFE didn’t just happen onstage! Look back at our line-up of For the Culture events that NYTW Education & Engagement hosted throughout the nine week run of the show. From seven meaningful post-show conversations to four large events and collaborations with eight community partners, we had a blast connecting with artists and community members around the show.

January 26, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

For those who have never been to E 4th St, the city’s famous “Fourth Arts Block,” tucked amidst a handful of theatres and shops sits Rod Rodgers Dance Company (RRDC). Founded in the 1960s by esteemed dancer and teacher Rod Rodgers, the legacy of the company’s founder is carried on by its current dancers and leadership, including Artistic Director Kim Grier-Martinez and General Manager Rachel Lubell, the latter of whom told me her story as part of the company on a busy Thursday this fall.

January 22, 2026 by Marty Chandler

NYTW celebrated IN HONOR OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT with a few For the Culture events amidst the show’s sold-out run for the Under the Radar Festival. Take a look back at the events below!

January 21, 2026 by NYTW Education & Engagement

TARTUFFE is about to take the stage at the Workshop, and the Education & Engagement Team has partnered with eight different organizations to engage with the play’s themes of faith, storytelling, and community. From the Workshop’s long-time neighbors to artistic communities from across the city, these partners are actively working to bring people together to make art and celebrate identity. We encourage you to join us for one of our For the Culture events, meet our partners, and continue learning more about them below!

November 13, 2025 by NYTW Education & Engagement

Take a look back at our robust line-up of For the Culture events for SATURDAY CHURCH. With over 12 community partners, 8 post-show conversations, 3 community gatherings, 1 masterclass, and countless connections made while celebrating this show, we are full of gratitude for the community that gathered over the past several weeks.

October 29, 2025 by NYTW Education & Engagement