JOIN ROUNDABOUT YOUTH ENSEMBLE

Roundabout Youth Ensemble (RYE) is a free afterschool and summer program for NYC Public High School students. Facilitated by professional theatre artists, participants will continue to build on their theatre skills while learning how to collaborate, create and reflect with peers and industry professionals. From February to May 2026. 

RYE will produce an informal reading of original work created by RYE participants. This summer, one of the original works created this spring will be fully produced with Roundabout Theatre Company. Seeking creative young artists to audition and interview for:  

• TECH TEAM: Explore theatrical disciplines including lighting, costumes, scenery, sound, and stage management. Utilize skills learned to design presentations and run technical elements of the Spring Sharing in May. 
• PERFORMANCE TEAM: Build acting skills through script analysis, character development, and rehearsal strategies. Perform student-written texts in Spring Sharing in May.  
• PLAYWRITING TEAM: Playwrights will develop, write and revise original works. Excerpts of original work will be presented at the Spring Sharing in May.  

Auditions / Interviews

To join RYE this spring, attend one date of auditions/interviews. No preparation is needed. Each session will have a main focus, but candidates can indicate interest in more than one team.

Monday, February 2: Focus on Playwriting

Tuesday, February 3: Focus on Performance & Directing

Thursday, February 5: Focus on Technical Theatre

The Spring Ensemble will produce a sharing on Monday, May 18.

Additional Details:

• No preparation needed for auditions and interviews.  
• Candidates will indicate interest in one or more teams.  
• Full commitment to all listed dates is required.  
• All sessions will take place in midtown Manhattan.  

SIGN UP NOW

RYE SPRING SCHEDULE

PLAYWRITING TEAM
Meets Mondays & some Fridays (writing sessions) from 4:30–6:30pm:

February 9, 23
March 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 23, 30
April 13, 20, 24, 27
May 1, 4, 8, 11, 15

PERFORMANCE TEAM
Meets Tuesdays and some Fridays from 4:30–6:30pm:

February 10, 24
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
April 14, 21, 24, 28
May 1, 5, 8, 12, 15

TECH TEAM
Meets Thursdays from 4:30–6:30pm

February 12, 26
March 5, 12, 26
April 1 (Wednesday), 16, 23, 30
May 7, 14

DIRECTING TEAM
Meets some Fridays from 4:30–6:30pm

February 27
March 6, 13
April 24
May 1, 8, 15

EVERYONE
Will attend Ensemble Days and the final Spring Sharing

Friday, February 13 4:30–10:00pm
Ensemble Day (Chinese Republicans)

March 27, 4:30–10:00pm
Ensemble Day (Fallen Angels)

April 17, 4:30–10:00pm
Ensemble Day (The Rocky Horror Show)

Monday, May 18, 4:30–9:00pm
Spring Sharing

Tuesday, May 19, 4:30–6:30pm
Reflection & Celebration

“SPOTLIGHT ON” WORKSHOPS

Leadership Skills:  Wednesday, April 22 (4:30–6:30pm)

Theatre Marketing: Wednesday, March 29 (4:30–6:30pm)

RYE ALUMNI EVENTS

Participants from previous years of RYE/SPW who have graduated high school are encouraged to attend. Complimentary refreshments and tickets to Roundabout productions will be provided. Details on how to RSVP come. 

Saturday, March 14, 2025 - 7pm (Chinese Republicans)

Saturday, April 25, 2025 - 8pm (Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show)

Saturday, May 16, 2025 - 7pm (Fallen Angels) 

If you have any questions, please email RYE@roundabouttheatre.org.

Roundabout Youth Ensemble is made possible through the support of The Pinkerton Foundation, The Rose M. Badgeley Residuary Charitable Trust, and the Elroy and Terry Krumholz Foundation.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature

We are grateful to those who contribute major support to Education at Roundabout’s many programs: The Bok Family Foundation—Roxanne and Scott L. Bok Trustees, Capital One, Delta Airlines, Lisa and Dick Cashin, Kate Davis, Samantha Rudin Earls and David Earls, Michael Fisch, Freedom Together Foundation, Gray Foundation, Jeanne and Tom Hagerty, HedgeServ Corporation, Jeannette and Grant Hobson, The Kaplen Brothers Fund, the Kors Le Pere Foundation, Jill and Barry Lafer, William P. Lauder, Gess and Pamela LeBlanc, The Julia C. Levy Education Fund, David and Anita Massengill, the Mustang Foundation, James L. Nederlander | Nick Scandalios, Katheryn Patterson and Tom Kempner, The May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, The Rudin Foundation, Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Beryl Snyder, Jennifer and Owen Thomas, Tiger Baron Foundation, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Diane and Tom Tuft, Cynthia C. Wainwright and Stephen Berger, Johannes and Regis Worsoe, Emmy Zuckerman and Ed Bonfield.