1. Our expert, caring faculty
At PTW we are constantly striving for excellence. Our carefully selected faculty consists of gifted artists, outstanding in their field, who are carefully chosen for their success in the arts, and their ability to transfer their talents to students in a patient, caring and inspirational climate. Imagine being taught acting by a teacher who has starred in a feature film with Robert Di Nero & Michelle Pfieffer, studying musical theatre from a Broadway star, or learning tap from a teacher who has danced with Gregory Hines!
PTW teachers have a long list of impressive credits & credentials, from appearing in Feature Films, as TV Series Regulars, in starring roles on Broadway and in countless TV Commercials, performing with Moscow Ballet, Houston Ballet, appearing in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, and with Cyndi Lauper and Donna Summer, and as featured artist with prestigious orchestras as the Houston Symphony and Vancouver Symphony. The PTW faculty have been trained at the highest level conservatories and universities including Julliard, Yale University, Yale Drama School, Eastman School of Music, Westminster Choir College and Boston Conservatory.
Our caring teachers strengthen self-esteem and build trust to promote learning, breakthroughs and create mentoring relationships that last for beyond high school and college.
(see PTW Hall of Fame, Teacher Bios, Parent & Student Reviews for more details)
2. Our long history and track record of student successes
PTW has been successfully training students in all areas of the performing arts for over 28 years. PTW was founded in 1983 by extraordinary musicians, educators and mentors: Howard and Esther Kravitz, both Julliard graduates with a passion for teaching, a passion for the arts, and a mission to make a positive difference in young people’s lives. (see PTW History, Parent & Student Reviews to understand the strength of our unique history and the legacy of PTW.)
Many of our students stay with us for 10-13 years, from age 5 or 6 till the time they graduate from high school. PTW has a high return rate of students returning year after year, not only because PTW is so much fun, but because students are being challenged to reach new levels and are learning so much from year to year. Many of our students have reached their goals and become successful on and off the stage—have become Broadway stars, hit TV show stars, Television producers, theatre directors. Many of our students don’t have professional aspirations, but we’ve helped them get leads in their middle school and high school shows, get into the colleges of their choice and build a strong, positive work ethic that last forever and makes a big difference in their lives after they graduate from PTW. (see PTW Hall of Fame for a list of some of our students’ successes).
3. Our fun, positive, non-competitive atmosphere that provides the environment for building self-esteem and life-long friendships
Our positive, non-competitive atmosphere promotes lasting, meaningful friendships. Older students take on the role of mentor to new and younger students, sharing with them the kindness and encouragement that student before them bestowed. (see Student & Parent Reviews on lasting friendships formed by PTW students.)
4. Our curriculum and teaching practices grounded in educational principles to maximize learning and success at every level
PTW was founded by Howard and Esther Kravitz, both Julliard graduates. Howard had his Masters in Education from Columbia Teachers College and was a certified NJ teacher. Esther was a genius director, teacher, and mentor to hundreds of PTW students. Dean Kravitz, along with his wife Elisabeth, continue in his parent’s footsteps to run PTW. Dean has a solid foundation in Education. He graduated from Yale University with a BA in Music, received his Masters in Education and is a certified NJ teacher. Dean fine tunes curriculum based on the educational principles of instructional scaffolding, brain-based learning and Madeline Hunter’s principles, to ensure PTW students reach successes and achieve their goals. The result is an environment of learning and joy for the arts that creates the framework for each student’s individual growth and breakthroughs.
5. Our small class sizes with individual attention to every student
Our small class sizes (usually 5-12) enable teachers to get to know students as individuals within the group setting. At PTW, students get differentiated instruction. PTW teachers are sensitive and in tune with the distinct strengths and weaknesses of each individual student, acknowledge what that particular student is doing well, and guide that student to reach their next level. For example, in a class, a voice teacher may be working with one student on intonation, another on projection, another on breath control, another on diction, while the entire class works on the same song or exercise and focuses on blending with each other.
We take the time to find out student’s personal goals – whether it be to make it to Broadway, get into the school talent show, getting into the school show or getting into a good college, and we help guide them to reach those goals.
6. Our careful attention to placing students in classes that match their age AND level
PTW has 10 different class tracks and students are placed in classes that match their age range as well as their level of maturity and ability. For instance, at PTW, if a 9-year-old student is very advanced, he or she would be placed in a class with other advanced students the same age, rather than a class with 9-year-old beginners. Conversely, for example, if a student is a 16-year-old beginner, at PTW, he or she would be placed in a class with other teenagers, not 10-year-old beginners. Students experience optimum learning and positive experiences when they are placed with other students close in age and skill level (see Instructional Scaffolding for more details.)
7. Our wide variety of course selection, with expert teachers in each area, enables students to receive a comprehensive performing arts education “under one roof”.
All disciplines “under one roof” enables students to get a comprehensive singing/dancing/acting/musical education with easier logistics for the parents. A “one stop shop”, PTW offers dance to voice to acting to instrumental/dance/voice/acting private lessons, taught by faculty chosen carefully for their experience and expertise in that particular field. Scheduling is easier for parents who can drop their child off, and their child can get, for example, a private singing lesson and an acting or dance class in one trip, or in an example from one our quite enthusiastic students an acting class, dance class, singing class, comedy & improv class, TV commercials class, private voice lesson and a private guitar lesson all on one Saturday at one place. This reduces the number of trips for a parent dropping off and picking up students from their activities. There is never a conflict between performances of classes because they are all with PTW. For instance, our acting, dancing, singing, musical theatre classes all perform on one date in one show. One payment to keep track of (and we offer payment plans, too!).
8. Our varied and frequent performance opportunities
We have a show every Fall that features the students’ classwork from the fall semester and another show in the Spring that features the classwork from the Spring semester classes. We have a Broadway Showcase every winter where students perform in NYC at a nightclub for agents, managers, casting directors, friends and family. We also have 2 Broadway Showcases every summer, 1 at the culmination of each of our two summer sessions. We also have an annual private lesson recital where students can demonstrate the progress they’ve made in their private lessons. PTW students have also performed at Westfield street fair, Newark Museum, gala fundraisers, in Atlantic City at the NJ Teachers Convention numerous times, and much more. These frequent performing opportunities give the students enormous confidence on stage because they get so much practice performing. Lots of performing experience helps students be less nervous when auditioning for a school show, a TV commercial or public speaking in school!
9. Our detailed attention to audition preparation and preparation for college and beyond
Audition preparation and preparation for life – at PTW, our teachers can help your child prepare for an upcoming audition, whether it be for a school show, a talent show, a feature film, or audition for entrance to a conservatory. We are equipped to make background accompaniment CDs for students, show students how to warm themselves up and provide a vocal warmup CD customized for a particular student’s range and vocal challenges. Because students form such strong, meaningful bonds with their teachers at PTW, PTW teachers can write them recommendations that demonstrate true knowledge of the student over the course of many years in an artistic endeavor, where the teacher knows the student as an actor, dancer, singer, musician and person.
10. Our flexible payment plans tailored to individual financial needs
We offer flexible payment plan options to enable students who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend PTW, to be able to benefit from a PTW education.
11. Our connections with key agents, managers and casting directors in the business
PTW is well known and highly respected within the professional community. We have many industry connections. We will help you connect with agents, managers and casting directors if you have professional performing aspirations. We help you build your skills so you are ready for professional auditions, and we invite key agents, managers and casting directors to all our NYC showcases. Many PTW students have gotten signed with managers and/or gotten professional TV or Radio jobs as a result of our NYC Showcases!
12. Our warm environment and artistic community that becomes our students’ “theatre home” for life
Many of our students call PTW their “Theatre Home” because of the warm and nurturing relationships and special bonds formed with their teachers and other students. PTW alumni often return to PTW to visit after they graduate and come to the end of the year show to sing the school song.
13. Our fantastic Maplewood, NJ studio is convenient to students from Essex, Union and Morris County - and throughout the state