Welcome to the Neighborhood Playhouse Junior Acting School!

Acting Training for Youths & Teens ~ Discover Your Creativity & Talent

Virtual Open House/Visiting Day Saturday, March 6th 
Please click HERE to sign up.
You'll receive a zoom link the day before. 

Accepting applications for our three summer programs.
​We remain virtual through the summer 
Youth Workshop  (9-11 year olds) July 19th - August 6th 
Teen Studio (12 - 14 year olds) July 19th - August 6th
Teen Conservatory (15 - 18 year olds) July 19th - August 13th 

Audition and Interview required. 
​Click HERE for Summer application form and information

Fall Classes will begin on Saturday, September 11th. 
​Please click HERE for more information. 
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In 1905, sisters Irene and Alice Lewisohn rode down to the lower East Side and joined the Henry Street Settlement creating a community center of dance, singing, and acting for children. By 1915 they moved down the street and established themselves as The Neighborhood Playhouse. Their endeavors grew to include the Junior Players, the adult Playhouse Players, and the Grand Street Follies. They also became one of the first little theatres in the country. in 1928 they established the prestigious adult acting program, The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.  It is this institution that sponsors the Junior School today with an acting program catered to the young actor, 2nd-12th grades. Modeled after the adult conservatory, the Junior School trains all its students in the core principles of acting, applying techniques and skills learned to various classes in singing, movement/dance, scene study, monologues, voice & diction, stage combat, Shakespeare, acting for film & television, commercials, voice overs, auditioning, improvisation and more--giving students complete actor training and the skills needed to be creative and competitive in their craft and in life.
Our goal is to also help develop young minds and voices with well-rounded training. The dramatic arts teach our students  to work collaboratively, support each other, and build confidence. They learn to be selfless, compassionate, and generous people. 

Carmen Lamar Daehler is the Junior School Director at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. She is an actor, singer, director, and a proud member of the professional actor unions: SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Carmen has performed in NYC, regional, and summer stock theatre. She’s also appeared in film and television. Make sure to catch Carmen as Bomb Tech, Carla Flores, on FBI ​in its third season on CBS and her new web series on YouTube highlighting Hollywood character actors in Second to None. Coming from this rich and varied background in formal acting training and professional work in the industry, Theatre Education is also very important to Carmen. She has taught at Rutgers University, NYCDA, Texas Institute for Arts in Education; and has led Meisner acting workshops for youths in NYC as well as in St. John, USVI and Texas. She has directed musicals at NYC’s Clinton School for Writers and Artists and directed Twelve Angry Jurors and The Death of a Miner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Carmen studied with the renowned acting teacher Fred Kareman. She holds a BA in Communications and Theatre from Texas A&MCorpus Christi and an MA in Theatre from Hunter College.

"My daughter has been attending classes at Neighborhood Playhouse for the past 4 years.
Her experiences at NP has made a positive impact in her life.  
She has found her voice, has achieved confidence, poise and a new sense of purpose.  
She truly loves and is motivated to continue her studies at NP.." ~LeAnne, JR Parent 

Click here to read more testimonials from parents and students.
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The Neighborhood Playhouse is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible