About BCT
Mission, Vision, and Values
A place where people from different backgrounds come together to make art, find joy, and lift each other up.
Photo: Sirenia, Spring 2026
Our mission
Brooklyn Children’s Theatre empowers youth through musical theatre, reimagining arts education by centering the whole child and prioritizing belonging and equity.
Our vision
BCT’s vision is to cultivate a collective of empathetic and creative young people who seek equity in every space they inhabit and are dedicated to building a brighter future for all.
Creating Magic at BCT
A seven-slide look at our mission, signature programs, and students.
Creating Magic at BCT
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A Special Place.
We are creating the world we want to see at BCT!
A place where people from different backgrounds come together to make art, find joy, and lift each other up.
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Our Mission: Brooklyn Children’s Theater empowers youth through musical theatre, reimagining arts education by centering the whole child and prioritizing equity and belonging.
Our Vision: BCT’s vision is to cultivate a collective of empathetic and creative young people who seek equity in every space they inhabit, and are dedicated to building a brighter future for all.
Our Values: Equity, Belonging, Compassion, Community, Creativity, Pathways.
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What happens when equity meets education.
10K+ students served since 2004, with 500+ students served annually.
15 on-stage performances of original plays written by students each year.
79% BIPOC students in 2024-2025.
77% majority of scholarship students in 2024-2025.
“Brooklyn Children’s Theater is the home I was looking for as a kid.” Viola Davis
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Signature Programs.
Viola Davis Summer Program: Students create original musicals in summer camps for our fall and spring MainStage program through imagination and improvisation.
MainStage Production Program: MainStage students are cast in, rehearse, and perform an original musical play on stage! Students learn acting, singing, and dance techniques in appropriate age groups in the fall and spring.
Free Weekend Program: Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch learn acting, dancing, and singing skills for free on Saturdays.
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Signature Programs.
Teaching Artist Trainees: Paid mentorship and employment for young adults from historically excluded communities, as they build their careers as professional artists.
New for 2026. Paid High School and College Internship Program: Workforce development program providing robust training in arts education, theatrical production, and arts administration for up to 38 positions for high school and college students.
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Why theatre education: better communication skills; social-emotional learning; narrowing the opportunity gap; and improving school attendance.
Why BCT: “For the kids who exist on the periphery of what we deem as likable, or worthy of patience or empathy or celebration, these spaces are a haven. These spaces save our lives.” BCT alum
“The space BCT created gave me something important to hold on to when I really needed it, and I’ll never forget that.” BCT alum
“I feel safe being myself there, I haven’t felt that in a long time.” Current BCT student, 14
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No child has ever been refused for an inability to pay.
To support BCT, please contact Executive Director Amy White-Graves, amy@brooklynchildrenstheatre.org, 646-675-0325.
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Our values
Select a value to read what it means at BCT and hear it in our community’s own words.
Equity
BCT dismantles barriers to traditional musical theatre education that prohibit the participation and growth of children from historically excluded communities.
Belonging
Each child in our space receives tools and support to engage in musical theater training and performance according to their unique needs and intersecting identities. Students see themselves represented in the artists, staff, and board members who guide their experience.
Community
We aim for every BCT class to represent Brooklyn. With intention, we use every aspect of programming to foster connections between children, celebrating differences as we teach and learn empathy. We invite BCT’s children to wholeheartedly be themselves, take up space, and help shape our culture.
Compassion
We lead with kindness, prioritizing social-emotional learning. We respond to each person’s emotional and physical needs as they develop their artistry.
Creativity
We nurture self-expression, risk-taking, and collaborative practices in a fun, judgment-free zone.
Pathways
At BCT, we cultivate future artists. We offer children and young adults, regardless of their resources or background, opportunities to perform, write, create, receive training and insight into potential life pathways whether that be in school, career, or interpersonal relationships.
BCT by the numbers
No child has ever been refused for an inability to pay.
In their words
Brooklyn Children’s Theater is the home I was looking for as a kid.
For the kids who exist on the periphery of what we deem as likable, or worthy of patience or empathy or celebration, these spaces are a haven. These spaces save our lives.
The space BCT created gave me something important to hold on to when I really needed it, and I’ll never forget that.
I feel safe being myself there, I haven’t felt that in a long time.
On Our Stages: Spring 2026
