Programs
At Fiasco Theater, we believe that the most vital art is born from a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and joy. Our programs are designed to break down the traditional hierarchies of the industry, placing the actor and the text at the heart of the creative process. Whether we are in the earliest stages of a new idea or sharing a polished performance with our community, our initiatives provide the time and space necessary to pursue artistic excellence without sacrificing the human element. By integrating rigorous development with accessible training, we invite both artists and audiences into a "living rehearsal" that celebrates the power of the ensemble.
An Overview of Fiasco’s Programs
Fiasco develops and performs work through four home-grown initiatives designed to take projects from a spark of inspiration to a fully realized production.
GroundWork
This is our "freedom phase." GroundWork provides the maximal time and space needed to identify future pipeline projects without the pressure of a final product. By utilizing in-person, Zoom, and hybrid formats, we ensure this early developmental stage remains flexible and accessible to our artists.
Open Your Ears
In this series, we immerse ourselves in a text for one week of rehearsal, followed by 1–2 public readings. These shares are essential for us to learn how a play "lands" with an audience, as seen in our recent reading of Devin E. Haqq’s The Peony Lantern.
Some Of Its Parts
This experimental series allows us to isolate and explore specific elements of a play—such as conceptual design, casting, or musicality—over a one-week intensive. The process culminates in a free open sharing, giving the public a "working rehearsal" look at our creative progress.
Without A Net
This is Fiasco’s answer to the "gap" in modern theater development. It bridges the space between a 29-hour reading and a high-cost Off-Broadway run. In just 2–3 weeks, a show moves from the first rehearsal to five fully staged public performances with minimal design. This high-stakes environment encourages bold choices and places total value on the actors' relationship with the audience. Notably, our acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s Pericles began as a Without A Net project in 2022, and we are currently utilizing this format to develop our 2025/26 production of The Comedy of Errors.
An Overview of Our Training Programs
Our training programs are an extension of our mission to make world-class classical theater education affordable and empowering.
Fall Training
Our 2025 Fall Training offers six specialized workshops over 14 weeks. Conducted in the evenings to support sustainable schedules, this year features the debut of the “Dynamic Ensemble Rehearsal Project” (DERP). Taught by Co-Artistic Director Ben Steinfeld, this project-based class was created in direct response to student feedback, focusing on the actor's most essential (and often undertaught) skill: how to rehearse effectively within an ensemble.
The Free Training Initiative (FTI)
Since 2009, this part-time classical intensive has introduced actors to Fiasco’s joy-based rehearsal method at zero cost. FTI alumni have gone on to major success on Broadway and screen—including Kelley Curran (HBO’s The Gilded Age). In June 2026, we are expanding this reach with a new FTI section specifically for Teaching Artists and Educators, sharing our methods with those who shape the next generation of NYC artists.
PLAY|GROUND
These sliding-scale workshops are built for radical accessibility. To ensure that caregiving or financial barriers don't stand in the way of artistry, PLAY|GROUND offers onsite childcare, eldercare reimbursement, and full accommodations for participants' access needs. Recent sessions have included specialized workshops like "Your Bounty...: A Shakespeare Monologue Workshop."