Inside Broadway Renames Touring Program 'The Inside Broadway Acting Company'

Michael Presser, Founder, President & CEO of Inside Broadway, has announced the name change to the nonprofit's professional touring acting company, now titled The Inside Broadway Acting Company, which has been performing in school auditoriums for the past 30 years throughout New York City. This announcement comes ahead of the nonprofit's 45th anniversary this fall, celebrating its decades-long commitment to introducing the magic of Broadway to NYC children through accessible and quality arts programming.

“We are pleased to share the name change to our acting company, which we believe will allow schools and the theatre industry to better identify this crucial part of our organization,” said Michael Presser, Founder, President & CEO of Inside Broadway. “As we approach the 45th anniversary of Inside Broadway, we hope that our touring productions will continue to inspire the next generation of actors, musicians, designers, and theatregoers. We are proud to celebrate the upcoming 30th season of professional theatre performances in the schools, and welcome the new name, The Inside Broadway Acting Company.”

Each season, from January to March, The Inside Broadway Acting Company, comprised of Actors' Equity and Local 802 AFM members, performs a 45-minute abridged version of a popular Broadway or Off-Broadway show, designed to fit into a class period and connect to the curriculum. Over the course of 12 weeks, the company brings the show to public schools across the five boroughs, often providing students with their very-first professional live theatre experience. All shows are accompanied by a special Study Buddy, written in-house and serving as an educational tool with information about the show, its creators, and historical context both on and off Broadway.

The 2026 touring production of The Marvelous Wonderettes performed at more than 45 schools and wrapped in March. Previous productions have included such titles as Smokey Joe's Cafe, Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, Bye Bye Birdie, On the Town, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, and Kiss Me Kate. In addition, The Acting Company has created several original titles utilizing classic Broadway material. These have included All Kinds of People, a collaboration with the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, Land That I Love, a collaboration with The Irving Berlin family, and Real Magic, a collaboration with the Gershwin Family.

In addition to their annual touring production, Inside Broadway has reached nearly three million New York City public school students over four decades through programming including in-class residencies, after-school workshops, the popular biannual “Creating the Magic” series, and “Broadway Day in the Schools” acting careers program. Many of these programs are funded by the New York City Council as part of the Cultural After-School Adventures (CASA) grant, with additional support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department of Education, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

ABOUT Inside Broadway

Founded in 1982 by Michael Presser, Inside Broadway was first created as a free ticket program at the invitation of the late Bernard Jacobs, President of The Shubert Organization. During the entire Broadway run of CATS, The Shubert Organization provided Inside Broadway with 50 tickets to every Wednesday matinee performance to NYC's public-school students. Throughout the years, the nonprofit has produced professional tours of classic Broadway musicals directly to school auditoriums throughout the city. Inside Broadway serves over 100,000 students in 123 public schools throughout five boroughs through the 12-week annual professional touring production, the in-school “Build A Musical” program where the kids are the stars, summer musical theater camp, senior citizen program, the popular “Creating the Magic” series, and the newly launched acting careers program, “Broadway Day in the Schools.” This year, Inside Broadway is celebrating its 44th anniversary, reaching nearly three million New York City public school students over four decades.