What is Arts Play Theatre?
Our story begins in 2022 as we struggle with the effects of a global pandemic and major divisions plague our nation. What to do? Start a non-profit arts organization.
Enter Arts Play Theatre
We established our organization in South Jersey, just over the river from Philadelphia. We are passionate about providing our community with high-quality, innovative theatre arts programming made specifically for young people and their grown-ups.
Being a theatre, we PLAY. Participate, Learn, Act, Yes!
Participate – Programs and performances are interactive for all. Experiences are age-appropriate and artistically sound.
Learn – We learn from each other. We are better because of our diversity. Everyone who wants to be a positive force in our community is welcome. Accessibility and affordability are essential.
Act – It’s theatre. Acting is required. But acting extends beyond portraying a character: we guide participants to act with confidence and respect in their everyday lives.
Yes! – We lead with positivity and encourage future theatre-makers to do the same. We highlight the greatness in everyone involved with Arts Play Theatre.
At Arts Play Theatre, we believe that the arts develop creativity. Creativity allows people to understand new perspectives. Understanding new perspectives cultivates empathy. Young people are our “now” and our future: let’s inspire creative thinking and empathy from the beginning.
Job listings
Teaching Artists
Leadership
Arts Play Theatre is composed of individuals who are passionate about theatre and creativity. We believe that arts education can transcend disciplines and inspire people to do whatever they set their mind to do. We think theatre people can be pretty amazing, and we want to use our skills to create a community of amazing people.
Dawn Navarro
Artistic Director
(She/her) | dawn@artsplaytheatre.org
Dawn is the founder and Artistic Director of Arts Play Theatre. She has worked in nearly every aspect of non-profit theatre, with a focus on theatre education, directing, and administration.
Dawn has worked consistently in non-profit theatre education since 2009. Most of that time has been as the Director of Education Outreach at Theatre Horizon in Pennsylvania, and as the founding Director of Education at Playhouse on Park in Connecticut. At the end of her six years at Playhouse on Park, the program had grown to serve over 5,000 students annually, mainly due to theatre classes and field trips that were grant funded or deeply discounted. She strongly believes that a family’s financial situation should not stop children from having valuable arts opportunities, and works to ensure that all are able to participate despite economic barriers.
Dawn has directed and choreographed many shows for young audiences and for adults at the professional and college level. She has been a teaching artist at multiple theatres and educational programs. Her training as a singer, dancer and musician largely influences her work. She has also stage managed over 30 professional productions.
Dawn is a graduate of Middlebury College with a BA in Theatre. Daily, she is inspired by her two sons’ ceaseless creativity and love of learning. Arts Play Theatre exists thanks to her incredible family.
Your support helps us create affordable theatre arts programming.
Board & Office
Arts Play Theatre is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is governed by a Board of Trustees. If you are interested in being involved with our Board of Trustees or have a question for one of our board members, please email info@artsplaytheatre.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Dawn Navarro
Sara Braslow Ernenwein
Amy Boyd
Lindsey Konkel Neabore
Anti-Discrimination Statement
Arts Play Theatre strives to be a place where all people are welcome and appreciated because of who they are. If you want to participate positively in our programs, we want you to join us.
In accordance with national laws and the laws of the state of New Jersey, Arts Play Theatre does not discriminate based on: race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, domestic partner or civil union status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular blood trait, genetic information, liability for military service, or mental or physical disability.
If you have further questions or feel that you have been the victim of discrimination at Arts Play Theatre, please email info@artsplaytheatre.org or call (856) 290-7570.
Accessibility Statement
Arts Play Theatre is committed to ensuring equal opportunity and access in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), and relevant state and local law. Discrimination against any person due to physical or mental disability is prohibited. Every effort to grant reasonable requests for accommodations will be made, provided that said accommodations do not present an undue hardship for Arts Play Theatre.
If you are requesting a service such as large font printed materials or closed captioning on a video recording, please make your request with as much notice as possible. Ideally please give Arts Play Theatre at least two weeks notice so we can do our best to honor your request.
If you have any accessibility concerns, feel that an accessibility need is not being met, or are curious about accommodations for our programming, please email us at info@artsplaytheatre.org or call (856) 290-7570.