The Stay Gold Project Partnered with City Year
A new collaboration will connect New York City public school students with Broadway theater productions.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Children’s Theater
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The Stay Gold Project has officially partnered with City Year to provide students with increased access to Broadway performances. This initiative facilitates free attendance for local pupils to experience live theater, including productions of The Outsiders.
Why it matters
The partnership aims to lower barriers to arts education by offering students and educators free access to Broadway and touring productions. It combines live performance with educational support to foster greater engagement with the arts.
The program has provided over 1,800 tickets to students since launching in 2024. The Outsiders novel, which serves as the musical's source, has sold nearly 20 million copies and been translated into 30 languages.
The players
The Stay Gold Project
This initiative provides students and educators with free access to professional theater productions.
City Year
This national organization employs 1,500 student success coaches to support 250 schools across 29 local sites.
Situation Project
This entity serves as the fiscal sponsor for The Stay Gold Project.
The details
City Year student success coaches will accompany students to the theater, while providing study guides and post-show conversations with company members. The project leverages the popularity of the source material to engage young audiences.
Timeline
1967: The Outsiders novel was originally published.
2024: The Stay Gold Project launched on Broadway.
April 11, 2026: The Outsiders musical opened on Broadway.
Industry Dynamics
This partnership reflects a growing trend in the commercial theater sector to align with educational nonprofits to secure long-term youth engagement. By integrating student success coaches into the theater-going experience, the production moves beyond traditional outreach to embed itself in school curriculum.
New York City public school students will gain direct, free access to Broadway productions through their existing school support networks. This allows pupils to attend shows like The Outsiders with professional guidance and educational resources provided by their success coaches.
The takeaway
By embedding live theater experiences within the school day, programs like The Stay Gold Project make cultural milestones accessible to a wider demographic of students. Educators and families can look for similar partnerships that leverage extracurricular support to bridge the gap between classroom and stage.
Further reading
For more information on local programs, visit the Children’s Theater section.
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Do you believe partnerships between theater productions and local schools improve the quality of education?
