Applause
Applause NY is a privately held performing arts education company serving more than 4,000 children annually (ages 3–18) across theater, dance, and film acting from its Upper East Side Manhattan locations and NYC school partnership network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Applause does
Applause Theatrical Workshops Inc. (dba Applause NY) is a privately held performing arts education company founded in 1995 by Audrey Kaplan on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The company delivers in-person instruction in theater (musical theater and acting), dance (hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and commercial), and film acting/filmmaking to children and teens ages 3–18, organized as a continuous curriculum ladder from Pre-K through 12th grade. The technology layer is minimal: a transactional e-commerce site (applauseny.com) handles enrollment, billing, and account management, while a YouTube channel (1.5M+ subscribers, 1B+ views) functions as both marketing vehicle and showcase for student-produced films. Core products include tiered semester-based classes (recreational to pre-professional), the Applause Dance Company (Junior, Intermediate, Advanced), the ADC Elite Competition Team, one-week summer camps, private lessons ($80/session), and the Ultimate Agent Workshop professional development program.
The business model is direct-to-consumer tuition plus supplementary one-time fees. Class fees are subscription-style, billed annually per semester, ranging from ~$950 for recreational hip-hop and jazz classes to $3,750 for Advanced Musical Theater Performance and Advanced Filmmaker Experience. A separate B2B channel — Applause School Partnerships — dispatches Broadway-seasoned instructors to elite NYC private and charter schools (Sacred Heart, Chapin, Brearley, Browning, Dalton, Success Academy, Gateway, Central Synagogue) for on-site curriculum delivery. Summer camps ($725–$1,095/week) and a $75 trial class act as entry-point offers. Distribution relies on the website, email newsletter, parent word-of-mouth, and earned media in outlets including BroadwayWorld, Playbill, CBS News, and Backstage.com.
The company serves more than 4,000 children annually from two owned facilities (184 East 76th Street in the St. Jean's Community Center and a secondary location at 72nd & Madison) and a network of partner schools. Headcount is in the 11–50 employee range with 50+ instructors drawn from active Broadway, TV, and film talent. Notable alumni include working professionals such as Sebastian Stan, Skylar Astin, Erich Bergen, Sas Goldberg, and Max Jenkins. Ownership is concentrated with founder Audrey Kaplan; no institutional investors, parent company, or acquisitions are disclosed, and revenue is not publicly reported.
Applause firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Applause
- Legal name
- Applause Theatrical Workshops Inc.
- Website
- https://applauseny.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Applause NY is a privately held performing arts education company serving more than 4,000 children annually (ages 3–18) across theater, dance, and film acting from its Upper East Side Manhattan locations and NYC school partnership network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Applause is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Applause business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Class Registration Fees: Semester-based enrollment fees for theater, dance, and film classes across multiple age groups and skill levels. Classes range from recreational to pre-professional training programs.
- Summer Camp Fees: One-week camp programs with tiered pricing based on program type (Junior Clubhouse, Theater & Film Camp, Intermediate Filmmaker Camp).
- Workshop Fees: Specialized workshops including Ultimate Agent Workshop providing professional development for aspiring child actors, including headshots and agent panel exposure.
- Competition Team Fees: ADC Elite Competition Team fees with separate tuition and competition fees covering costumes, entry fees, and media packets for regional dance competitions.
- Private Lessons: One-on-one coaching sessions in acting, singing, dancing, or audition prep at $80 per session.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Recreational After-School Dance Classes (K-8th Grade) |
| Subscription | Annual | Pre-Professional Dance Company Programs |
| Subscription | Annual | ADC Elite Competition Teams |
| Subscription | Annual | Musical Theater Performance Programs |
| Subscription | Annual | Film Acting Classes |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Agent Workshop Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Camp Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Lessons |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trial Class |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Applause product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Applause is a performing arts education company that delivers in-person instruction in theater (musical theater and acting), dance (hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, commercial), and film (on-camera acting and filmmaking) for children and teens ages 3-18. It operates semester-based after-school classes, pre-professional training tracks including the Applause Dance Company and ADC Elite Competition Team, week-long summer camps, school partnership programming delivered on-site at NYC schools, and agent/industry workshops. Revenue comes from class tuition, summer camp fees, private lessons ($80/session), competition team fees, and workshop fees.
Product overview
Applause is a performing arts education company offering a comprehensive, continuous program from pre-school through high school in three core disciplines: Theater (musical theater and acting), Dance (hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical), and Film (on-camera acting and filmmaking). The program consists of recreational after-school classes, pre-professional training tracks including the Applause Dance Company and ADC Elite Competition Team, summer camps, school partnerships, and professional development workshops. Classes range from introductory levels for young children (ages 3-5) through advanced pre-professional training and competition team programs, culminating in live stage performances and film screenings at professional venues. The company operates from the Upper East Side of Manhattan and serves approximately 4,000 children annually through its after-school, weekend, and summer programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dance Classes Comprehensive dance education program for ages 3-18 offering hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and commercial dance styles, including recreational after-school classes ($950-$1,225 per semester) and pre-professional training through the Applause Dance Company (Junior $2,900, Intermediate $3,095, Advanced $3,195 per semester).
- Theater Classes Musical theater and theater performance program from Pre-K through 12th grade, including Pre-K Musical Theater ($1,125), Junior MT Performance ($2,675), Intermediate MT Performance, and Advanced MT Performance ($3,750 per semester). Classes culminate in professional stage productions at Off-Broadway venues.
- Film Acting Classes Film acting and filmmaking program where students learn on-camera acting techniques and participate in the entire filmmaking process from story development to final screening. Programs include Make Your Own Movie ($1,395-$1,495), Make Your Own TV Series ($1,695), Filmmaker Experience ($1,995), and Advanced Filmmaker ($2,400 per semester).
- Summer Camps One-week performing arts summer camps including Jr. Clubhouse (ages 3-5, $725/week), Musical Theater & Film Camp (rising K-6th, $895-$1,095/week), and Intermediate Filmmaker Camp (grades 4-8, $1,095/week). Each week culminates in a performance and film screening.
- School Partnerships On-site performing arts programs delivered at partner schools by Broadway-seasoned instructors, with customizable curriculum in musical theater, hip-hop, improvisation, on-camera acting, and film. Current partner schools include Sacred Heart, Chapin, Brearley, Browning, Dalton, Success Academy, Central Synagogue, and Gateway School.
- ADC Elite Competition Team Pre-professional dance competition team ($2,300 per semester for Hip-Hop) offering accelerated training in hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary styles with participation in regional and national dance competitions. Includes Junior (Premier), Teen (Ultimate), and Senior (Supreme) divisions.
- Applause Dance Company Pre-professional dance company training program with three levels: Junior (3rd-6th grade, $2,900/semester), Intermediate (5th-9th grade, $3,095/semester), and Advanced (8th-12th grade, $3,195/semester). Dancers train in hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, and commercial styles with live performance opportunities.
- Private Lessons One-on-one coaching sessions at $80 per session in acting, singing, dancing, and audition preparation with professional instructors from Broadway, TV, and film.
- Ultimate Agent Workshop 7-week intensive workshop ($1,175) for young actors ages 6-13 including masterclasses with guest artists, professional self-tape creation, professional headshots, and a virtual industry agent panel interview opportunity.
- Agent Workshops Professional development workshops preparing students for agent interviews, casting director meetings, and skill-building intensives with industry leaders in the performing arts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hundreds of students have gone on to careers in theater, dance, television, and film
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Applause
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Applause technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Applause partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Sacred Heart SchoolminorNYC private school receiving Applause performing arts programming on campus including musical theater and dance instruction.
- Chapin SchoolminorNYC private girls' school partnering with Applause for on-site arts education programs.
- Brearley SchoolminorNYC private all-girls school receiving Applause performing arts instruction as part of after-school programming.
- Dalton SchoolminorNYC private coeducational school partnering with Applause for performing arts curriculum delivery.
- Browning SchoolminorNYC private boys' school receiving Applause arts programming on campus.
- Success Academy Charter SchoolsminorNYC public charter school network receiving Applause performing arts instruction for students.
- Central SynagogueminorReligious institution with educational programs partnering with Applause for performing arts offerings.
- The Gateway SchoolminorNYC private school for students with learning differences receiving customized Applause arts programming.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Applause competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Broadway Dance Center: NYC-based performing arts education provider offering drop-in and intensive classes across dance, theater, and voice for children through adults. Directly comparable as a multi-discipline NYC studio competing for similar families and instructors.
- The Playground NYC: NYC acting conservatory offering youth, teen, and adult classes with industry-active instructors. Comparable as a tiered NYC performing arts school serving similar age groups with working professional faculty.
- Steps on Broadway: Long-running NYC dance studio offering recreational through pre-professional training across multiple dance styles. Comparable as a tiered (recreational to advanced) Manhattan performing arts school with working professional instructors.
- T. Schreiber Studio: NYC acting and musical theater studio with youth through adult programs taught by working professionals. Comparable as a multi-level NYC performing arts school targeting similar youth and pre-professional students.
- Atlantic Theater Company Acting School: NYC acting school offering classes for youth and adults taught by working industry professionals. Comparable as a provider of professional-instructor-led theater training targeting aspiring young performers in NYC.
Broad incumbents
- New York Film Academy: Multi-location performing arts and film school with strong NYC presence offering youth and pre-professional film acting programs. Comparable as a competing provider of structured film acting curricula for kids and teens in NYC.
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Ailey School): Iconic NYC dance institution offering children's through pre-professional training with a renowned faculty and broader brand recognition. Comparable as a higher-tier NYC dance education competitor with deeper institutional backing.
- Joffrey Ballet School (NYC): Major national ballet institution with NYC location offering structured training for children through pre-professional dancers. Comparable as a high-tier NYC dance school competing for advanced students and serious families.
- School of American Ballet: The official training academy of New York City Ballet, offering structured ballet training for children through pre-professional levels. Comparable as an elite NYC performing arts education institution competing for the same serious-student segment.
Regional players
- Performing Arts Workshop (PAW): NYC nonprofit performing arts education provider focused on youth programs in underserved communities. Comparable as a NYC youth performing arts education provider but operating via in-school and nonprofit channels rather than DTC tuition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Applause social profiles
Digital presenceApplause financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Applause leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Applause funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Applause M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Applause
What does Applause do?
Applause is a performing arts education company that delivers in-person instruction in theater (musical theater and acting), dance (hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, commercial), and film (on-camera acting and filmmaking) for children and teens ages 3-18. It operates semester-based after-school classes, pre-professional training tracks including the Applause Dance Company and ADC Elite Competition Team, week-long summer camps, school partnership programming delivered on-site at NYC schools, and agent/industry workshops. Revenue comes from class tuition, summer camp fees, private lessons ($80/session), competition team fees, and workshop fees.
Is Applause a public or private company?
Applause is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Applause founded?
Applause was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Applause based?
Applause is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Applause make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Class Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are summer Camp Fees, workshop Fees, competition Team Fees and private Lessons.
Who are Applause's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Broadway Dance Center, The Playground NYC, Steps on Broadway, T. Schreiber Studio and Atlantic Theater Company Acting School. Broad incumbents are New York Film Academy, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Ailey School), Joffrey Ballet School (NYC) and School of American Ballet. Performing Arts Workshop (PAW) is listed as a regional player.
Does Applause have an API?
No public API is recorded for Applause.