NTID Performing Arts production posters

NTID Performing Arts was established in the Fall of 1974, with the opening of the Institute's new permanent buildings on the RIT campus. It was an integral part of the Institute's curriculum following the success of the student drama club founded by Dr. Robert Panara in 1969.

Originally named the Experimental Educational Theatre (EET), NTID Performing Arts offers a comprehensive curriculum of theatre courses and produces 6 productions and one outreach tour per season. The theatre opened its doors on October 3, 1974 with a production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.

The Theater Department has a rich heritage of offering challenging, entertaining, and provocative works of theater, all created for both Deaf and hearing audiences. They have produced work in a wide variety of theater styles; Comedy, Musical, Dance, Drama, Classical, Kabuki (Japanese), Experimental, Puppets, and new works by both Deaf and hearing authors.

Success of the program is demonstrated by the fact that, while there is no major in theatre, historically, the majority of Deaf theatre professionals have been NTID students or faculty. They have appeared, and continue to appear in national and regional tv commercials, network and cable television programs, major motion pictures and independent films, national and international theatre tours, Broadway, regional theatres, and international theatre festivals.