Since its founding in 1974, CAT has pioneered the use of drama as an educational tool in public schools, becoming internationally known for its innovative practices.

CAT uses theatre as a medium to promote social, emotional, and intellectual growth in communities throughout New York City. Working from early childhood through the adult years, CAT offers interactive dramas that explore curricular themes and social issues such as inter-cultural understanding, peer pressure, violence, sexuality, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Audience members become participants in fiction-based group improvisations.

Questions emerge from the dramatic conflict, and participants are challenged to find their own answers. Through theatre conventions, reality is viewed afresh, prejudices revised, and conflicts seen from many points of view. Throughout, professionally trained actor-teachers process these experiences so that participants are able to transfer the new skills and insights into their real lives.

CAT's in-school projects support the New York City Department of Education Performance Standards and enhance students' literacy skills from early childhood through high school.

CAT established the Paul A. Kaplan Center for Educational Drama in 1993 to offer academic courses in educational drama and theatre to pre-service and in-service teachers, teaching artists, and youth development practitioners. These courses are offered for graduate credit toward CUNY degree and certificate programs as well as a range of non-credit professional development opportunities. The Kaplan Center fulfills CAT's mission to foster a community of teachers and artists who use interactive, arts-based methods to invigorate teaching and learning locally, nationally, and internationally.

The CUNY-CAT partnership, initiated on July 1, 2004, integrates CAT's programs within the nation's largest public university system. CAT and the Kaplan Center's outreach programs are housed within the University Office of Academic Affairs and the School of Professional Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center.