A theater program in Brooklyn is using Shakespeare to help elementary school students connect with their emotions.  

Child’s Play New York brings professional actors to lead theater workshops in more than a dozen schools around Brooklyn.

Students take on the various iconic roles and reenact cut down versions of the classic plays. 

Officials with the program say the role playing and intense themes help students explore their feelings.

""It is an incredible lens to understanding the human condition, empathy and all these different things we are now learning are very important in terms of educating the whole child," said Executive Director Jocelyn Greene.

To give the community a chance to see a Shakespeare play performed by professionals, the program is offering a free rendition of “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” 

The performance on December 2nd will be followed by a workshop for kids and their families.