Originally known as Theatre of Encounter, Theatre Within, a 501(c)3 Performing Arts Presenter, was founded as a workshop in 1962 by maverick director/therapist Alec Rubin. Mr. Rubin pioneered work in the relationship between deep-rooted emotion and the creative process. His workshop earned a reputation as one of New York’s most fearlessly experimental companies, staging countless dance and theater performances, most notably Why is A Crooked Letter (1966), featuring a young Al Pacino.

Reflecting his ever-growing conviction that core inner work was the key to unlocking the performing artist’s full potential, in the mid-70s Mr. Rubin renamed his workshop “Theatre Within.” Soon afterwards, comedian Joe Raiola joined the group and began an ongoing collaboration with Mr. Rubin that would last for nearly three decades.

In 1981, Mr. Rubin and Mr. Raiola created the Annual John Lennon Tribute. Now recognized as the longest-running such tribute in the world, each year’s show brings together an extraordinarily talented and diverse group of performing artists to celebrate Lennon in a unique charity benefit. Mr. Rubin directed the Tribute for 20 years with Mr. Raiola producing.

In 2001, when health issues forced Mr. Rubin into semi-retirement, Mr. Raiola took over as Theatre Within’s Artistic Director and as Producing Director of the Annual John Lennon Tribute.

Following Mr. Rubin’s death in 2005, Mr. Raiola took over as Artistic Director and formed Theatre Within as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Performing Arts Presenter committed to producing charity benefits. He continues to lead workshops in project development based on the methods pioneered by his mentor, Mr. Rubin.

Theatre Within has produced successful benefits for Friends of the Shawangunks Land Conservancy, The Henry Miller Library, Builders of the New World (Education for Homeless Children) and World Hunger Year.

In 2008, by bringing World Hunger Year together with Yoko Ono, Theatre Within played an important role in launching the "Imagine There's No Hunger" Global Initiative which raised one million dollars to fight hunger and poverty around the world.