Experiences For All Ages
No class on NOV 30
This class is a perfect introduction to the world of theatre for early learners through the lens of SUPERHEROS! Young actors will explore the basics of creative expression, storytelling, and character-building through engaging activities, games, and creative play. This is the perfect class for younger students looking to get involved in something new, explore their theatre talents, and have a blast making new friends! The course culminates in an informal showcase for family and friends to see what the students have learned.
ENROLL NOWNo class on NOV 30
Explore the foundations of musical theatre with songs inspired by imagination! Students will develop their skills in acting, singing, and dancing, as they build their confidence, communication skills, and creativity in this exciting 8-week course. No experience needed! The course culminates in a live showcase for family and friends to see what the students have learned.
ENROLL NOWNo class on NOV 30
Jump into the thrilling world of theatre through fun games, storytelling activities, scenes, and more – all geared around SUPERHEROS! Students will learn basic acting skills like character development, clarity of speech, body awareness, and making big, bold choices on stage and in life. The course culminates in a live showcase for family and friends to see what the students have learned.
ENROLL NOWMiddle and high school students will expand their musical theatre training in acting, singing, and dancing while working on selections from Broadway’s most iconic opening numbers. In this 8-week class, performers will build confidence and take their skills to the next level in a safe and supportive environment. The course culminates in a live showcase for family and friends to see what the students have learned.
Do you love theatre? Do you want to learn more and develop new skills? Join us for this essential acting and improvisation class for students of all experience levels! From skits and short-form improv to the foundations of acting and scene work, this class will give students the foundation they need to join in the fun while building their confidence, communication skills, and creativity in a safe and supportive environment. The course culminates in a live showcase for family and friends to see what the students have learned.
Whether you’re preparing for Matilda The Musical, or another upcoming audition, this masterclass will give you the skills you need to feel confident auditioning for a musical. Participants will gain tips on how to do their best while acting, singing, and dancing in an audition setting. Throughout the session, students will receive personalized feedback and gain tools to feel more prepared and self-assured in their next audition.
ENROLL NOWPlease contact the Education Department with any questions!
2024/25 Youth Theatre Season
Youth Theatre: Anne of Green Gables
THU, DEC 12 - SAT, DEC 14, 2024 / 7:30 PM
SAT, DEC 14 - SUN, DEC 15, 2024 / 2 PM
Adapted by Joseph Robinette
from the novel by L.M. Montgomery
This exciting new adaptation from Joseph Robinette captures the charm and excitement of Lucy Maude Montgomery's enduring classic about an orphan girl, Anne Shirley, from her first encounter with her austere guardian to her thrilling graduation from Queen's Academy. The play faithfully recreates the memorable events and characters from the brilliant novel. All the tragedies and triumphs that mark Anne's growth from adolescence to early adulthood are here: her friendship with Diana, her feuds with Gilbert, her adoration of Matthew, the mistaken wine bottle, the cake disaster, the broken leg, the scholastic achievements, and the saving of Green Gables. Whether the playgoer is an "old friend" of Anne's or meeting her for the first time, this play will solidify a lasting friendship between the audience and one of literature's most unforgettable characters.
Sponsored by Grace A. Dow Memorial Library
Youth Theatre: Matilda
THU, APR 10 - SAT, APR 12, 2025 / 7:30 PM
RELAXED PERFORMANCE / SAT, APR 12, 2025 / 2 PM (Learn More)
SUN, APR 13, 2025 / 2 PM
AUDITIONS / DETAILS AVAILABLE Q4 2024
Inspired by the ingenious Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece about the power of imagination, anarchy of childhood, and the inspiration of a girl who dreams of a better life. Recently turned into a movie-musical, Matilda has won 47 international awards and continues to thrill audiences of all ages around the world. Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. Unloved by her cruel parents, tormented by headmistress Miss Trunchbull, and encouraged by her teacher Miss Honey, Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, audiences will be thrilled and delighted by the story of a special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
Rising Stars: Freaky Friday
WED, JUN 25 - FRI, JUN 27, 2025 / 8 PM
AUDITIONS / DETAILS AVAILABLE IN 2025
When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again before mom’s big wedding. Disney’s Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, is a hilarious, heartfelt, and contemporary update of an American classic. By spending a day in each other's shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another's struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter. With a score by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composers of Next to Normal and If/Then and a book from the writer of TV’s Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, Freaky Friday is a delightfully entertaining new musical for anyone with a perfectly imperfect family.
The 2025 Rising Stars program is sponsored by 
Work with Broadway Talent!
Rising Stars Program
Every summer, Midland Center for the Arts searches for the top talent in the Great Lakes Bay Region for an intensive, professional-level acting or technical theatre experience and training from a Broadway Creative Team. This initiative is designed for Rising Stars, High School students (rising ninth graders through current graduating seniors), who will work through an intensive rehearsal process and star in a popular musical geared towards teens. Rehearsals will include a professional-level schedule.
Check back in spring 2025 for audition details and the creative team announcement for the 2025 Rising Stars Production, Disney's FREAKY FRIDAY!
The 2025 Rising Stars Program is sponsored by