Classes and Camps

PAD LAB — Playwrights • Actors • Directors

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre is thrilled to announce an Intensive PAD Lab (Playwright–Actor–Director Lab), a four-week collaborative workshop designed for theatre artists eager to create new work from the ground up.

If you’re excited by new play development, collaboration, and the thrill of making theatre from scratch, the PAD Lab invites you to create boldly—and together.

This Devised Theatre experience brings together playwrights, actors, and directors into small ensembles that will develop, rehearse, and perform an original short one-act play—created entirely within the lab. By the end of the four weeks, each group will have developed a fully realized short one-act play for performance.

The lab will culminate in a showcase where the one-act plays will be performed for an audience of friends and family.

Class size is limited to 16 students to ensure an intimate, hands-on experience.

Time: Saturdays, March 14, 21, 28 and April 4 from 1 – 5 pm at the Ann Arbor Civic Studio, 322 W. Ann Street, Ann Arbor, 48104

Cost: $160 for A2CT Members, and $200 for non-members.

The free showcase will be April 10 at 7 p.m.

About Brian Cox: Brian Cox is the artistic director of Pencilpoint TheatreWorks and producer of the popular storytelling event “Snapshots: Stories from Life.” He has directed and produced multiple new and 10-minute play festivals, including Fight Like A Girl and Ypsi-Thrive. He has had numerous 10-minute plays produced in festivals around the country. His full-length play Clutter received its world premiere at Theatre Nova in 2017 and received a Wilde Award for Best New Script.

More Info Here

Teens and Tweens Spring Break Camp

Tweens and teens can hone their acting skills and have fun in this break from school acting camp! Every day will consist of at least a few hours of working on a performance that will be presented at the end of the week for families. While rehearsing, the actors will work on performance skills such as diction, projection, facial expressions, body psychology, and stage presence.

In addition, there will be time during the day to do some fun, acting-related games and skills work, such as: comedy improvisation, theater games, body movement, accent work, scene study, and improvisation for acting.

Ages: 10-14

Time: 9am to 3pm daily, M – F, (March 30 – April 3, 2026)

About Alex Moore: Alex Moore has both acted and taught acting, improvisation, dance, and theater games and directed plays for youth most of her life. She eventually earned her teaching certification in English and a Master's degree in Education and taught middle school for several years before teaching classes for homeschooled students (mostly drama-based classes). She currently is a substitute teacher at Emerson School and directs plays and musicals for Chelsea Area Players Youth Theater.

More Info Here

A2CT Theatre Arts Club

Join us for lively conversations, networking, and of course, plenty of dramatic flair! All levels of experience are welcome, especially novices or those first exploring the adventure of live theatre.

In this group we are exploring the art and science of acting, tailoring sessions for each individual's experience level and prior experience with acting. We use theatre games, one page scenes and longer scripts to expand the acting abilities of each participant. The eventual goal is up to you...if you want to just have fun in each meet-up, eventually audition for the first time or hone your experienced acting skills with new characterizations to land challenging roles. It is up to you.

Meetings are aimed at retirees and those in non-traditional jobs, meeting on Wednesdays 11:30am – 1:30pm starting September 10.

More details to join the group is on the Meetup website.

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Stage Play Developmental Group

Want to work with others on developing plays? This meet-up style group is designed for participants to develop play ideas, read current work and help others with their ideas. This group, sponsored by the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, will primarily focus on stage plays to be performed live.

For ages 16+, limit 12 participants per session.

Dates: Every Saturday starting September 13, 2025 at 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Cost: $5 for members of A2CT, $10 for non-members

For More Information

Cancellation Policy:

100% refund if cancelled at least 2 weeks before the start of class

50% refund if cancelled at least 1 week before

No refunds once class starts

Exceptions may be made in extenuating circumstances

A2CT is committed to providing accessible educational opportunities to our local theatre community. If you’d like to inquire about a full or partial scholarship, based on financial need or hardship, for an upcoming class, camp, or workshop, simply use the link below, fill out the form, and a representative from A2CT will get back to you soon.