Our first youth Playlab was held at Go Comedy! Improv Theater, in 2021, activating their venue during afternoon hours. We had nine actors, ages 7-13, enroll in what was a weeklong project to create an original play. Using improv and ensemble building, the group created their original play, The Mysterious Murder of Unclemann, later presented to friends and family on the Go Comedy! stage.

Simultaneously that summer we worked with Downtown Ferndale to present Broadway in the ‘Burbs, a free community concert in Ferndale’s new parking garage, featuring Kristen Jeter (The Book of Mormon), Ben Chavez (Aladdin), and Ruthy Froch (Fiddler on the Roof) and a local ensemble of performers and musicians. Later that Fall, we presented the world-premiere of Looking Back Through Stained Glass, a rock-and-roll drag musical at Planet Ant in Hamtramck. In February ‘23, Broadway in the ‘Burbs returned with an all-star cast of Ben Fankhauser (Newsies), Brittany Bohn (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), José Monge (Waitress), and Hayley Pulizzi (Looking Back Through Stained Glass) in partnership with Ferndale High School.

Our mission is to produce accessible, often mobile theater which celebrates artists, audiences and collaborators while inspiring the communities we serve to explore new cultures and opportunities; Expanding the boundaries of where theater can take us.

Our flagship Playlab programs build capacity using theater and playmaking. These free, semester-length after-school, and summer programs are a safe haven for local youth during peak unsupervised hours. Taught by a roster of professional teaching artists, our curriculum nurtures creative expression, develops positive social and emotional identity, and encourages curiosity, collaboration and critical thinking, all through the performing arts.