Who can join this class?

The session is open to people of all ages and abilities; programming is designed to be inclusive, including support for participants with disabilities.

What are the dates and times?

SESSION 2 runs Thursdays, Aug 6, 13, 20, 27, from 2:15–3:30 PM.

How many people are in a class?

Class size is capped at 12 to ensure individualized attention and a safe rehearsal environment.

Are scripts provided?

Yes—scripts are included as part of the session materials.

What if there is bad weather?

If Midland Public Schools are closed due to weather, Artshop classes are also canceled for that day.

Artshop Acting in Midland: Inclusive Theatre Class Aug 2026 Session | Theater | Workshop

Q: Can Medicaid cover the class?

Students with Medicaid may be able to apply part of their Community Living Support budget toward tuition; check eligibility with your case manager.

On a bright Thursday afternoon in Midland, Michigan, a small rehearsal studio at 5501 Jefferson Ave turns into a lab for play and presence. Artshop Acting: Spring/Summer 2026 Session 2 is a four-week, community-focused theatre course (Thursdays, Aug 6–27, 2:15–3:30 PM) led by Ella McKane-Wright, a CMU Music Theatre Program alum. Designed for people of all ages and abilities, the class blends theatre games, ensemble exercises, and staged scenes that culminate in a short performance for family and friends. Scripts are included, class size is capped at 12, and the session fee is $70.

What makes this offering distinct in Midland’s local arts scene is its accessibility and single-room intensity: the space functions as both classroom and stage, emphasizing voice, movement, and playful risk in a supportive micro-community. Participants can expect to build basic stagecraft—blocking, projection, character work—through low-pressure drills that emphasize confidence over perfection. Special programming notes: students with Medicaid may be eligible to apply part of their Community Living Support budget toward tuition, and classes are canceled when Midland Public Schools close for weather.

The key features of the experience are the rehearsal circle, ensemble theatre games, the short showcase at the end of the session, and the compact classroom at 5501 Jefferson Ave. The natural features are human-scale: expressive faces, shifting group dynamics, and the wooden floors and simple lights that are typical of community arts rooms. Culturally, this program reflects a broader push in Midland toward inclusive arts education, giving adults and children with disabilities practical entry points into performance.

Practicalities: arrive ready to move—comfortable clothing and soft-soled shoes help, and scripts are supplied. The instructor's background in university musical theatre informs a structured yet play-forward approach that balances technique with improvisation. With a 12-person cap, each student receives individualized attention during exercises and rehearsals, accelerating skill-building across four one-hour-fifteen-minute sessions.

Plan to preregister—the program requests advance signup to hold your spot in the 12-person cohort, and payment completes enrollment. The meeting point is the address on Jefferson Avenue outside the community room where a sign will indicate Artshop activity; arrive ten minutes early to settle in and warm up. The final sharing is intentionally low-stakes: a 10–15 minute block of scenes staged for invited guests. Whether you’re rebuilding social confidence, trying acting for the first time, or supporting someone who benefits from structured creative time, this session makes creative risk welcoming.