Welcome to STAGES PLAYLAB!
BUILD CONFIDENCE, FOCUS, AND ENSEMBLE SKILLS!
LEARN TO LISTEN, RESPOND, AND SHINE ON STAGE!
STAGES PLAYLAB! | ages 9-10
limited to 12 Students per 5-week session
STAGES PLAYLAB is a theater training experience designed for growing performers — students ready to level up from creative play into the building blocks of real performance. In PLAYLAB, students build essential ensemble and acting skills while exploring bold, theatrically scripted stories in each themed session.
Whether solving a mystery in a crumbling mansion or stepping into the lives of passengers aboard the Titanic, STAGES PLAYLAB performers practice working together, listening actively, and responding truthfully — just like in a real rehearsal room. Each 5-week session is guided by STAGES Teaching Artists and culminates in a short, informal sharing for family and friends.
Students in STAGES PlayLab will:
- Take on characters they didn’t invent themselves — and learn how to bring them to life
- Practice improvisation and scripted work to strengthen collaboration and focus
- Build confidence through active listening, reacting truthfully, and making bold choices
- Learn how to support their scene partners and shine as part of an ensemble
- Develop skills in memorization, movement, voice, and storytelling — while having fun!
The new STAGES PLAYLAB program is designed to bridge the gap between early childhood theater programs and STAGES’ mainstage performance opportunities for older students. It’s the perfect next step for kids who are ready for more structure, more challenge, and more ensemble-based creation.
STAGES PLAYLAB offers separate 5-week sessions throughout the school year. Students can join any – or all! – of these unique, standalone programs, running on Tuesdays from 4:00PM-5:00PM. The first session for the upcoming school year begins on September 15, 2026.
No previous theater experience is required — just a willingness to play, try new things, and grow together!
Frequently Asked Questions!
PlayLab is designed to help young performers grow their skills and confidence — while continuing to have fun and stay creative.
Will there be a final show?
Each STAGES PLAYLAB session ends with a short, informal presentation for family and friends. These low-pressure sharings allow students to showcase what they’ve learned in a supportive, encouraging environment — without the stress of a large-scale production. It’s a celebration of their growth, teamwork, and creativity, designed to build confidence and joy in performing.
My student would be a great fit for this program, but is not quite 9 years old. Can you make an exception?
If your student is not quite 9, and you feel like PLAYLAB would be a good fit, please reach out. STAGES will consider these requests on a case by case basis. Please note: Registrations for students falling outside of the program age range must be handled by STAGES, as our registration system will not permit you to do so on your own. STAGES offers other classes and mainstage theater opportunities for kids ages 11+, as well as fun and age-appropriate programming for younger students through our PLAYVENTURE (ages 7-8) and PET VETS (ages 5-6) programs.
Have questions about whether STAGES PLAYLAB is the right fit for your student? Contact us — we’re happy to help!
UPCOMING PLAYLAB PROGRAMS
PLAYLAB:
POMPEII
Explore the ancient city of Pompeii! Play characters inspired by real people, explore the grand and bustling city before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and learn how the lost civilization remained buried for centuries before its incredible rediscovery.
TUESDAYS
4:00PM-5:00PM
Sept 15 – Oct 13
Tuition: $138
PLAYLAB:
THE WILD WEST
Saddle up for a Wild West adventure filled with bustling frontier towns, daring train robberies, and unforgettable characters! Become a cowboy, outlaw, or sheriff as you help write the next chapter of the Old West.
TUESDAYS
4:00PM-5:00PM
Feb 23 – Mar 30
Tuition: $138
PLAYLAB:
MOON LANDING
Blast off to the 1960s and the exciting race to the Moon! Become characters inspired by the real astronauts, scientists, and engineers of the Apollo program, and discover the incredible triumphs and challenges of one of history’s greatest achievements.
TUESDAYS
4:00PM-5:00PM
Oct 20 – Nov 17
Tuition: $138
PLAYLAB:
THE TOMB OF KING TUT
Follow in the footsteps of archaeologists as you search for the lost tomb of King Tut! Explore ancient Egypt, uncover hidden treasures, and discover the remarkable story behind one of history’s greatest discoveries.
TUESDAYS
4:00PM-5:00PM
Apr 6 – May 11
Tuition: $138
PLAYLAB:
DA VINCI’S RENAISSANCE
Step into the world of Leonardo da Vinci, where incredible inventions, curious minds, and artistic masterpieces await! Become an inventor, artist, or explorer as you bring the wonders of the Renaissance to life through imagination and adventure.
TUESDAYS
4:00PM-5:00PM
Jan 12 – Feb 9
Tuition: $138
UPCOMING STAGES PLAYLAB PROGRAMS!
“Inclusion, confidence, empathy, support. STAGES teaches life long lessons that go far beyond any stage. There is NO youth theater experience like it.”
“STAGES allowed me to be creative, and to be myself, and for that I’m eternally grateful.”