Theatre By Kids, For Kids!
Encore Stage & Studio inspires young people to develop the creativity, empathy and confidence they need to create meaningful connections with peers and have a positive impact in their communities.
What's Next: Audition for Hansel & Gretel
August 18, 2026
Students ages 9-18 are welcome to audition for cast, ages 12-18 may interview for crew positions (backstage and front of house)
upcoming Summer Camps
August is bursting with excitement at Encore Stage & Studio! As summer takes its final bow, we're looking ahead to an exciting new season of theatre. Registration opens this month for our fall classes, giving young performers the chance to build confidence, explore their creativity, and make new friends through acting, singing, dancing, and imaginative play. It's also the perfect time to start planning your family's next theatre adventure with our newly announced 2026-2027 season. Join us as we kick off another year of unforgettable stories, inspiring experiences, and Theatre by Kids, for Kids!
Fall open house: September 12
Kick off the season with Encore's Fall Open House and discover where creativity takes center stage! Join us for a morning of FREE theatre sampler classes designed for preschool through 8th grade, where young performers can act, move, play, and let their imaginations soar. Our Fall Open House is the perfect way to experience the joy of Theatre by Kids, for Kids. Learn about all of our fall programs including auditions, holiday mini-camps, and our new Parents’ Night Out! Meet our professional teaching artists, explore our classes, and find the perfect fit for an exciting season of theatre adventures. Free to register.
About Encore
Children's Theatre in Arlington, VA — Where Kids Build
Creativity,
Confidence, and
Empathy
Encore Stage & Studio inspires young people to develop the creativity, empathy, and confidence they need to make meaningful connections with peers and have a positive impact in their communities — through year-round theatre camps, classes, productions, and more for ages 3 through college in Arlington and Alexandria, VA.
Founded 1967, Everyone welcome!
No fee to audition or participate in school-year productions - keeping barriers down
Programming for every age from 3 to college: summer camps, after-school, weekend classes, and mainstage productions
Every production role — onstage, backstage, front of house, and technical — belongs to a student
A supportive, inclusive community where young people learn to collaborate, take creative risks, and discover their own voices
Alumni working professionally in theatre, film, and stage management across the country
Programs
Find Your Place at Encore
Take a Class
From Pre-K creative drama to acting, musical theatre, movement, and storytelling, our theatre classes help students build skills in a supportive, welcoming environment.
See a Show
Experience family-friendly theatre performed by kids, for kids. Our productions bring classic stories, new adventures, and student talent to Arlington stages throughout the year.
Audition for a Production
School-year performance opportunities are open to students ages 9–18. There is no required fee to participate, and auditions are open to young performers with all levels of experience.
Creativity
At Encore, creativity takes center stage. Through theatre games, storytelling, movement, and imaginative play, kids are encouraged to explore ideas, take creative risks, and discover their own unique voices.
Confidence
Encore Stage & Studio offers hands-on experiences in performance, production, and teamwork where kids build confidence that carries far beyond the theatre, into school, friendships, and their wider community.
Empathy
At Encore, kids learn empathy by stepping into someone else’s story. In a supportive, collaborative space, young artists build compassion, respect, and understanding, skills that stay with them long after the curtain comes down.
60 Years of Children's Theatre in Arlington, Virginia
Encore Stage & Studio was founded in 1967 as the Children's Theatre of Arlington. For six decades, we have offered performing arts for kids across the DC metro without charging families to participate in school-year productions. We have grown from a single program into a year-round organization serving families in Arlington, Alexandria, Washington DC, and McLean — and we have never moved the stage out of reach. We run summer theatre camps, weekend classes, after-school programs, holiday mini-camps, private lessons in voice, and acting, school residency programs for Arlington and Alexandria elementary schools, and touring productions that go directly into schools. Every part of what we do connects back to our vision: a space where any child — regardless of experience or background — can learn, grow, and discover.
More Ways to Be Part of Encore Stage & Studio
Theatre Classes
Weekend and Monday classes for ages 3 through teens, organized by age group and experience level.
Holiday Mini-Camps
Theatre mini-camps on school-off days, running for 15+ years across Arlington and Alexandria.
Birthday Experiences
Backstage tours, meet-the-cast access, and group packages tied to real mainstage productions.
Private Lessons
One-on-one instruction in voice, and acting with Encore's professional teaching artists.