The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts

The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts offers Actor Academy, Creative Play: Animal Adventures, Young Actors’ Collective, Jr, Improv for Kids, Musical Theatre: Song and Dance, Young Actors’ Collective, Actor’s Toolbox: Greek Mythology, Improv!, Intro to Costumes and Stage Makeup, and Scene Study for Teens. Classes include acting, improv, musical theatre, scene study, costume and stage makeup, and creative play activities.

Programs

• (K-2nd Grade): Actor Academy — Children in grades K-2 · Sundays, 10-11:30 AM · $330 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• (PreK3-PreK4): Creative Play: Animal Adventures — Children in PreK3-PreK4 · Sundays, 10-11:30 AM · $0 · Pay-What-You-Can, community-based offering presented by The Theatre Lab’s Life Stories® program; Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 2nd-4th Grade: Young Actors’ Collective, Jr — Children in grades 2-4 · Thursdays, 4:30-6:30 PM · $560 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 3rd-5th Grade: Improv for Kids — Children in grades 3-5 · Sundays, 12-2 PM · $400 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 3rd-5th Grade: Musical Theatre: Song and Dance — Children in grades 3-5 · Sundays, 10 AM-12 PM · $400 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 4th-6th Grade: Young Actors’ Collective — Children in grades 4-6 · Mondays, 4:30-6:30 PM · $560 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 6th-8th Grade: Actor’s Toolbox: Greek Mythology — Children in grades 6-8 · Sundays, 12-2 PM · $400 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 6th-8th Grade: Improv! — Children in grades 6-8 · Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30 PM · $400 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 7th-12th Grade: Intro to Costumes and Stage Makeup — Children in grades 7-12 · Saturdays, 10 AM-12 PM · $225 · Four-week workshop; Fall School Year (Youth); in person
• 9th-12th Grade: Scene Study for Teens — Children in grades 9-12 · Sundays, 12:30-2 PM · $330 · Fall School Year (Youth); in person

At a glance

• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price range: $0–$560
• Current session: Fall School Year (Youth) (Sep 21–Dec 11, 2026)
• General schedule: Fall School Year (Youth) classes are in person and meet on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Individual classes also meet on weekdays after school.

About the provider

The Theatre Lab says it has been transforming lives through theatre education for over 30 years and was born in 1992. It works to make the artistic and real-life benefits of theatre training accessible to all. The Theatre Lab enrolls over 2,800 kids, teens, and adults a year, offers tuition assistance and work-study to disadvantaged kids, youths, and adults, and runs free Life Stories® programs for incarcerated and at-risk youth, homeless women, adults and teens in addiction recovery, wounded veterans, and seniors throughout the DC metro area. It has been named by Backstage as one of the top acting programs in Washington DC, recognized by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities as one of the top youth arts programs in the country, featured four times in Spur Local as one of “the best small charities in Washington,” and received the Mayor’s Art Award for Innovation in the Arts.

Small class sizes are typically 6 to 15 students. Classes are designed to fit busy schedules and all ages, skills, experience levels, and schedules.

What families say

“The Theatre Lab will not only make you a better actor, if taken seriously, it will make you a better person.” — Former Student

Last updated September 22, 2026.