Arlington Children’s Theatre
Arlington Center for the Arts, 20 Academy St, Arlington, MA 02476
About
Arlington Children’s Theatre offers plays, musicals, workshops, vacation day programs, a summer day program, and vacation camps. The program produces a variety of plays and musicals each season and offers workshops and vacation day programs that center on the educational process and the theatrical and interpersonal development of each individual participant. ACT offers many opportunities for adults and kids of all ages to participate in the creation of each show, including a wide variety of jobs such as directors, assistant directors, stage managers, and counselors for vacation camp productions.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours Monday–Thursday, 5–8pm
Arlington Children’s Theatre began in 1991, hired its first Artistic Director in 2006, settled into a home base in 2008 at Arlington Center for the Arts, and moved to Trinity Baptist Church in 2016. The organization describes itself as providing a unique, quality theatre program for families within the greater Boston area and states, “Together, we can create theatre that inspires!” Its mission states that it is dedicated to creating equitable, quality theatrical events, workshops, and experiences that educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of children ages 7–18, their families, and the community. The mission further states that ACT embraces by opening its doors to all who wish to participate regardless of background, experience, or acting, dancing or singing ability; enriches by providing a safe, welcoming space where children can be exposed to new experiences, different points of view, and challenged beyond their current selves; educates formally through workshops, programs and high-quality productions led by staff with years of experience and dedication to theatre and informally by helping give children the freedom to express themselves and develop communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills; entertains by creating excellent, professional-looking and -sounding productions that everyone involved can enjoy and be proud of; and encourages by supporting everyone in the ACT community and teaching them to be resilient, humble, and to persevere. Workshops, programs, and productions are led by staff described as having years of experience and dedication to theatre.
The leadership team includes Artistic Directors Emily Garven and Christin Rills. The ACT Board lists Neva Corbo-Hudak as ACT President, Mary O’Neill for Scholarships as ACT Treasurer, and Valerie Geary for Sponsorships & Giving as ACT Development Chair. The Board of Directors includes Neva Corbo-Hudak, President; Kate Williams, Treasurer; Alyssa O’Rourke, Secretary; and members Nick Bentley, Jennifer Dilts, Valerie Geary, and Joanna Lydgate. Former Artistic Directors include Colleen Rua, Matt Lundeen, Joseph C. Walsh, Anthony Bruno, Christin Rills, and Emily Garven. ACT Co-Founder and long-time Board Member Deb Butler used to call ACT the “soccer team for kids who don’t play soccer.” The organization states that it serves families within the greater Boston area and aims to enrich the lives of children ages 7–18, their families, and the local community by providing a unique, quality theatre program.
Last updated January 25, 2026.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Schedule: Office hours Monday–Thursday, 5–8pm
Arlington Children’s Theatre began in 1991, hired its first Artistic Director in 2006, settled into a home base in 2008 at Arlington Center for the Arts, and moved to Trinity Baptist Church in 2016. The organization describes itself as providing a unique, quality theatre program for families within the greater Boston area and states, “Together, we can create theatre that inspires!” Its mission states that it is dedicated to creating equitable, quality theatrical events, workshops, and experiences that educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of children ages 7–18, their families, and the community. The mission further states that ACT embraces by opening its doors to all who wish to participate regardless of background, experience, or acting, dancing or singing ability; enriches by providing a safe, welcoming space where children can be exposed to new experiences, different points of view, and challenged beyond their current selves; educates formally through workshops, programs and high-quality productions led by staff with years of experience and dedication to theatre and informally by helping give children the freedom to express themselves and develop communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills; entertains by creating excellent, professional-looking and -sounding productions that everyone involved can enjoy and be proud of; and encourages by supporting everyone in the ACT community and teaching them to be resilient, humble, and to persevere. Workshops, programs, and productions are led by staff described as having years of experience and dedication to theatre.
The leadership team includes Artistic Directors Emily Garven and Christin Rills. The ACT Board lists Neva Corbo-Hudak as ACT President, Mary O’Neill for Scholarships as ACT Treasurer, and Valerie Geary for Sponsorships & Giving as ACT Development Chair. The Board of Directors includes Neva Corbo-Hudak, President; Kate Williams, Treasurer; Alyssa O’Rourke, Secretary; and members Nick Bentley, Jennifer Dilts, Valerie Geary, and Joanna Lydgate. Former Artistic Directors include Colleen Rua, Matt Lundeen, Joseph C. Walsh, Anthony Bruno, Christin Rills, and Emily Garven. ACT Co-Founder and long-time Board Member Deb Butler used to call ACT the “soccer team for kids who don’t play soccer.” The organization states that it serves families within the greater Boston area and aims to enrich the lives of children ages 7–18, their families, and the local community by providing a unique, quality theatre program.
Last updated January 25, 2026.
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