Alexandria Children's Theatre

Alexandria Children's Theatre offers acting classes, creative movement and acting classes, after school classes, and additional classes, workshops, and camp. ACT programs allow students to share something onstage for families and friends at the end of every session, and classes use age-appropriate theatre games and creative movement activities that integrate mindfulness and spatial awareness.

• Ages: 4–12 years old
• Schedule: Saturday options and after school classes, with commitments of one hour on Saturdays or ninety minutes one afternoon a week for a 6–8 week period
• Price: Gift cards are available in amounts of $50, $100, or $200 toward full or partial payment of a class session, and a Drop In registration option is offered at $25 for the first class

Alexandria Children's Theatre describes itself as a creative haven where everyone is welcome without bias regardless of race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender nonconforming status. The mission statement notes that teaching artists help children develop their creativity and learn how to collaborate with others, and that classes integrate mindfulness and spatial awareness using age-appropriate theatre games and creative movement activities. The program states that learning to collaborate with others, confidently express themselves, and develop an appreciation for the performing arts is part of the experience, with a goal of increased confidence and solid self-expression skills onstage and beyond, and a goal that every student’s confidence grows throughout the class session so they can go onstage with their classmates.

A.C.T. Founder and Artistic Director Roberta Masters-Cullen has been teaching children’s acting classes in the Alexandria area since 2004, helped launch the summer camp program at the Little Theatre of Alexandria, and taught drama at Burgundy Farm Country Day School for eleven years. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, is a former TV news anchor, and does voiceover work for radio and television projects. Lead Teacher applicants are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in theatre and/or education plus experience working with children.

The program notes that ACT students come from around Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC, and that ACT takes pride in how much it cares and gives back to the community. It offers scholarships to families that need financial support, including scholarship spots in all winter classes thanks to a generous grandparent, and provides a payment plan on the registration page with automatic reminders when subsequent payments are due. ACT also offers gift cards as holiday or birthday gifts and welcomes enthusiastic instructors to share creative movement and acting classes with young people.

All registered families are welcome to use the designated playground area before or after classes on Saturdays, and parents are invited to sit and read nearby in the building, go for a walk, or visit a nearby coffee shop while children are in class. The program offers registration as a Drop In student for the first class for children who have not tried acting before, and notes that classes lead to a presentation in front of an audience, with opportunities for children on the quiet side to ease into performing. Summer Camp registration is listed as open now.

Testimonials from students include comments that the play is very creative and fun, that teachers are very nice, and that making friends with similar interests has been a positive part of the experience.

Last updated February 21, 2026.