Theatre Classes and Workshops
Encore Stage & Studio offers an exciting lineup of seasonal theatre classes for children in Pre‑K through Grade 8, designed to build confidence, creativity, empathy, and stage skills. Early learners embark on imaginative play, exploring basic theatre through storytelling, creative movement, and character exploration—an introduction to stage confidence and ensemble play.
From PreK to Grade 8 — classes organized by age, taught by working theatre professionals, and designed to meet your child exactly where they are.
As kids grow, classes evolve in complexity:
Use voice, body, and imagination to craft characters
Engage in improvisation and develop new storylines
Build theatre literacy and collaborative performance skill
Our Fall Class Line-up is Here!
Fall class enrollment is now open
PreK (Ages 3-5)
Creative Kids: Disney Tales for PreK (Ages 3-5)
In this class, our youngest performers spend six magical weeks exploring beloved Disney worlds. Every week features a new Disney‑inspired tale. Maybe we’re swimming with friendly fish, twirling through a royal ball, marching with toy soldiers, or giggling with silly sidekicks. Students will explore these stories through age‑appropriate drama games, sensory play, character movement, and simple scenes that honor their natural curiosity and sense of wonder.
Saturdays: September 19–October 31, 2026 (6 weeks)
Class Dates: 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31 (NO CLASS 10/10)
Time: 9:00am-9:45am
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Ln, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $165
PreK (Ages 3-5)
Bluey's Big Playtime Adventures for PreK
In Bluey's Big Playtime Adventures, preschools explore the building blocks of drama through playful storytelling, character movement, and voice exploration. We wiggle, freeze, dance, pretend, and collaborate as we learn how to use our mind, body, and voice to bring Bluey stories to life. Every session features gentle social and emotional learning moments woven into the fun: takin turns, trying new ideas, cheering for friends, and navigating challenges together.
Saturdays: November 7–December 12, 2026 (5 weeks)
Class Dates: 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12 (NO CLASS 11/28)
Time: 9:00am–9:45am
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $140
Grades K–1 (Ages 5–7)
Lights Up On Broadway for Grades K-1
Lights Up on Broadway, designed especially for K–1 learners, blends dance fundamentals with imaginative play to help children build coordination, confidence, musicality, and expressive movement. Students learn simple combinations, practice stage‑ready skills, and experiment with character‑driven choreography that feels fun, accessible, and empowering in a safe environment.
Saturdays: September 19–October 31, 2026 (6 weeks)
Class Dates: 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31 (NO CLASS 10/10)
Time: 9:00am–10:00am
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Ln, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $165
Grades K–1 (Ages 5–7)
Lights Up on Broadway! - Fall 2 for Grades K-1
Lights Up on Broadway, designed especially for K–1 learners, blends dance fundamentals with imaginative play to help children build coordination, confidence, musicality, and expressive movement. Students learn simple combinations, practice stage‑ready skills, and experiment with character‑driven choreography that feels fun, accessible, and empowering in a safe environment. This class may be repeated, as there is new content each session.
Saturdays: November 7–December 12, 2026 (5 weeks)
Class Dates: 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12 (NO CLASS 11/28)
Time: 9:00am–10:00am
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $140
Grades 2–4 (Ages 7–10)
Broadway Junior Stars for Grades 2-4
In Broadway Junior Stars, young performers spend six exciting weeks discovering what it feels like to dance, move, and shine like the stars of their favorite musicals. This upbeat, imagination‑rich class blends dance fundamentals, musical theatre storytelling, and character‑driven movement to help students build confidence, coordination, and expressive artistry. This class may be repeated, as we offer different show numbers and content each session.
Saturdays: September 19–October 31, 2026 (6 weeks)
Class Dates: 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31 (NO CLASS 10/10)
Time: 10:15am–11:15am
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Ln, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $165
Grades 2–4 (Ages 7–10)
Broadway Junior Stars - Fall 2 for Grades 2-4
Ready to elevate your musical theatre skills to the next level? Join us and learn how to perform in a musical number! You will sing, dance, and learn some amazingly fun lyrics from popular musicals! This class may be repeated, as there is new content each session.
Saturdays: November 7–December 12, 2026 (5 weeks)
Class Dates: 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12 (NO CLASS 11/28)
Time: 10:15am–11:15am
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $140
Grades 3–5 (Ages 8–11)
Saturday on Stage is a performance opportunity for Grades 3-5! The class culminates in a fully staged one act play!
Everyone’s favorite classic holiday tale gets the fractured fairy-tale treatment. All the famous fairy-tale characters take on all of the memorable roles of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. You’ll never know who will show up next as the Big Bad Wolf (as Ebenezer Scrooge) meets his old business partner Jacob Midas (Marley), who could turn anything to gold. Midas warns Big Bad that he’ll be visited by The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future (played by a Fairy Godmother, Old King Cole, and the Queen of Hearts respectively). The ghosts make Scrooge realize what a scoundrel he’s been to the Charming (or Crachit) family — including Prince Philip, Cinderella and their kids, Hansel, Gretel, and Tabitha, their Little Match Girl — and help him to remember what the Christmas spirit is all about. The final performance will take place on the last day of class, Saturday, December 12, at 12:15pm.
Saturdays: September 19–December 12, 2026 (11 weeks)
Class Dates: 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 12/5, 12/12 (NO CLASS 10/10, 11/28)
Time: 11:30am–1:00pm (1.5 hours)
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Ln, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $295
Grades 4–5 (Ages 9–11)
Magical Musicals: Broadway Hits for Grades 4-5
Explore your favorite musicals and discover new shows in this high-energy class. Learn to interpret a song and dazzle your audience as you build confidence in your performance skills. This class may be repeated, as there is new content each session.
Mondays, September 28–Nov 23, 2026 (8 weeks)
Class Dates: 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/5, 11/9, 11/16, 11/23 (NO CLASS 10/12)
Time: 5:45pm–6:45pm
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $220
Grades 4–5 (Ages 9-11)
Legendary Myths: Acting Adventures
Be the hero of your own theatrical journey! In this action-packed class, students will learn fundamentals of acting as they explore the realms of legendary tales and mythical characters. Students will develop their actors' tools of body, voice, and imagination, as they bring dynamic stories to life!
Thursdays, October 1–November 19, 2026 (8 weeks)
Class Dates: 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19
Time: 5:45pm–6:45pm
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $220
Grades 6–8 (Ages 11–14)
Tools of the Trade for Grades 6-8
Sharpen your actors' tools in this skill-building class! Use your voice, your body, and your imagination to create new characters, improvise new storylines, and design your setting. Build your skills on improv, playwriting, and more! It's your Encore Era! This class may be repeated, as there is new content each session.
Mondays, September 28–November 23, 2026 (8 weeks)
Class Dates: 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/5, 11/9, 11/16, 11/23 (NO CLASS 10/12)
Time: 6:00pm–7:00pm
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale United Methodist Church (3701 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207)
Fee: $220
Grades 9–12 (Ages 14–18)
Check back for updates!
Learn about our Stage Door + Tech Camps this summer.
Location: Encore @ Cherrydale
3701 Lorcom Ln Arlington, VA 22207
Encore Stage & Studio has offered theatre classes in Arlington for 60 years — longer than any other children's theatre organization in Northern Virginia. The teaching artists who lead these classes are the same professionals who direct productions, run camps, and have built the program that nearly 15,000 children and families move through every season. If your child is curious about theatre, this is where that curiosity goes somewhere.