Michigan Stage

We’re still glowing from last weekend’s Playlab Craft Day ✨

Thank you to all of our incredible students and families who showed up, got creative, and poured so much care into building costumes, props, and scenery for our upcoming Spring Tour. The talent, teamwork, and joy in that room reminded us exactly why this work matters.

Every brushstroke, glue stick, and bold idea is helping bring our original performances to life—and we can’t wait for you to see it all on stage.

🎭 Don't Miss Our Upcoming Playlab Performances. Come support our students as they take their original work on tour!

5/5 – Ferndale Lower Elementary
5/7 – Ferndale Upper Elementary
5/11 (Monday) – Community Playlabs (Lower + All Ages)
5/12 (Tuesday) – Community Playlabs (Upper + PPE)

All performances at 5:30pm. All FREE and open to the public.

Each performance is a celebration of student voice, creativity, and collaboration—we’d love to see you there.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this creative community. Let’s keep building something special together 💛

Looking for a fun, creative outlet for your young artist? Playlabs return! Enroll today for a one-of-a-kind theater experience at the link in our bio, or at MichiganStage.org.

These community-based theater programs, bring together students of mixed ages from different schools and neighborhoods. Under the guidance of our professional Teaching Artists, participants learn to collaborate across differences, share leadership, and transform their ideas into an original play that belongs to everyone in the room.

No prior theater experience is required—just curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to work together.

📣 Enrollment is now open, and space is limited. We encourage families to register early to secure a spot. Register at link in bio or at MichiganStage.org.

Welcome to our online Playlab fundraising auction. 📣

Each item up for bid has been generously donated with all proceeds directly benefiting our after-school Playlabs. By participating in our auction, you’re not just acquiring remarkable items; you’re also making a meaningful difference, providing access to after-school theater programs for hundreds of local youth.

Spread the word, rally your friends and family, and together, let’s make this auction a success! 🚀

Thank you for your support, and happy bidding!

Michigan Stage

More than 15 million students—including approximately 3.7 million middle schoolers—are alone and unsupervised between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m., leading to juvenile crime and risk experimentation.

Playlabs take place during this peak unsupervised time, nurturing brave and curious young people to their highest potential.

Our flagship program filled in less than four minutes this year — faster than ever before. Sadly due to funding cuts to the arts, 120 students were left on a waitlist.

Support our work with a year-end gift this holiday season, and help restore these vital programs for those who need it most. Together, we can keep creating spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds feel seen, heard, and inspired.

Donate at link in bio or MichiganStage.org.
All donations tax-deductible. Michigan Stage is a registered 501(c)3.

We're excited to share a fun new way to support Michigan Stage and help bring Playlabs back to the people who need them most.

Over the past year, budget cuts have forced us to scale back some of our after-school programs which provide a creative home for students to grow in confidence, collaboration, and self-expression. For many of our participants, Playlabs are more than just theater classes; they’re a safe, supportive space to be fully themselves.

To help us restore these cut programs, we’ve launched a Theater for All Online Auction, featuring eight custom prize packages—and every dollar raised goes directly to reopening access to Playlabs.

Whether you place a single bid, share the auction with a friend, or simply help us spread the word, you’re playing a real part in making theater accessible to all. The auction closes on Dec 12th so bid today and help restore Playlabs for the young people who need them most.

Thank you for being part of the Michigan Stage community and for considering a gift that puts kids back in the spotlight.

Michigan Stage's Auction Supporting Playlabs Welcome to our online Playlab fundraising auction. 📣Each item up for bid has been generously donated with all proceeds directly benefiting our after-school Playlabs. By participating in our auction, you're not just acquiring remarkable items; you're also making a meaningful difference, providing ...

What a show-stopping year it’s been! Your energy, curiosity, and love for musical theatre continue to make our favorite Sundays sparkle brighter than a Broadway marquee.

Join us for our final Talkin' Broadway Session of 2025 on Sunday, November 16th from 2–3:30 PM at the West Bloomfield Library. Dive into the razzle-dazzle world of Chicago the Musical. Expect sharp wit, sizzling songs, and of course, “All That Jazz.”

Talkin’ Broadway is free and open to the public—but just like the best productions, it takes a community to keep the lights shining. If you love what we do, please consider making a gift to support this year's series, next year's sessions, and all Michigan Stage programs all year long.

Our annual Drag Karaoke Fundraiser is only three weeks away.

Meet the first of our sensational queens competing to be crowned MiStage’s Karaoke Crown Jewel.

Rose Ritz — serving glamour, grit, and high notes that can cut glass.

Favorite Book: Little Women. It reminds me of the power of sisterhood, storytelling, and believing fiercely in your dreams.

Favorite Look: My classic Hollywood glam moment: soft waves, red velvet, and a glamorous silhouette.

Favorite Read: I love how confident you are… in that outfit.

Why are arts programs important? Arts programs nurture imagination, confidence, and empathy. They help young people feel seen, valued, and capable of creating beauty in the world. When young people have space to create, they learn they also have the power to change the world.

Why should you be MiStage's Karaoke Crown Jewel? I believe a crown isn’t just something you wear, it’s something you earn through heart, talent, and genuine connection. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of performing and working with Michigan Stage and helping build its incredible community. Through Playlabs , I’ve worked with our youngest artists, teaching them to dream boldly, take the stage bravely, and trust their own voices, sometimes literally, sometimes with creative screaming into the Story Vortex.

This crown would be a full-circle moment not only for me, but for every little star who’s ever looked up and thought, “Someday that’ll be me.” I serve excellence with humility, glamour with purpose, and encouragement with well, dramatic flair. I don’t just sing, I empower, uplift, and occasionally over-enunciate for the back row. I am ready to represent MiStage with grace, sparkle, and a fierce commitment to making every performer feel like they belong center stage. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from drag, theatre, and wrangling 20 Playlabs kiddos hopped up on fruit snacks, it’s this, a true queen lifts others up and keeps the glitter out of her eyes while doing it.

To vote for Rose Ritz, and to get your tickets to the event, visit the link in our bio, or MichiganStage.org.

All proceeds benefit our popular Playlab program.

Meet our second sensational queen vying to be MiStage’s Karaoke Crown Jewel.

🔥 Jah Jah Shee — bringing sass, sparkle, and a voice that won’t quit.

Favorite Book: The book-of-Face (Facebook. Because Shee's that fabulous.)

Favorite Look: SUPERthem Icecream (see attached).

Favorite Read: You call yourself well-read but the only book you’ve ever finished is full of excuses.

Why are arts programs important? Art programs are important to me because it’s these kinds of programs that helped shaped me into the creative and artistic performer I am today.

Why should you be MiStage's Karaoke Crown Jewel? As a lifelong advocate in the arts I've spent the majority of my life dedicated to keeping art programs alive! With my degree in arts management I've had the opportunity to travel the world as a stage manager and video technician. Prior to graduating college and traveling, I spent years educating youth and teens at various YMCA locations in SE Michigan.

All proceeds fund our after-school Playlabs providing access theater programs to hundreds across metro-Detroit.