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A NEW KIND OF theater: Theater for ALL

FALL 2026 PLAYLABS NOW ENROLLING

What if Alice in Wonderland wasn’t a story you simply watched—but a world you got to enter, reshape, and make your own?

This fall, we’re taking our classic Playlab experience down the rabbit hole with Playlabs: Through the Looking Glass—a brand-new theatrical adventure inspired by Alice in Wonderland and created through the imaginations and perspectives of our participating students.

Playlabs are not traditional theater classes. Students play games, experiment with characters, explore movement and storytelling, and use theater exercises to develop an original performance together. There’s no script to memorize on day one. Instead, the story grows from the ideas, discoveries, questions, and creativity of the young people in the room.

And this semester, we’re leveling things up.

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At Michigan Stage, our goal is to introduce as many people as possible to the powerful benefits of live theater, regardless of age, access, or ability, eliminating barriers and expanding the boundaries of where theater can take us.

PLAYLABS

Learn about and register for our cornerstone after-school theater programs.
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BROADWAY IN THE 'BURBS

Learn more about our summer festival.
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TALKIN' BROADWAY

Learn more and attend our monthly musical discussion program.
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Manda Borden

Ensemble

Manda is currently a local choir teacher, originally from Rochester, NY. Syracuse University – BFA. Thanks to my friends & family, y’all are okay I guess <3 @mandaborden

Tim Paré

CEO and Founding Artistic Director

Named 2023 Humanities Champion of the Year for the entire state of Michign by Michigan Humanities, and a 2024 member of Oakland County Together 40 under 40, Tim previously served as Director of Education for the Tony Award-winning Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires, managing the nationally acclaimed Playwright Mentoring Project, recipient of the Coming Up Taller award, the nation’s highest honor in after school arts programming. While working at Barrington Stage he helped develop the now acclaimed Music theater Conservatory, a 10 week program offering intensive training for students ages 18+ in the areas of Performing, Directing and Choreography. His other programs at BSC include an international internship program, providing opportunities to study and train in various theatrical fields, student matinees for local youth, an annual musical for young audiences, and youth performance programs Kids and TeensAct! — reaching 7500 community members annually.

Prior, Tim served as Director of Education at Lake Dillon theater Company (CO). Pioneering the position, he expanded existing program offerings such as the Youth theater Workshops to year round youth programming and launched an in-school professional development initiative for educators, incorporating theater arts into  the common core curriculum.

At the college level, Tim has taught workshops in auditioning, various styles of dance, and the business of theater for Pace University, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and Ithaca College, and taught adjunct for Colorado Mountain College. He was Senior Director of Programs for Play Rugby USA (NYC) and Broadway Bound Kids (NYC). As an educator, Cohoes Music Hall (NY), Warren Consolidated School of Performing Arts (MI), Arts Academy in the Woods (MI), STREB Action Lab’s SLAM (NY), Stagedoor Manor (NY), Granbury Opera House (TX), Little theater on the Square (IL), and The Co-op School (NY).

Tim is a graduate of Michigan State University, former Chair of the Ferndale Arts and Cultural Commission, and a volunteer with the Downtown Ferndale Vision Committee.

Linda Rabin Hammell

Pickpocket | Havana Bartender | Hot Box M.C.

Linda has appeared on stages from hometown Philly to Cambridge MA to Brooklyn NY, and in Michigan at such venues as Open Book, Obsidian theater Festival, Detroit Rep, The Ringwald, Matrix, Performance Network, Jewish Ensemble, The New theater Project, Blackbird, Penny Seats, Abreact, Puzzle Piece, The Dio, and Shakespeare Royal Oak. More recently, she’s branched into podcasts and indie films (including two festival-fave shorts with your irrepressible Nicely Nicely, Sam Meier). Linda welcomes everyone to Mich Stage’s inaugural season and hopes it becomes your family’s new tradition. Much love to the Dood (a/k/a Arvide).

Grace LaFave

Ensemble | Dance Captain

Grace has recently graduated from Churchill High School, where she participated in the CAPA program. She is excited to start her BFA in musical theater at Oakland University in the fall and sends love to her family for their consistent support <3.

Collin Gregory

Ensemble

Collin is a high school student who is excited to be a part of Guys and Dolls as ensemble this summer, with just only being in 5 school-produced shows throughout his life. He loves stepping out of the box and trying new things, and that’s what eventually led to him landing here at Michigan Stage’s summer season of 2024. He’s always busy testing out new waters in the theater world with new environments, shows, jobs, and loves meeting new people. Although just an underclassmen, he is striving to pursue his passions with a career in film when he gets older.

Zach Deande

Calvin | Ensemble

Zach Deande, from Dallas TX, just graduated from Michigan State with his BFA in Acting, minors in musical theater and dance. He wants to thank his friends and family for their support! @zacharydeande 

Drew Parker

Louie

Drew was most recently seen in Shakespeare In Detroit’s production of As You Like It. Favorite regional credits include Death of a Salesman at The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Secret Mask at Next Act theater in Milwaukee, and K2 at Virginia Stage Co. Other Michigan credits include Jake in 2AZ at the Purple Rose, and the title role in Hamlet with Shakespeare Royal Oak. He’ll be returning to SRO this summer in the role of Feste, acting beside his wife Meredith Parker (Viola) in Twelfth Night. Thanks to the entire creative team for sharing your dreams and visions. It’s been an honor to play a part in fostering in this wonderful new theater. Mere, my heart, you are my Chemical X. Love you forever, Parker.

Lauren Spiegal

Lighting Designer

Lauren is a senior at Michigan State University currently pursuing a BFA of Lighting Design and a BFA of Graphic Design. Her recent designs at MSU include Much Ado About Nothing, Charlotte’s Web, and The Roller Derby (assistant). Additionally, she co-designed the projection/media design for Stevie and the Real World. Lauren is ecstatic at the opportunity to be designing with Michigan Stage and hopes you enjoy the show!

Kristofferson Morrison

Arty

Kristofferson is ecstatic to be apart of his first Professional Acting gig. He has been acting since he was 6 and has played such roles as Jafar in Aladdin Jr., Oscar Delancey in Newsies Jr., Mr. Bucket in Willy Wonka Jr., and many more. He enjoys reading plays with his favorite playwrights being Christopher Durang, Neil Simon, and Neil LaBute. Kristoff wants to be a professional actor when he’s older and he’d like to thank all his friends and family for their continued support of his passion.

Karen Sheridan*

Grandma Kurnitz

Karen is excited to be a part of Michigan Stage’s inaugural production. Her credits include ‘Rain on Fire and Ragtime (Flint Rep); The Hat Box, Chapatti and Silent Sky (Williamston); The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Detroit Public); Boeing Boeing, Dancing at Lughnasa and Angels in America (Meadow Brook), Much Ado About Nothing (Wishing Well), Love Letters with husband Sam Pollak (Two Muses), Other Desert Cities [if you were there the day the standby went on] (Jewish Ensemble) and numerous roles at Peninsula Players. Karen also directs professionally—ask her what’s coming up. Here’s to family…and what it teaches.