Theater is communal by nature, with different departments—costumes, set design, acting—coming together to create something of artistic value.

But Ann Arbor's Forge Theater is built entirely on community.

Creatives become members to gain access to the space; once their productions and performances are ready to go, Forge supports the artists with ticketing, marketing, and house management duties, among other things. (Nonmembers can also rent the space, but members get a discount and additional support.)

The idea for Forge Theater came from the mind of local theater vet Catherine Zudak, but its success will be the result of artists rallying around the plan.

The collaborative studio space on Packard Street soft-launched in the fall, and it recently announced its initial 2026 performances.

Barnstormers Revue
Salon Night & Open Mic
Saturday, January 24, 7 pm
"Join us for an evening of original theater works around the theme of 'Hope in the Dark.' The show is free. Guests are welcome to sign up to perform as part of the show or open mic." (This local anti-fascist theater troupe also organizes readings, performances, and educational events.)

A Joyride in Memory Care
February 20 to 22
"Rick Sperling, founder of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and an Ann Arbor native, portrays a multitude of characters in his hour-long one-man play about his mother’s journey through memory care. Joyride will be the first-ever play performance at the Forge." (Watch an interview with Sperling about A Joyride in Memory Care on JTV's The Bart Howley Show from September 2025.)

Jeffrey Kass
February 26, 7 pm
"For one night only, Jeffrey Kass, an award-winning author and Pioneer High School English teacher, presents his one-man poetry show. It is a lyrical journey through baseball, teaching, marriage, fatherhood, and Marvel Comics." (Read Pulp's 2025 interview with Kass here.)

Forge Theater is at 3000 Packard Street, Suite B, Ann Arbor. Visit forgetheatercollaborative.com for more information and tickets.