New collaborative theater space in Ann Arbor offers cabaret-style stage for rent

A new community theater space is in soft opening mode this month in Ann Arbor. Forge Theater Collaborative Community and Studio Space, at 3000 Packard Rd., Suite B, is the brainchild of local actor/producer/director Catherine Zudak. Zudak has worked in community theater for more than 25 years, including at the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre. With additional previous experience producing pop-up plays and curated shows focused on social justice, Zudak brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of show production to the new community space.

“COVID was really bad for theater,” Zudak says. “We couldn’t host large events, and I came out of that year with a lot of ideas about community spaces, lost spaces and identity, and how we can cultivate community in smaller ways.”

One of those ideas would ultimately become Forge Theater: a place where local artists can bring new material to small audiences. Forge Theater isn’t a producing theater. 

“We have a lot of really great theaters that already do that,” Zudak says. 

Instead, Forge offers a small-stage, cabaret-style theater for community members producing their own works. It’s open to anyone doing new, original work for the stage, including playwrights, multimedia artists, and storytellers.

An annual individual membership fee includes benefits like six hours of credits toward use of the space, publicity for events, and shared proceeds from ticket sales.

“You can also use the space for rehearsals, auditions, meetings, classes, and readings where new and original work is being created,” Zudak says.

One of Zudak’s long-term goals for Forge Theater includes paying artists in a more direct way.

“Members get money for ticketed events or classes and registrations, but people donate so much time to the arts in general, so being able to pay people directly is a definite goal,” she says.

Zudak also hopes the future includes moving to a larger space to accommodate more groups and transitioning to a cooperative business or nonprofit model.

“For now, I’m thinking a lot about stone soup,” Zudak says. “What shows up on stage is driven by the membership and community.”

A recent open house had about 40 community members in attendance, including those from the neighborhood who happened to be walking by. Membership is available now and rental of the space to members is likely to begin in January. More information on Forge is available here.

This story is part of a series about arts and culture in Washtenaw County. It is made possible by the Ann Arbor Art Center, Destination Ann Arbor, Larry and Lucie Nisson, the University of Michigan Arts Initiative, and the University Musical Society.