Events

Do you have to speak at large events, but feel you don’t always convey your message effectively? Do you find yourself uncomfortable once you get in front of an audience? Join us for a class that will focus on the basic skills and techniques of public speaking, with the goal of making you a more confident, effective, and persuasive speaker. Participants will examine content, style, and delivery to present in several modes of public speaking. All skill levels welcome.

This class will run from September 30 – November 4, 2025 on Tuesday evenings, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Registration will open on August 13 for residents (August 20 for non-residents). Participants must register for the entire class session; there are no drop in rates.

Get into the Halloween spirit with our pumpkin carving extravaganza! We’ll provide the pumpkins and tools—you bring your creativity. Whether you’re crafting a spooky face or an intricate design, this is the perfect way to kick off the season. BYOP or purchase one on-site for $5!

This multi-week class focuses on the basics of acting – be that on a stage, in a filmed scene, or just having fun at home or school. Participants will learn warm-ups, games, and tools to enhance their acting skills.

This class will run from November 11 – December 16, 2025 on Tuesday evenings, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Registration will open on August 13 for residents (August 20 for non-residents). Participants must register for the entire class session; there are no drop in rates.

Written and directed by Titus Kaphar, this film follows a Black artist named Tarrell, an admired American painter on the path to success. Tarrell’s artwork excavates beauty from the anguish of his youth, keeping past wounds at bay. His path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, a conscience-stricken man desperate to reconcile. In this raw and profoundly moving film, Tarrell and his father learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving. Note: Veterans FREE at the door with military ID.
Rated R | Run time: 1h 57m

Create festive mosaic coasters just in time for holiday gatherings! Learn the basics of mosaic design while crafting functional and beautiful coasters that will add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving table.

Make your holiday extra special with handmade ornaments! Join us for a festive crafting session where you’ll design unique decorations to brighten up your home or gift to loved ones.

Embrace the season’s joy by joining us at our annual December family event! Get into the holiday spirit with your community, neighbors, and friends at Publick Playhouse. Children will have a chance to visit and take pictures with Santa. We’ll also offer coloring activities and a screening of the short, animated film Kung Fu Panda Holiday to entertain our youngest guests. Following that, we’ll present our feature film, Prancer: A Christmas Tale (2022). Please note, this event is recommended for ages 3-12, however, everyone must have a ticket to enter.

Learn the art of improvisation, also known as ‘Silly make ‘em ups!’ Excellent for developing social skills, collaboration skills, and communication skills. Practice accepting other people’s ideas and adding some of your own, speaking specially, paying attention to what you are doing, etc. thorough exercises and short form Improv games.

This class will run from January 6 – February 10, 2026 on Tuesday evenings, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Registration will open in mid-November, 2025. Participants must register for the entire class session; there are no drop in rates.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making Shrinky Dink charms and keepsakes! Watch your designs magically shrink into mini masterpieces—perfect for jewelry, keychains, or heartfelt gifts.

This multi-week class builds upon foundational acting skills, focusing on in-depth exploration of techniques, character development, and performance styles; often including scene work, improvisation, and analysis of dramatic texts. Participants should have a basic understanding of acting techniques and principles that the class will focus on refining and expanding.

This class will run from February 17 – March 24, 2026 on Tuesday evenings, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Registration will open in mid-November, 2025. Participants must register for the entire class session; there are no drop in rates.

Join us for an inspiring journey through the life of Thurgood Marshall, the legendary Supreme Court Justice and Civil Rights icon. The film traces his path from Howard and Lincoln Universities to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and ultimately to the nation’s highest court. Directed by Norfolk State graduate Alexis Aggrey and co-executive produced by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson, this new feature film will debut in 2025 with a special screening at Publick Playhouse. Don’t miss this compelling story of resilience and justice, brought to life by acclaimed filmmakers. Note: reservations strongly recommended due to limited seating.
This film is not yet rated; Run Time: 1 hour

One of the most visually striking, profoundly moving American moviemaking debuts in years, Raven Jackson’s All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is an arresting immersion into a young woman’s inner world, filmed and edited with an extraordinary tactility and attention to the tiniest detail. This impressionistic journey skips through decades to tell the story of Mack, whose upbringing in rural Mississippi is touched by grace, dotted with heartbreak, and always carried aloft by the surrounding natural beauty. It’s a haunting and richly layered portrait, a beautiful ode to the generations of people and places that shape us.
Rated PG | Run time: 1h 32m

Join us for an egg-citing afternoon of Easter egg dyeing! Experiment with colors, patterns, and fun techniques to create one-of-a-kind eggs for your spring celebrations.

Jump into spring with a little cosplay costume and some animated magic! Join us at the Publick Playhouse for our annual Family Dress-up & Movie Day. Dress as your favorite royal character and capture memorable photos with our special guest, a real-life princess. Enjoy craft activities for kids and then settle in to watch the film Snow White (2025). Please note, this event is recommended for ages 3-12, however, everyone must have a ticket to enter.

Dancers learn praise choreography from the professionals of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Spaces are limited; advanced registration is recommended.

Dancers learn a mixture of regional dances of Africa from the professionals of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Women/girls can wear a lappa (2 yards of African print fabric to be wrapped around the waist). Spaces are limited; advanced registration is recommended.

Celebrate Spring in full bloom with a paper flower-making workshop! Learn techniques to craft delicate and vibrant paper flowers that will never wilt—perfect for home décor or gifts.

May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month! Take a trip to a calming destination as the Publick Playhouse stage transforms into a peaceful retreat. Sound Meditation provides an opportunity to slow down and dive deeper into a state of relaxation to bring balance to your mental, physical and spiritual health. The use of instruments such as crystal and Himalayan singing bowls, chimes, bells, gong and voice blend together to invite the mind to a state of calm and the body to release held emotions and tension. Whether you are looking to try something new, meditate or seek a moment of peace, sound meditation can help you do it. Space is limited; advanced registration is recommended.

This documentary follows Yeshi Kassa, great-granddaughter of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, as she embarks on a personal quest to discover what happened to her closest relatives during the coup of 1974. While Yeshi and her older sister were thousands of miles away in a British boarding school, her great-grandfather was deposed by a revolution, setting off a harrowing chain of events that would put her parents and siblings in grave danger. For the first time, the royal family examines the events that led to the collapse of a 3,000-year-old dynasty and reflects on how, against all odds, they survived this turbulent time in Ethiopian history.
Not Rated | Run time: 1h 30m