Acme Theatre Company is an independent non-profit theatre group comprising young people in ninth through twelfth grade based in Davis, California. Our mission is to present plays of excellent literary and artistic quality, while providing opportunities for young people to learn acting, technical theatre, communication, and leadership skills through peer and adult mentorship, in an environment of mutual trust, respect, and responsibility.

We value:

● Youth Leadership: Acme is youth-run. We, Acme’s youth members, accomplish all of Acme’s theatrical operations. Our youth leaders pass down knowledge to younger company members, formally through our apprentice program and informally through various collaborations.

● Learning: We learn by doing. We challenge ourselves, and each other, to risk, fail, and try again. We offer workshops to elementary and middle school youth to help them learn theatre skills.

● Community: We seek to build a strong, respectful, and caring community where different work styles, personalities, experience levels, and abilities are welcome. Membership in Acme is absolutely free of charge.

● Dismantling Oppression: In our work together, we aim to build racial justice. We work to recognize and dismantle all forms of oppression including racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and ableism.

● Art That Creates Change: We produce work that speaks to the issues of today and engages our community in conversations about the problems in our society as we understand them.

● Independence: We maintain independence from any other organization or institution while maintaining positive relationships with the City of Davis, the Davis Joint Unified School District, and other local theatre companies and arts organizations.

● Excellence: We bring the best version of ourselves to the company, and work together towards our personal and collective “acme” – the point of utmost attainment. We work together to maintain high artistic, professional, and personal standards.