The Milledgeville Theatre Collective celebrated its program’s renewal with a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Dec.
2, hosted by the Milledgeville- Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce.
The Milledgeville Theatre Collective is a nonprofit arts organization that aims to make theatrical art accessible to all. Their community theatre troupe welcomes all ages and skill levels to join and participate in future performances.
Formerly known as the Milledgeville Players, the troupe has been active in the community for the past 25 years. Volunteer-based, the troupe relies on passionate local artisans, with sets designed and built by lead actors like J.R.
Schumann, and costumes handcrafted by a local kindergarten teacher, such as Katherine Smith.
“We are trying to grow young adult artists in their crafts, and here we can mentor them.
When you get older, it makes you feel young again to be surrounded by the younger troupe members’ lively energy,” said Phillip Joiner, the director at-large, while reflecting on the many years he has been participating with the group.
“We’ve got actors that participate with us as well as their own high school and college theatre programs.”
“We travel and perform in different venues- strategically homeless, if you will,” said Rebecca Brasher, president of the five-person board that runs the Milledgeville Theatre Collective.
The freedom of lacking a physical theater building allows the troupe to perform in different venues, furthering the performance’s ability to immerse viewers within the story.
For example, the troupe’s debut show was “Father of the Bride” by Caroline Francke on Oct.
2. The performance was held at The Woodland Acres at Robbins Farm, a wedding venue new to Baldwin County.
“There are many benefits to not having a primary venue at the moment. We are able to develop relationships in the community and traveling for shows allows us to highlight different areas of our community,” Brasher said.
Formerly, the Milledgeville Players hosted plays at Central State Hospital’s grounds.
Currently, the Milledgeville Theatre Collective has put on performances at Robbins Farm and The Mill, with upcoming shows in March 2026 at Lockerly Arboretum.
“The reason we chose the word ‘collective’ for our name is because places in Milledgeville can feel siloed, and we want to have a reason for them to all be connected,” Brasher said. “Lockerly and Robbins Farm might not ever have anything in common, but now they do- they have us.”
To purchase tickets to an upcoming performance, donate to support their nonprofit art organization, or find more information on the Milledgeville Theatre Collective, visit milledgevilletheatre.org