community theater

noun

US

1

: the activity of acting in or producing a play in a theater for enjoyment and not as a job

He's done school plays and community theater.

a community theater group/production

2

: the plays produced by community theater

She spends her free time acting in community theater.

3

: a small theater where community theater is performed

performing at the local community theater

Examples of community theater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The neighborhood is packed with small restaurants, wine bars, and coffee shops, plus offbeat boutiques, shops, and Darkhorse Theatre, one of Nashville’s best options for community theater. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026

The Debut stars Julianne Moore as a shy family woman who finds a powerful voice through community theater, with Paul Giamatti as the theater’s take-no-prisoners director. — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Moore plays Mona, a meek, thoroughly unseen wife and mother who impulsively decides to audition for a community theater musical despite having no experience. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

In the new Jesse Eisenberg film The Debut, Moore plays an unassuming housewife who becomes a passionate, though struggling method actor after being cast in a small role at her local community theater. — Michael Boodro, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for community theater

• theatre