Welcome to Positive Action Community Theatre!

We currently offer free in-person and virtual theatre workshops and performance opportunities for teens and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Please Note: Starting September 1, 2025, we will begin charging $35 per session for our in-person workshops, and  $15 per session for our online workshops. Our current and upcoming workshops are listed below.

Improv to a Job 
In this 16-week in-person workshop series, participants take part in improv theatre activities and sharing circles designed to help them discover and attain their perfect jobs, thrive in the work place, develop careers, and create micro-businesses. We also invite job recruiters and other experts in the field of employment to join our workshops and share their knowledge and experience with the group. Click here to watch a workshop scene where Peter Louch of Vemo talks about starting a business.The spring series concludes on May 4, when the group will perform a theatre event that will illustrate what they have learned so far at the workshops, and what their journey to a job has been, or what they hope it will be. The theatre event will begin at 5:00 p.m. Get your reservations in early! You can download a current Improv to a Job flyer here

The Enchanted Forest – Chapter Two!
On September 7 (new date), we will begin a 16 week series of in-person workshops/rehearsals where the group will use improv to create ‘The Enchanted Forest – Chapter Two!’ We will conclude on December 21 with the performance of our musical. Workshop/rehearsals will be held on Sundays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. This program is open to all age groups. Space is limited, so register early! Download a flyer for “The Enchanted Forest – Chapter Two!”here.

Our previous musical, ‘The Enchanted Forest – and the search for the magic soda!’ was a huge success. See ‘The Enchanted Forest’ web page for details of that performance. You can also watch a video of the performance on YouTube here.

Virtual Theatre Workshops 
We provide online theatre workshops for teens and young adults with autism on Fridays from 4 to 4:45 p.m. (Pacific Time). We have discovered that our theatre/social skills workshops are very effective in a virtual setting, and serve people who are unable to attend our in-person workshops. Download a Virtual Workshops flyer in English or combined Virtual and In-person Improv flyer in Spanish. 

Our programs are designed to serve people with autism, but everyone is welcome to attend.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about our workshops, contact our office at info@pacthouse.org or call 760-815-8512. If you would like to donate, please see our Donation Page.


See Our New PACT Documentary!
Want to know more about PACT? The documentary, Making an imPACT, created by SDSU students Finley Louch, director, and Julian Rodriguez, producer, will take you up close and personal to the people and programs that make it great!

Spanish translation information for this website: Si desea una traducción al español de la información de esta página web, envíe un correo electrónico a nuestra oficina info@pacthouse.org, y una persona de habla hispana responderá a su correo electrónico.

Positive Action Community Theatre (PACT) is a dynamic non-profit organization that offers improvisational theatre workshops that help develop social and communication skills in people with autism and other special needs. Those most served by our programs are teens and young adults with high functioning autism (HFA). 

Our workshops include individuals with disabilities, as well as volunteers who act as peer mentors. We encourage a feeling of equality by not pointing out our volunteers or discussing anyone’s differences. The fun, low-stress and upbeat environment of these workshops gives those with unique needs an opportunity to express their creativity, reconnect with peers, and learn social skills through observation and interaction. Recently, we have started using improvisational theatre to help people with autism find their perfect jobs and develop careers.

Mastering an art is a very enriching experience.  It also proves to be a great ally in living with the challenges of autism and other disabilities. Studying and expressing the performing arts brings those who have been isolated into a shared world.  As they feel more connected, they are better able to express their thoughts and feelings and share their own unique gifts. We all benefit from their contributions.

Who We Are IMG_7917

PACT opened its doors in May 2008 in Encinitas, CA, as a community theatre serving the general public. Through the years we have evolved into an organization that focuses on serving people with autism in the rich environment of the performing arts.

The collective experience of our co-founders, Kathryn Campion and William Simonson, includes professional backgrounds in theatre and music and experience in non-profit management and program development. Our talented, experienced workshop directors help us provide high-quality programs that deliver on our mission. Learn more

Our Programs IMG_7499-liter

Improvisational Theatre PACT’s theatre workshops provide an opportunity to study and express improv theatre while improving social and communication skills.These inclusive workshops consist of peers with and without disabilities. Learn more

PACTHOUSE PLAYERS Theatre Troupe creates and performs theatre events, previously at local schools and community centers, and currently online.  Learn more 

Programs at Schools and Community Centers PACT has provided workshops and teacher trainings at local community centers and schools.  Learn more

Improv Workshops  2020 Teen-Adult Workshop Flyer

In-person Improv Workshops
PACT’s In-person Improvisational Theatre Workshops meet in 8-week cycles in Encinitas and are offered at no cost. Our winter series runs from January 21 to March 10, on Sundays from 2 to 3:30 p.m., at Dance North County.
See our Improv Theatre Workshops page for more information.

Virtual Improv Workshops 
PACT’s Virtual Improvisational Theatre Workshop meets weekly via Zoom on an ongoing basis. This workshop serves teens and young adults. Learn more on the Virtual Improv Theatre Workshops page. 

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