The Sun Rises on Solstice Theatre Company

A new community takes the TC stage

There’s a bright new sunrise coming to northern Michigan’s performing arts scene.

For Chelsea Kaye, founder of Solstice Theatre Company in Traverse City, the idea has been years in the making. “Solstice really was a long time coming,” Kaye reflects on the vision. “When I say a long time, I mean arguably back when I was in college.”

Back then, she imagined a future where she could merge creativity with her passion for leadership, where theater was more than performance but a true community experience on and off the stage. Kaye aimed her college focus on theater, her true love, and business as a way to create and sustain it. 

“I thought I could own a theater and run a company,” Kaye says of her original vision. “The idea of wanting to influence what types of theater the community can see and can resonate with, it never went away.”

Post-grad her vision may have changed, but returning home to northern Michigan helped her realize it never disappeared. 

Something Missing

When Kaye returned to Traverse City in 2025 after time in Los Angeles, she was surprised to find a community that had grown, evolved, and embraced the arts in exciting ways. But something was still missing.

“I hadn’t lived here since 2008. Moving back from L.A. was a big swing. There was a gap,” she explains. “I kept hearing from people, ‘I wish we could do acting classes.’ ‘I’d love to learn directing.’ ‘I want to get better at musical theater.’”

The demand was consistent and coming from adults looking to grow as artists. That realization led to an experiment: a free, actor-led workshop called Sandbox. More than 100 people showed up.

“We had people who had never acted before sitting next to people who had been doing community theater for decades,” Kaye says. “That was kind of the testing ground…and it showed me the time is right.”

That “right time” became Solstice Theatre Company. More than just a production company, Solstice is designed to be a hub for performance, learning, connection, and growth. Its educational initiative, Luminary Lab, will offer classes for actors, directors, creatives, and anyone curious about the craft.

“The classes are not just for Solstice Theatre’s benefit—they’re for the community’s benefit,” Kaye emphasizes. “If you’ve never taken a theater class but want to direct something, you can take a four- to six-week class and feel more prepared.”

It’s a philosophy aimed to eliminate intimidation of the unknown, encouraging accessibility and empowerment. 

A Momentum Shift

Right now, Solstice is still in its planning stages, as they prepare for a soft launch. The LLC was only formed in October of last year. While the company is in its infancy, the energy behind it is anything but small.

“There are some days where I have to say, you’ve got to take a nap instead of hammering on the laptop,” Kaye admits with a laugh.

Kaye has combined forces with other local thespians and friends to bring Solstice to life. “The vision doesn’t exist without people showing up,” she says. “When they do, that’s the realization of a mission and vision come to life.”

Solstice will be a semi-professional company placing value in its artists. That value starts with a fair wage. 

“One of the things that we do that’s different is…we pay all of our production and onstage talent,” Kaye says. “It’s important that we hire local talent and pay them for that talent.”

The company also plans to prioritize quality over quantity. Solstice will focus on one or two well-executed productions a year, offering classes based on need and demand.

Their first production, a devised cabaret, will debut one day ahead of the summer solstice (June 20) as a tribute to its namesake. 

While most of the work right now is happening behind the scenes, things will soon begin to ramp up: classes, performances, partnerships. Kaye is putting out an open invitation to locals to be part of it from the start.

“Come along for the ride with us,” she says. “We’re excited to hear what people love, what they want more of… all of it.”

Because in the end, Solstice Theatre Company isn’t just launching a season—it is helping shape what theater can look like in northern Michigan. “The hope is that the performing arts community supports Solstice,” Kaye adds. “So far, they have.”

Solstice plans to begin promotion of their upcoming cabaret in the coming weeks, with classes offered soon as well. 

Theater Matters

Ask Kaye why theater matters, and her answer goes deeper than entertainment. In her view, theater isn’t optional for a thriving community—it’s essential.

“Theater is ultimately the performative arm of communication,” she says. “It helps us communicate stories, find empathy with each other, and build bridges.”

Sitting side-by-side sharing a story with someone, even if they are a stranger, is a shared experience, according to Kaye. The reactions may be different, but they are still happening together. 

“You’re sitting in a room with people from wildly different backgrounds…and you have this shared experience. That’s really unique. And those conversations afterward? Those are the things that make us more human.”

Follow along at solsticetheatre.company.

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