Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit is one of Southeast Michigan’s most highly regarded cultural treasures.
Our critically acclaimed student-driven performances and national and international tours have brought worldwide attention to Detroit as a center for arts and culture while shining a spotlight on the area’s talented young people and creating new and diverse audiences for the performing arts.
Founded by Rick Sperling in 1992 to address gaps in Metro Detroit arts education, Mosaic served 25 young artists in its inaugural year.
Today, hundreds of youth from more than 50 Metro Detroit schools participate in Mosaic’s First, Second and Main Stage programs every year.
These innovative programs provide expert training, mentoring and opportunity to the area’s young actors, singers, and stage technicians, while fostering a culture of high expectations, active participation and acceptance that serves them beyond the stage.
Since 1992….
Empower – 97% of Mosaic youth ensemble members believe that they are capable of achieving their goals due to an investment of 2500 contact hours in career and college readiness, pre-professional arts training, and leadership development provided each season.
Educate – Most Mosaic youth ensemble members graduate with a 3.0 or higher and 97% of Mosaic young artists are accepted into college.
Engage – Mosaic’s annual live and virtual performances enable young artists to fully immerse in the arts with over 6500 contact hours each season.
Our Founder –Â Rick Sperling
Rick Sperling has been a dynamic force for youth and arts in Detroit for more than twenty years. As founder of the internationally-acclaimed Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, Sperling was named a 2008 Michiganian of the Year by the Detroit News for “inspiring self-discipline, a sense of teamwork and high personal standards in thousands of Metro Detroit children.” As a result of his work with Mosaic, Sperling has also received the Detroit Free Press award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre. Under Sperling’s leadership, Mosaic was named Best-Managed Nonprofit by Crain’s Detroit Business in 2006.