Atlanta Street Theatre’s mission is to encourage culturally diverse theatre, particularly improvisational theatre; to bring theatre to culturally underserved audiences; and to use improvisational theatre educationally in the community.

Atlanta Street Theatre (AST) originated as a joint project of Academy Theatre and Atlanta Urban Corps in 1977 as a federally funded program. When federal funding disappeared, committed members met, established a Board of Directors, became a non-profit agency and received tax-exempt status with the IRS in 1984.

In the early years, the focus was on original shows created by a professional cast and performed for youth. Directors and actors included Kenny Leon, Bill Nunn, Bert Tanner, Carol Mitchell Leon and Michele McNichols. Projects in recent years have had a workshop focus.

The workshop process is used fully in the annual Summer Youth Project in which youth, with the direction of theatre professionals, create and perform their own original plays. Individual workshops are also popular. Schools and other community organizations have used AST professionals for improvisation based workshops ranging in duration from one hour to three years.