M.A.W. began in the spring of 2001 when actress Melissa Lourie brought a small group of experienced actors together to conduct an experiment in a communally run theater company. Two summer seasons consisting of six ten-minute plays each were performed in Middlebury to great acclaim. The six founding members were: Harry McEnerny, Steve Small, Shannon Bohler-Small, Jeanne Rogow, Stephen O'Dwyer and Lourie.

In 2003 the company changed format with Lourie becoming Artistic Director. Subsequent seasons saw the addition of new members such as Karen Lefkoe, Cyrus Moore and Mike Kiernan.

Middlebury Actors Workshop has performed primarily at Town Hall Theater and the Addison Repertory's black box theater at the Hannaford Center in Middlebury, Vermont.