Theater is a powerful place in society where we gather to be in true conversation, to feel joy and connection with people different from ourselves, and to engage meaningfully in our community and wider world.

Under the visionary leadership of new Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb, Baltimore Center Stage is ushering in a new era, our “Next Act,” using the unique power of theater to ignite a transformative movement that shines brightly on our beloved Greater Baltimore community. Working together, we will redefine what it means for a theater to make a direct impact on the lives of the people it serves.

We are building a theater for everyone – a vibrant and essential institution that will deepen its role as an ambassador for our city to the nation and as a beacon of light here at home. Your crucial support directly enables these new initiatives to become a reality, laying the foundation for profoundly impactful service for decades to come.

ARTS IN EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE

Building on our 40-year legacy of excellence in arts education, Baltimore Center Stage will expand services for youth in our community, radically increasing access to the arts.

The theater’s new initiatives launching this year will include the Juvenile Justice Theatre Program, which harnesses the transformative power of art to reach into detention centers, aiming to combat incarceration and reduce recidivism.

In the Spring, Baltimore Center Stage will begin taking applications for Workforce Development Apprenticeships. Building on the theater’s history of training theater workers from carpenters to marketers to playwrights, this program will open annual, paid positions that create economic opportunity for those who need it most. Special attention will go to alumni of the Juvenile Justice Theater Program, with the goal of creating long-term community and career pathways.

The theater will expand arts access to more students, especially in Title I schools, through investment in the Young Playwrights Festival, celebrating 40 years as one of the oldest programs of its kind in the country, and the Virtual Student Matinee Library, which brings exceptional performances into classrooms in every corner of the State of Maryland.

INVESTING IN BALTIMORE ARTISTS AND CIVIC LIFE

A new Legislative Forum Theater Troupe will act as a creative catalyst amplifying local issues and advocating for social change. Using the unique, empathy-building power of theater, the Troupe will gather members of the community with elected officials to devise policy solutions that make an immediate impact.

Lab410 will invest in emerging local playwrights, helping writers hone their craft, expanding the pipeline for our Main Stage, and connecting with national professional theater opportunities to launch careers and showcase Baltimore’s unique cultural significance to the industry.

WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES LIKE NOTHING YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE

On our stages, you will see collaborative work with artists from Baltimore, Broadway, and beyond, transforming the State Theater of Maryland into a nationally recognized incubator for new plays. In his inaugural season, Stevie will present two groundbreaking world premieres, starting with Tony-nominated playwright Jordan E. Cooper’s Oh Happy Day! and concluding with nine-time Emmy winner Matthew Weiner’s John Wilkes Booth: One Night Only!

Join us on this journey, Baltimore Center Stage’s Next Act!

With your support, these initiatives will make a positive impact across our community, creating a brighter, more connected future for all through the transformative power of theater. Your partnership is crucial to making this magic happen - one play, one program, and one connection at a time!