CENTERSTAGE is Maryland's State Theater and Baltimore's premier professional producing theater company. Known for its unmatched artistry, CENTERSTAGE was recently called "...a model of what a regional theater can and should be" by the Wall Street Journal.

Description:
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Irene Lewis and Managing Director Michael Ross, CENTERSTAGE presents a varied six play mainstage season in two intimate spaces: the 541 seat Pearlstone Theater and the smaller, flexible configuration Head Theater. CENTERSTAGE also produces First Look, a play reading series, introducing audiences to new works by contemporary playwrights. Each season, more than 100,000 theatergoers visit the theater's award winning 130+ year old building in Baltimore's historic Mount Vernon Cultural District.

History:
CENTERSTAGE was founded in 1963 by members of the Baltimore community, under the leadership of Edward J. Golden, Jr. In 1965 the theater and its growing audience moved from Preston Street into a 300-seat space on North Avenue and welcomed new Artistic Director Doug Seale. Peter Culman joined the theater as Managing Director the following year and during the next seven years, first under the direction of John Stix and then Jacques Cartier, CENTERSTAGE produced adventurous six-play seasons of classical and contemporary works.

In 1974, the North Avenue facility was destroyed by fire; the search for a new home culminated in the acquisition and partial renovation of the old Loyola College and Preparatory School in downtown Baltimore. Molière's Tartuffe opened the new Calvert Street theater in 1975, where CENTERSTAGE continues to this day.

Recognizing that the audience is the final collaborator, and that a broadly representative audience of diverse individuals only heightens the collaboration, current Artistic Director Irene Lewis has made diversification -- by age, class, and ethnic background -- on the stage, on the staff, and in the audience - CENTERSTAGE's central institutional priority.

Honored in 1979 by the state legislature as the State Theater of Maryland, CENTERSTAGE looks forward to maintaining its role as a major cultural resource for the city, the state, and the nation.

Contact person: VOLUNTEER HOTLINE, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (410) 539-3912

Address:

700 North Calvert Street Baltimore, MD 21202 (See a map)

Directions:

CENTERSTAGE is conveniently located at 700 N. Calvert Street in downtown Baltimore, just 10 blocks north of the Inner Harbor in the heart of the Mount Vernon Cultural District. Directions FROM THE NORTH take the JFX/83 to the Guilford Avenue exit,. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: The closest Amtrak station to CENTERSTAGE is the Baltimore-Penn Station (BAL) located on 1515 North Charles St.,   Walk distance (in minutes): 15   Nearest Bus Stop: The 61, 64, and 105 buses stop infront of CENTERSTAGE., 0 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Does this agency accept court appointed volunteers?
	No