Baltimore Center Stage is proud to announce the launch of a series of transformative new arts education and civic engagement initiatives under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb. As the theater continues to rebound from the post-pandemic landscape, with ticket sales on the rise and the successful world premiere of Oh Happy Day! captivating audiences, the theater is poised to significantly expand its impact beyond the stage. These bold new programmatic thrusts aim to empower youth, foster social justice, and deepen BCS’s role in the fabric of Baltimore’s neighborhoods, and throughout the state of Maryland.
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“Baltimore is a cultural catalyst on the East Coast, and we are committed to expanding our impact throughout the region. These initiatives reflect our belief that theater is not just a mirror to society, but a tool to actively shape a brighter, more just future for our community.”
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The launch of these groundbreaking initiatives is made possible by The Next Act Campaign, a $1 million fundraising effort. Every donation you make to the campaign brings us one step closer to our vision of a more equitable, empowered, and vibrant Baltimore on stage and off. We invite you to join us in creating a tangible, lasting impact on our community.
ABOUT EACH PROGRAM
Already underway is the Juvenile Justice Theater Program, a cornerstone initiative, launched October 28, 2024, at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center. This year-long pilot program, designed to be an annual partnership with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, provides creative workshops to incarcerated youth, empowering them through storytelling to reframe their personal narratives from victims to heroes. “We believe that art can be a powerful counter-narrative to the ‘get tough on crime’ approach. Through this program, we are planting seeds of transformation for the youth who need it most,” said Walker-Webb.
The mission of the program is to support Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services in combating the rising crime rate among young people in Baltimore by addressing the root causes of recidivism and preparing participants for reentry into society. “We believe that every young person deserves the chance to write their own story,” said Shauntia Lindsay, Program Services Coordinator at DJS. “Our partnership with BCS brings creativity and hope to justice-involved youth, empowering young people to see themselves as positive forces for change in their lives and communities.”
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In addition, Baltimore Center Stage will begin taking applications this spring 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.
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In Spring 2025, BCS will host the Legislative Forum Festival, a free event that brings together Baltimore residents and invited elected officials to discuss pressing issues such as housing insecurity and the city’s efforts to reduce the number of vacant properties. The festival, focusing in its first year on local issues of housing and equitable development, will provide a platform for participants to express their concerns and be in communication with legislators and policymakers.
“Theatre provides an opportunity, unlike any other, to build deep connection across an audience and community,” said Baltimore City Council President-elect Zeke Cohen, a lead supporter of the initiative. “It allows us to connect with and give voice to issues that otherwise seem insurmountable.” The forum will use the power of performance to amplify local voices, engage activists and audiences, and advocate for social change, making theater a catalyst for community-driven solutions.
BCS is also deepening its commitment to local artists with the inaugural Lab 410, a program designed to nurture emerging Baltimore-area playwrights. With 99 applicants in its first year, the Lab 410 offers professional development opportunities and connects participants to national theater networks, ensuring that Baltimore’s creative voices have a place on the Main Stage, in our communities, and across the country.
The Young Playwrights Festival (YPF) celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025, making it the oldest free playwriting program of its kind in the nation. “We are thankful to Center Stage for once again opening up the Young Playwrights program to our students. They will have the opportunity to see their words come alive when professionally produced on the stage,” said Tom Culotta, President of The Community School. This season, YPF will serve hundreds of students across 13 Baltimore City schools, with a special focus on underfunded Title 1 schools. To mark the anniversary, BCS has plans to host a massive celebratory block party on Calvert Street featuring performances of seven new plays by local young playwrights. A kick-off reception will be held in the theater’s Eddie and Sylvia Brown Education Center.
As part of its mission to make theater accessible to all, BCS will offer six free Pop-Up Performances throughout the 2024/25 season. These performances will bring the unique excitement of live theater directly to the residents of Baltimore’s neighborhoods, further solidifying BCS’s commitment to community engagement.
Now in its third season, The BCS Shared Space Initiative transforms our building into a civic and cultural hub for Baltimore and Maryland, offering theaters, lobbies, meeting rooms, staff expertise, and community connections to values-aligned artists and organizations. At its heart, this initiative is a cohort model where core partners commit to mutual support, sharing resources, knowledge, and networks throughout their time together. This collaboration deepens relationships, promotes interdependence, and embodies our land acknowledgment by welcoming all of Baltimore into a shared communal space. Partners include Black Equity, the Black Arts District, Crushing Colonialism, the Baltimore American Indian Center, Native American Lifelines, and Emmy Award-winning John Tyler Sounds (Love Groove Festival).
These groundbreaking initiatives are made possible by The Next Act Campaign, a $1 million fundraising effort aimed at supporting BCS’s expanded vision for its future. Under Walker-Webb’s leadership, BCS is building a theater for everyone, one that serves as an ambassador for the city and a beacon of light for Baltimore’s diverse communities.
“Our theater is more than a place for storytelling—it’s a tool for change,” said Walker-Webb. “With the support of our community, these programs will not only entertain but also have a tangible, lasting impact in the lives of Baltimore’s residents.”
Join us in supporting the Next Act and help ensure the success of these vital programs. Every donation brings us one step closer to realizing our vision of a more equitable, empowered, and vibrant Baltimore.