On Saturday, May 22nd, Two Strikes Theatre Collective will showcase the production of This Crown is Mine, which will feature a series of original performance art about hair types, acceptance, and the perception of curl patterns by others. The production asks the question ‘How have Black women learned to love and appreciate our hair?’ Executive Director, Aladrian C. Wetzel chatted with Baltimore OUTloud about the upcoming performance. “This Crown is Mine was created because we wanted to talk about Black hair. It is a central part of being a Black woman. Our hair has been politicized, it’s been sexualized, […]
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Brings Genderosity to Virtual Audiences
It’s all about gender expression and being fabulous! That’s the tag line for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C.’s upcoming performance of Genderosity. The performance, which will be a glam rock spectacle celebrating self-expression, was previously scheduled for March 2020, but will now be available from the comfort of your living room. Streaming online from March 13th – March 28th, the performance heralds the upcoming 40th Anniversary of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC (GMCW). “The goal was to have a really nice, high energy, colorful, joyful escape from everything else going on,” explained Dr. Thea Kano, Artistic […]
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Unites Community Through Sound
In these trying times, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has used music as the universal language to unite our community. Baltimore OUTloud recently spoke with Tonya McBridge Robles, the Vice President and General Manager of the BSO, regarding engaging content that has reached the masses through both online mediums and social networks. Frankie Kujawa: Could you explain for our readers how the BSO is engaging with audiences during this time of social distancing? Tonya McBridge Robles: During this time of social distancing, it is vital to the BSO to continue our mission of engaging, inspiring and educating audiences through music. […]
Baltimore Center Stage’s Innovative Online Resources For Public During Pandemic
The arts community in Baltimore is showing just how resilient and resourceful it can be during a time of crisis. While the onset of COVID-19 caused many theaters to physically close their doors in Baltimore, many have sprung to online platforms to continue to entertain audiences. One theater, Baltimore Center Stage (BCS), has led the forefront with its creative online content and innovative access to resources. Baltimore OUTloud recently chatted with Baltimore Center Stage’s Director of Artistic Partnerships & Innovation, Annalisa Dias, who talked about what BCS has to offer to the Baltimore community both online and offline. Frankie Kujawa: […]
The Show Must Go On: Where We Stand at Baltimore Center Stage
“A Man—a member of our community—comes before us. He knows he has wronged us but asks that we show him mercy. He starts to tell us his story…” So begins the story of Where We Stand, the extraordinary new work by playwright Donnetta Lavinia Grays which is currently streaming online via Baltimore Center Stage through April 26th. Where We Stand tells the story of a man stripped of companionship, and how just one kind stranger can tip the scales. This brand-new fable of penance is a supernatural tale of loneliness seduced by kindness, and asks audiences “what do we owe […]
Baltimore Center Stage Pulls Together Amid Global Pandemic
Your greatest test is when you are able to bless someone else while you are going through your own storm.” As theaters both around Baltimore, as well as the globe, went dark in response to the COVID-19/Coronavirus threat, Baltimore Center Stage faced the unprecedented choice of cancelling the upcoming live performances of their new production Where We Stand by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Though this decision may have eclipsed the lights at Center Stage, a bright light still shone through. As the rest of the country, including Baltimore, was faced with the sobering fact that many of our hospitals were not […]
Call To Action: Charm City Fringe Needs Your Help!
The 9th Annual Charm City Fringe, Baltimore’s premier independent theatre and performing arts festival, is slated to take place this coming October 2020. Due to the overwhelming burden facing performing artists who livelihoods are at stake during this global health crisis, Charm City Fringe decided to waive its production fee (a $300-$400 value) so that artists can apply to the festival without the financial strain. Placing a tremendous loss to the Fringe, the organization is looking for help from the Maryland community through any contribution within people’s means. Zachary Michel, Co-Founder of Charm City Fringe, recently chatted with Baltimore OUTloud […]
Baltimore Arts Leaders Offer Hope During This Brief “Intermission”
As many theaters both around Baltimore went dark in response to the COVID-19/Coronavirus threat, the Baltimore Arts community had to reschedule and cancel many of its upcoming performances. Through these uncertain times, the leaders of the Baltimore Arts community offered hope as they look to the future during this brief ‘Intermission.’ For the ongoing health and safety of their patrons, students, artists, volunteers, and staff, Everyman Theatre made the difficult decision to postpone the remainder of the New Voices Festival (which was to run until May 3rd) until a yet-to-be-determined date in the summer. Their classes, programming, and special events […]
Frankenstein at CCBC
Running from Thursday, March 26th to Monday, March 30th the Performing Arts at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) presents Frankenstein. This is a new adaptation by CCBC students and Professor Julie Lewis, inspired by the novel by Mary Shelley. Directed by Brad Norris, the world premiere of this fresh and fierce adaptation takes Mary Shelley’s chilling tale of loss and creation into 21st century Baltimore. Faithful to the horror of the original but occurring in a contemporary setting, this production is not intended for children. Baltimore OUTloud recently chatted with Norris regarding the upcoming performance. Frankie Kujawa: What […]
At Everyman: New Voices
Queens Girl: Black in the Green Mountains by Caleen Sinnette Jennings is currently running through April 12th at Everyman Theatre. A world premiere production commissioned by Everyman’s resident company member Paige Hernandez returns as director for the third and final installment of Jennings’s award-winning Queens Girl series. As the Vietnam War rages and the Kent State killings ignite college campuses across the country, Jackie arrives in Vermont to begin college. Caught between wildly divergent sets of friends—outrageously wealthy WASPS, militant black activists and passionate theatre people—Jackie (played superbly by the phenomenal Felicia Curry) is forced to confront the space between […]