News Summary
Baltimore Center Stage will kick off its fall season on September 13, 2025, showcasing family-friendly productions such as ‘Magic & Hypnosis featuring David Anthony,’ ‘Cat Kid Comic Club, The Musical,’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’: A Motown Christmas Revue.’ The theater aims to engage audiences of all ages while promoting accessibility in the arts. Leadership changes are also underway as Adam Frank departs, and Ken-Matt Martin steps in as Producing Director. The theater continues its commitment to diverse storytelling amid recent challenges in arts funding.
Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Center Stage is set to launch its fall family-friendly entertainment lineup on September 13, 2025, featuring a diverse range of productions designed to engage and entertain audiences of all ages.
The season kicks off with Magic & Hypnosis featuring David Anthony on September 13, where attendees can expect a thrilling combination of magic tricks and comedy hypnosis from this international award-winning performer. Following this, Cat Kid Comic Club, The Musical will take the stage from September 26 to 28. This musical, based on the popular book series by Dave Pilkey, showcases characters Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog as they guide baby frogs in creating their own comic strips.
As the holiday season approaches, Baltimore Center Stage will host Santa Claus Is Comin’: A Motown Christmas Revue from November 6, 2025, to January 4, 2026. This festive show will feature vibrant renditions of classic holiday songs inspired by the Motown sound, paying tribute to legendary artists like Smokey Robinson and The Supremes.
Tyrone N. Manning, the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Baltimore Center Stage, emphasizes the importance of introducing children and young people to the performing arts and ensuring that theater remains accessible to all families.
In addition to these exciting productions, Baltimore Center Stage is undergoing leadership changes as Adam Frank, the Managing Director, has announced he will not renew his contract and will depart the theater in October. Frank, who joined the organization in 2022, has been instrumental in driving the theater’s renewal, implementing new educational initiatives, and significantly boosting both revenue and attendance. Under his guidance, the theater experienced a 69% growth in annual operating revenue, which increased by over $2.8 million, and a 96% increase in annual attendance.
Following Frank’s departure, Ken-Matt Martin, who has been with Baltimore Center Stage since 2023, will step into the role of Producing Director. He will collaborate closely with Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb to continue the theater’s mission.
Established in 1978, Baltimore Center Stage is recognized as the State Theater of Maryland and is committed to providing high-quality theater that reflects diverse stories while promoting accessibility. Recently, the theater has faced significant challenges due to new federal guidelines issued by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that placed restrictions on programming related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In response, Baltimore Center Stage opted to reject approximately $30,000 in funding to maintain its commitment to these principles, choosing instead to uphold its values and serve the community.
Though the NEA’s controversial guidelines have been rescinded, Baltimore Center Stage remains dedicated to advocating for diverse representation and inclusive narratives. Alongside its programming, the theater has launched the Trans History Project, an initiative aimed at developing new plays that explore the history of gender nonconformity. This project is open to transgender and gender non-conforming writers, with the first cohort expected to be announced in July, each receiving a $10,000 commission for their new works.
Through these efforts, Baltimore Center Stage continues to foster community engagement and elevate marginalized voices within the cultural landscape, despite political pressures, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community. The theater’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity remains a pivotal aspect of its mission as it looks forward to an exciting fall season.
Tickets and further information about the upcoming productions are available at the theater’s official website.
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Additional Resources
- Afro: Baltimore Center Stage Fall Entertainment
- Wikipedia: Baltimore Center Stage
- MD Theatre Guide: Theatre News Leadership Transitions at Baltimore Center Stage
- Google Search: Baltimore Center Stage
- Fox Baltimore: Happening This Weekend at Baltimore Center Stage
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Baltimore Center Stage
- MSN: Baltimore Center Stage Managing Director Steps Down
- Google News: Baltimore Center Stage News
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