Columbia_Center_for_Theatrical_Arts Knowpia

Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts
Formation	1972
Type	Theatre group
Purpose	Musical Theatre, Youth program
Location	Columbia, Maryland, U.S.;
Artistic director(s)	Toby Orenstein
Notable members	Edward Norton, Caroline Bowman, Peter Salett
Website	cctarts.org

Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) is a Greater Washington D.C. Area regional theater school based in Columbia, Maryland. CCTA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is funded, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council, and the Howard County Arts Council from Howard County, Maryland.

History edit

Founded in 1972,^[1] as the Columbia School for Theatrical Arts^[2] (now Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts) it is known for its productions of musicals and new plays. CCTA was founded by Toby Orenstein. She was asked by businessman and builder James Rouse to create a non-profit theatrical arts school for the then-new Maryland city of Columbia.^[1]^[2] Its mission is to educate through the arts.^[2]^[3] CCTA has three distinct departments: it offers a conservatory, theatrical arts productions, and outreach programs.^[3]

Theatre programs edit

Conservatory edit

The conservatory offers performing arts-based programs to the local community. These include different programs for children in primary and secondary school.^[3] The Young Columbians are a performing troupe created by CCTA. The conservatory has been the recipient of five grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.^[3]

Outreach programs edit

The CCTA has a number of incentives such as fundraising, scholarships. The Labor of Love is an annual event that raises money for the AIDS Alliance of Howard County.^[2]^[4]

CCTA's Outreach Programs are aimed to help make theatre arts available and accessible to local students in need. Partnerships now exist with Baltimore City Public School System and the Loyola University Maryland.^[5] CCTA performs the original play Ben Carson, M.D. to local youth.^[6] CCTA has a program for students with special needs at Glenelg High School, under the direction of Kassidy Sharp, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute of Baltimore.^[7]^[8]

Recent productions edit

Past productions include the 2016 world premiere of Magic Under Glass, the musical, based on Jaclyn Dolamore's book.^[3]^[9]^[10] Performance venues include the White House, Wolf Trap, Walt Disney World, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Merriweather Post Pavilion, The Fillmore, Lake Kittamaqundi, Howard Community College, Toby's Dinner Theatre, The Ellipse, House of the Temple, the Washington D.C. Temple, and others.^[1]^[6]

Board of directors edit

President: Toby Orenstein
Chairman: Janet Davidson Gordon
Vice chairman: Carolyn Kelemen
Secretary: Mindy Hirsch
Treasurer: Harold Orenstein
Members: Mary Armiger, John Astin, Steve Duffy, John Harding, Sarah Otchet, Melissa Rosenberg, and Jack Wilen
Honorary Board Member: Edward Norton

People edit

Robin Baxter, Broadway performer
Risa Binder, Emmy-nominated country singer-songwriter
Steve Blanchard, Broadway performer
Caroline Bowman, Broadway performer
Johnny Holliday, Radio and TV sportscaster and a former Top 40 radio disc jockey
Mary Page Keller, Hollywood film actress
Megan Lawrence, Tony-nominated broadway performer
Edward Norton, Academy Award-nominated actor, filmmaker, and activist
Ric Ryder, Broadway performer and vocal coach
Peter Salett, musician, composer, performer, and singer-songwriter
Margo Seibert, Broadway performer
Tracie Thoms, television, film, and stage actress and singer
Betsy True, Broadway performer
Mark Waldrop, Broadway writer and director
Tico Wells, Hollywood film actor
Brynn Williams, Broadway performer
Stacy Wolf, Author and musical theatre director and professor

Awards edit

2016 Cherry Adler Award, The Maryland State Arts Council, Maryland Department of Commerce^[11]

Community partners edit

Baltimore City Public School System
Howard County Public School System
Howard County Recreation and Parks
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Howard County Arts Council
Howard Community College
Howard County General Hospital: A member of Johns Hopkins Medicine

References edit

^ ^a ^b ^c Kelemen, Carolyn. "Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts celebrates 45 years with reunion, free performance". Columbia Flier. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Shird, Shannon (2008). "Maryland State Women's Hall of Fame: Toby Orenstein". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "About Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts". Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Solomon, Libby. "This Week in Columbia History: 'A Labor of Love' raised money for AIDS". Columbia Flier. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ Holzberg, Janene (2012). "Toby's founder Orenstein wins award for community work". Howard County Times. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Baltimore Outreach Programs". Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Jones, Katie V. "Glenelg's 'Aladdin' creates its own magic". Howard County Times. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Howard County Public School System (May 12, 2017). "Discover HCPSS – Inclusive Broadway Theater at Glenelg High School". hcpss.org. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ "MAGIC UNDER GLASS-The Fantasy Rock Musical". whatsupmag.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Schelle, Crystal (2016). "Smithsburg writer has novels turned into musicial [sic]". Herald Mail Media. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Kubatko, Jill (2016). "The 2016 Cherry Adler Award goes to Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts". Maryland State Arts Council. Retrieved October 12, 2017.