Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts facts for kids
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| Formation | 1972 |
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| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | Musical Theatre, Youth program |
| Location |
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Artistic director(s)
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Toby Orenstein |
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Notable members
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Edward Norton, Caroline Bowman, Peter Salett |
The Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) is a special school for performing arts. It is located in Columbia, Maryland, which is part of the Greater Washington D.C. Area. CCTA is a non-profit organization. This means it uses its money to help people and doesn't aim to make a profit. It gets support from groups like the National Endowment for the Arts. These groups help fund arts programs across the country. CCTA teaches young people about theater and helps them perform.
Contents
History of CCTA
The Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts started in 1972. It was first called the Columbia School for Theatrical Arts. The school is well-known for putting on musicals and new plays. Toby Orenstein founded CCTA. A businessman named James Rouse asked her to create a non-profit theater school. He wanted it for the new city of Columbia. The main goal of CCTA is to teach through the arts. CCTA has three main parts: a special training program, theater shows, and community help programs.
Theater Programs at CCTA
The Conservatory Program
The conservatory offers programs based on performing arts. These programs are for children in elementary and high school. The Young Columbians are a performing group created by CCTA. They are a talented group of young performers. The conservatory has received five grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. These grants help support their amazing work.
Outreach Programs
CCTA's Outreach Programs help make theater arts available to students who need support. They work with schools like the Baltimore City Public School System. They also partner with Loyola University Maryland. CCTA performs an original play called Ben Carson, M.D. for young people. CCTA also has a program for students with special needs. This program is at Glenelg High School and the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
Past Performances and Venues
CCTA has put on many exciting shows. One past show was the 2016 world premiere of Magic Under Glass. This was a musical based on a book by Jaclyn Dolamore. CCTA has performed in many famous places. These include the White House and Wolf Trap. They have also performed at Walt Disney World and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Other venues include Merriweather Post Pavilion and Toby's Dinner Theatre.
Notable People from CCTA
Many talented people have been part of CCTA. Some have gone on to have successful careers.
- Robin Baxter, a Broadway performer
- Risa Binder, an Emmy-nominated country singer
- Steve Blanchard, a Broadway performer
- Caroline Bowman, a Broadway performer
- Johnny Holliday, a radio and TV sportscaster
- Mary Page Keller, a Hollywood film actress
- Megan Lawrence, a Tony-nominated Broadway performer
- Edward Norton, an Academy Award-nominated actor
- Ric Ryder, a Broadway performer and vocal coach
- Peter Salett, a musician and composer
- Margo Seibert, a Broadway performer
- Tracie Thoms, a television, film, and stage actress
- Betsy True, a Broadway performer
- Mark Waldrop, a Broadway writer and director
- Tico Wells, a Hollywood film actor
- Brynn Williams, a Broadway performer
- Stacy Wolf, an author and musical theater director
Awards and Recognition
CCTA has received important awards for its work. In 2016, they won the Cherry Adler Award. This award came from the Maryland State Arts Council. It recognized their contributions to the arts.
Community Partners
CCTA works with many groups in the community. These partnerships help them reach more students.
- 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, which is part of Johns Hopkins Medicine
See also
- Toby's Dinner Theatre
- Young Columbians
- Helen Hayes Award
- Theater in Washington, D.C.
- Greater Baltimore Theater Awards
