Cumberland Theatre facts for kids

The Cumberland Theatre is the only professional theatre in Western Maryland. It is located in Cumberland, Maryland. This theatre puts on many different kinds of shows. You can see musicals, plays, and dramas here. It is a nonprofit organization, which means it uses its money to support its mission, not to make a profit. The theatre started in 1988. In 1991, it moved into an old church building.

History of the Theatre

The Cumberland Theatre began as a project of Frostburg State University. It was a way to bring back summer theatre programs. Later, the theatre became its own independent group. Three people helped start it: President Reinhard, Dr. Press, and Dean Phillip Allen.

The theatre officially became a group in 1987. Frostburg President Herb Rinehard was worried there was no summer theatre in Cumberland. So, he worked with theatre professor David Press and Dean Phillip Allen. They wanted to help the local economy. A group of leaders, called a Board of Trustees, was then created. Shirley Giarritta was the first chairperson. This board included people from the university, local government, businesses, and residents.

The new Summer Theatre started in 1988. For the first two years, it used a "rotating repertory" style. This means they performed several different plays in turns. Dr. Press was the artistic director and also managed the shows. In the second season, Dean Allen became the executive director and producer. Dr. Press continued as artistic director. By the third season, Mr. Pat Julian was chosen as the first full-time manager.

The theatre group first performed in a borrowed space. It was a storefront in the Schwarzenbach building. In 1991, with help from the State of Maryland, Mrs. Giarritta and Mr. Nicholas Giarritta bought a disused church. They renovated it into the theatre's current home on Johnson Street. In 1992, Mr. Don Whisted became the artistic director. He worked there for many years, helped by Mr. Gary Goodson. Mr. Whisted retired in October 2016.

In 2003, William H. Macy, a famous actor, joined the theatre's board. That same year, the main performance hall was named "The Nicholas and Shirley Giarritta Playhouse." This honored their many important contributions. Today, Kimberli Rowley and Rhett Wolford are the Co-Artistic Directors.

Where the Theatre Is Located

The Cumberland Theatre is at 101 North Johnson Street. It used to be an Assembly of God Church. The building has many important areas. It holds the costume shop, where outfits are made and stored. It also has the scene shop, where sets are built. The main theatre area can seat 198 people.

The lobby of the theatre is called the Bev Walker Gallery. It always has an art show on display. A new art show is featured with each new play.

How the Theatre Is Managed

The Cumberland Theatre is run by a group of volunteers. This group is called the board of trustees. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This means it is a charity and does not make money for private owners. Many other volunteers also help the theatre. They work on different committees and help guests when they arrive.

The theatre gets support from many places. Local people in Cumberland donate money. It also gets help from Allegany County, the Maryland Arts Council, the City of Cumberland, and the Allegany Arts Council.

What Kinds of Shows They Produce

The Cumberland Theatre puts on many different types of plays. The artistic director writes a short summary of each play. They also give a rating for the language and themes in the show. This helps people choose what to see.

The theatre performs many genres, including:

• Comedy
• Drama
• Horror/thriller
• Musical
• Colonial
• Autobiographical
• Romance
• Crime
• Mystery

Musicals are usually the most popular shows. Comedies and thrillers are also very well-liked. The theatre has also produced many shows that tell stories about different groups of people. Some examples are: The Diary of Anne Frank, Ain't Misbehavin', Hairspray, The All Night Strut, and To Kill A Mockingbird.