Everyman Theatre, Baltimore facts for kids
The Everyman Theatre auditorium ahead of a performance of Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.
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| Formation | 1990 |
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| Type | Theatre group |
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Artistic director(s)
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Vincent M. Lancisi |
| Website | everymantheatre.org |
Everyman Theatre is a special kind of theatre in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. It's called a regional theatre because it's a professional company that creates shows for its local area. Everyman Theatre wants to make live plays easy to see and affordable for everyone in Baltimore. You can find it in the Bromo Arts and Entertainment District.
The Story of Everyman Theatre
How Everyman Theatre Started
Everyman Theatre was started in 1990 by its artistic director, Vincent M. Lancisi. Their very first play was called The Runner Stumbles, and they performed it in a church in Baltimore. For a few years, Everyman Theatre only put on one play each season. They used different places around the city for their shows.
In 1995, Everyman Theatre finally got its own special home. It was in an old bowling alley on Charles Street! This was a big step. For the first time, people could buy tickets for a whole year of shows. The first play they performed in their new space was Buried Child by Sam Shepard.
Finding a New Home: The Town Theatre
A big change happened in 2006. Everyman Theatre received a wonderful gift: a new building! This gift came from the Bank of America and The Dawson Company. The new home was an old building called The Town Theatre, located at 315 West Fayette Street.
This building has a long and interesting past:
- It first opened in 1910 as The Empire, hosting fun vaudeville shows.
- Later, it was used for Yiddish theatre, boxing matches, and even bingo parties.
- In 1947, it became a large movie theatre with 1,550 seats. It was known as The Town Theatre.
- A famous movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” had its grand opening there. The movie's star, Jimmy Stewart, and director, Frank Capra, even attended!
By 1990, The Town Theatre was no longer used and sat empty. But thanks to the gift in 2006, Everyman Theatre could bring it back to life! The building was carefully fixed up. Its beautiful old front, made of terra cotta and granite, was restored. The renovation cost a lot of money, but it created a modern theatre with 253 seats. It also added space for making sets, costumes, and for teaching.
In January 2013, Everyman Theatre celebrated the grand opening of their new theatre. They put on the play August: Osage County by Tracy Letts. This new theatre helps make downtown Baltimore's Westside a lively place for arts and entertainment.
Learning at Everyman Theatre
Everyman Theatre offers many ways for people of all ages to learn about theatre. Their Education Department has different programs, including:
- High School Matinee Program: For fifteen years, this program has brought high school students from Baltimore City public schools to the theatre. Students get to see live plays for free. They learn about the play's meaning, the actors' work, and how theatre designers create the show. They also get to meet and ask questions of the cast and crew!
- Residency Program: This program brings theatre learning right into classrooms.
- Audience Engagement: These are chances for people to connect more deeply with the plays they see.
- Classes: Everyman offers classes for professional artists, teachers, and young people who want to learn more about acting and theatre.
Meet the Artists: Resident Company
Everyman Theatre is special because it has its own group of professional theatre artists who work there all the time. They are called the Resident Acting Company. These actors perform in many of the theatre's productions.
Resident Acting Company Members
- Megan Anderson
- Eric Berryman
- Felicia Curry
- Danny Gavigan
- Deborah Hazlett
- Helen Hedman
- Paige Hernandez
- Beth Hylton
- Hannah Kelly
- Katie Kleiger
- Wil Love
- Tony Nam
- Bruce Randolph Nelson
- Kyle Prue
- Jefferson A. Russell
- Carl Schurr
- Dawn Ursula
- Stan Weiman
- Yaegel T. Welch
The theatre also has a team of talented designers and technicians who work there regularly. They are called the Resident Designers. They help create the look and sound of each play.
Resident Designers
- David Burdick, Costume Design (creates the clothes for the characters)
- Harold F. Burgess III, Lighting Design (designs the lights for the stage)
- Daniel Ettinger, Scenic Design (creates the sets and scenery)
- Gary Logan, Dialect Coach (helps actors speak with different accents)
- Chas Marsh, Sound Design (creates the sounds and music for the play)
- Lewis Shaw, Fight & Intimacy Choreographer (helps actors safely perform stage fights and close moments)
- Cat Wallis, Stage Manager (manages everything backstage during a show)
See also
- Theater in Maryland
