Cumberland Theatre

Cumberland Theatre Company
non-profit
Industry Entertainment
Founded 1988
Headquarters Cumberland, Maryland
Area served
Western Maryland
Key people

Mr. Stuart Czapski, President, Mrs. Pam Griffith, Vice-President

Mrs. Karen Persons, Treasurer, Mrs. Kim Cendo, Secretary
Services Theatre
Website www.cumberlandtheatre.com

The Cumberland Theatre is Western Maryland's only regional professional theatre.[1] It is located in Cumberland, Maryland, and stages a wide variety of musicals, plays, and dramas. It is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1988 and relocated in a formerly empty church in 1991.

History

Started as a project of Frostburg State University as a way to rejuvenate the summer theatre program, the theatre has since become independent from the University. Three of the founders were President Reinhard, Dr. Press and Dean Phillip Allen. It was incorporated in 1987, after Frostburg President Herb Rinehard expressed concern about the absence of summer theatre in Cumberland, which led to the cooperation of current theatre professor David Press and Dean Phillip Allen in founding the Cumberland theatre with a view to stimulating the local economy. A board of Trustees was later established, chaired by Shirley Giarritta. This board included members from the University, County and City administration, local businesses, and local residents.

The new Summer Theatre started in 1988 and 1989 as a rotating repertory theatre. Dr. Press acted as the Artistic Director as well as the Producing Director. In the next season, Dean Allen assumed the role of Executive Director and the Producer while Dr. Press remained the Artistic Director. By the third season, the first full-time Producing Director and general manager, Mr. Pat Julian, was selected.

The theatre group performed in a borrowed storefront in the Schwarzenbach building on the Downtown Mall until 1991, when with assistance from the State of Maryland, Mrs. Giarriatta and Mr. Nicholas Giarriatta bought and renovated a disused Assembly of God church on Johnson street. Mr. Don Whisted was engaged in 1992 as Artistic Director and remained in that position assisted for many years by Mr. Gary Goodson, Associate Producer, until his retirement in October, 2016. In 2003 William H. Macy, an Emmy Award winning actor, agreed to serve on the board of trustees. That same year the auditorium was named “The Nicholas and Shirley Giarritta Playhouse” to honour their many contributions to the theatre. The newly selected theatre management team consists of Wendy Snow, Managing Director and Co-Artistic Directors Kimberli Rowley & Rhett Wolford.

Accommodation

The theatre's present location is at 101 North Johnson Street, formerly an Assembly of God Church. The building houses the costume and scene shops and storage as well as the theatre house. The theatre seats 198 patrons. The Bev Walker Gallery serves as the lobby of the theatre with an art show on display with each production.

Management

The Cumberland Theatre is owned and operated by a volunteer board of trustees and is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organisation. The theatre is also supported by volunteers who serve on various committees and work as front of house staff.


The theatre is supported by donations from residents of the city of Cumberland, along with patrons such as Allegany County, Maryland Arts Council, Allegany County, the City of Cumberland, and the Allegany Arts Council.

Productions

The Cumberland Theatre produces a variety of plays. The artistic director posts a brief synopsis of the play and usually a subjective rating, based on the language and themes contained in the shows. The wide variety of genres include, comedy, drama, horror/thriller, musical, colonial, autobiographical, romance, crime, and mystery. Over the years musicals have proven to be generally the most popular, followed by comedies and thrillers. Furthermore, the theatre has produced many shows featuring stories specific to different minorities. Some examples are: The Diary of Anne Frank, Ain't Misbehavin', Hairspray, The All Night Strut, and To Kill A Mockingbird.

Past productions

Past productions
Date Show Credits
July 2013[2] The Producers by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
July 2012 The Pirates of Penzance Book by W. S. Gilbert, Music by Arthur Sullivan
April 2012 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
February 2012 Boeing Boeing
December 2011 Every Christmas Story Ever Told by Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald & John K. Alvarez
October 2011 Little Shop of Horrors by Alan Menken & Howard Ashman
July 2011 RENT by Jonathan Larson
April 2011 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
February 2011 The Last of the Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon
Nov/Dec 2010 Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island by Ken Ludwig
October 2010 The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien
July 2010[3] Hairspray Book: Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan, Music & Lyrics: Marc Shaiman, Lyrics: Scott Wittman
2009[4] Dirty Blondeby Claudia Shear
Fiddler on the RoofBook by Joseph Stein, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, Music by Jerry Bock
Laughter on the 23rd Floorby Neil Simon
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield
Plaid Tidingsby Stuart Ross
2008 Jekyll & HydeConceived for the stage by Steve Cuden & Frank Wildhorn; Book & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Music by Frank Wildhorn
Copenhagenby Michael Frayn
The Glass Menagerieby Tennessee Williams
A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Tony Reich
2007 The Full MontyMusic & Lyrics by David Yazbek, Book by Terrence McNally
The Man Who Came To Dinnerby Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman
Shirley Valentineby Willy Russell
Ten Little Indians (And Then There Were None)by Agatha Christie
CinderellaMusic by Richard Rodgers, Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
2006 Camping With Henry & Tom by Mark St. Germain
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatMusic by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Tim Rice
Hay Feverby Noël Coward
Deathtrapby Ira Levin
Twelfth Nightby William Shakespeare
2005 Truby Jay Presson Allen
The Sound of MusicMusic by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Book by Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse
PippinBook by Roger O. Hirson, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
The Diary of Anne Frankby Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich
A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted by Tony Reich
2004 My Wayby David Grapes & Todd Olson
Play It Again Samby Woody Allen
ShenandoahBook by James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell & Philip Rose; Music by Gary Geld, Lyrics by Peter Udell
Frankensteinbased on the novel by Mary Shelley
A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted by Tony Reich
2003 Sweeney ToddMusic & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler
The Odd Coupleby Neil Simon
Big RiverMusic & Lyrics by Roger Miller, Book by William Hauptman
Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbirdby Christopher Sergel
A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted by Tony Reich
2002 Guys & DollsMusic & Lyrics by Frank Loesser, Book by Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows
Jerry's GirlsConcept by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento & Jerry Herman
Bye, Bye BirdieBook by Michael Stewart, Lryics by Lee Adams, Music by Charles Strouse
Macbethby William Shakespeare
Angel Streetby Patrick Hamilton
2001 Forever Plaidby Stuart Ross
Pump Boys and Dinettesby John Schimmel, Cass Morgan, Jim Wann, Debra Monk, John Foley, Mark Hardwick
AnnieBook by Thomas Meehan; Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin
BrigadoonBook & Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Lowe
Arsenic and Old Laceby Joseph Kesselring
2000 West Side StoryConcept by Jerome Robbins, Book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Blithe Spiritby Noël Coward
OliverMusic, Lyrics & Book by Lionel Bart
Draculaby Hamilton Dean & John L. Balderston
1999 Dames At SeaBook & Lyrics by George Haimsohn & Robin Miller; Music by Jim Wise
Noises Offby Michael Frayn
The King And IMusic by Richard Rodgers, Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
The Taming Of The Shrewby William Shakespeare
The All Night Strutby Fran Charnas
Dial 'M' For Murderby Frederick Knott
1998 Nunsense Jamboreeby Dan Goggin
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfby Edward Albee
Blood BrothersBook, Music & Lyrics by Willy Russell
Barefoot in the Parkby Neil Simon
A Closer Walk With Patsy Clineby Dean Regan
The Woman In Blackby Stephen Mallatrat
1997 GodspellConcept by John Michael Trebelak; Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
The Lion In Winterby James Goldman
The Pirates Of PenzanceBook by W. S. Gilbert, Music by Arthur Sullivan
Moon Over Buffaloby Ken Ludwig
Ain't Misbehavin' - The "Fats" Waller MusicalConcept by Murray Horowitz & Richard Maltby, Jr.
Sleuthby Anthony Shaffer
1996 The FantasticksBook & Lyrics by Tom Jones, Music by Harvey Schmidt
Cat On A Hot Tin Roofby Tennessee Williams
CabaretBook by Joe Masteroff, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Don't Dress for Dinnerby Marc Canolletti, Robin Hawdon
A Closer Walk With Patsy Clineby Dean Regan
Sherlock Holmesby William Gillette & Arthur Conan Doyle
1995 Forever Plaidby Stuart Ross
Private Livesby Noël Coward
The Music ManBook, Music & Lyrics by Meredith Wilson, Story by Franklin Lacey
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in ParisConception & English Lyrics by Eric Blau & Mort Shuman; Music by Jacques Brel
Rumorsby Neil Simon
The Mousetrapby Agatha Christie
1994 Nunsense IIby Dan Goggin
Greater Tunaby Jaston Williams, Joe Sears & Ed Howard
Man of La ManchaBook by Dale Wasserman, Music by Mitch Leigh, Lyrics by Joe Darion
Love, Sex and The I.R.S.by William Van Zandt & Jane Milmore
Something's AfootBook, Music & Lyrics by James McDonald, David Vos & Robert Gerlach
1993 Lettice & Lovageby Peter Shaffer
EvitaMusic by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Tim Rice
Run For Your Wifeby Ray Cooney
Murdererby Anthony Shaffer
1992 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The ForumBook by Burt Shevlove & Larry Gelbart; Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Social Securityby Andrew Bergman
I Do! I Do!Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones, Music by Harvey Schmidt
Draculaby Hamilton Dean & John L. Balderston
1991 Nunsenseby Dan Goggin
Other People's Moneyby Jerry Sterner
Lend Me A Tenorby Ken Ludwig
1990 The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasBook by Larry L. King & Peter Masterson; Music & Lyrics by Carol Hall
Steel Magnoliasby Robert Harling
Side By Side by SondheimMusic & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Additional Music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers & Julie Styne. Continuity by Ned Sherrin
1989 Broadway Boundby Neil Simon
Promises, PromisesMusic by Burt Bacharach, Book by Neil Simon, Lyrics by Hal David
Romantic Comedyby Bernard Slade
1988 Brighton Beach Memoirsby Neil Simon
The Pajama GameMusic by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross; Book by George Abbott, Richard Bissell; Lyrics by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross
The Nerdby Larry Shue

References

  1. "Cumberland Theatre". Allegany Arts Council. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  2. Theatre Review: ‘The Producers’ at Cumberland Theatre, Maryland Theatre Guide
  3. "Three Actors' Equity players head cast of CT's 'Hairspray'". Cumberland Times-News. 2 July 2010.
  4. "Cumberland Theatre starts 23rd season Saturday". Cumberland Times-News. 5 June 2009.

External links

Coordinates: 39°39′08″N 78°46′00″W / 39.6522°N 78.7666°W / 39.6522; -78.7666

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