Oct 9, 2009 6:42 pm US/Eastern
Center Stage Kicks Off New Season, New Look
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Center Stage is kicking off a new season and new look.
CBS
It's said you can gauge how progressive a society is by its treatment of the arts and artists themselves.
Kai Jackson reports Center Stage feels its venue is a good place to start measuring, and it's kicking off a new season and new look to make the point.
Sparks are flying inside the Head Theater at Center Stage, and it's a good thing because the theater is about to reopen.
It's going to have a new look and a new attitude.
"The programming here is going to be a cabaret series. We're going to do short works, we're going to do concert readings with international themes, provocative plays," said Debbie Chinn, Center Stage managing director.
The goal is to make Center Stage more user friendly. There patrons can have drinks during the show. The first show will star Tony Award-winner Judy Kaye.
"For people who would never really come to sit down for a two and a half hour play, this is a great way to experience theater for a first time," said Charisse Nichols, promotions director.
"I want to make this a communal experience, a congregation place for people to come, relax, enjoy each other's company," said Chinn.
Theatergoers can also grab dinner before the show. Sasha's Express will offer the meals along with a new selection of premium wines.
Chinn says ticket sales only pay for 50 percent of all Center Stage operations. That means the other half, they have to raise on their own.
"And when you think about the loyalty of your subscribers and your donors, it's fundamental. And building relationships, building opportunities for people to come and just gather, which is what we're trying to do here, it's so important. It's all about relationship building," said Chinn.
Friday night is a preview of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" in the Pearlstone Theater. Tickets are available at the box office.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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