Baltimore has a thriving arts scene that welcomes a wide-range of experimental and interdisciplinary work. From small theatres to renovated warehouses, rehearsal and performance spaces are easily accessible and affordable. Past graduates have found many opportunities within the city to engage and reach across Baltimore’s network of theatre-makers.
Local Arts Scene
COMPANIES
Annex Theatre Company is dedicated to producing experimental and interdisciplinary performance in Baltimore. They are “constantly embarking into unknown creative territory where risk is everything and the strange is cherished.” Past graduates have directed and performed in their productions.
The Acme Corporation is a Baltimore-based theatre company that brings the professional, educational, and DIY communities together. They make new plays and re-imagined classics and are led by Towson alum and current faculty.
Iron Crow is Baltimore’s only queer theatre dedicated to amplifying the voices of LGBTQ actors and playwrights and pushing things beyond the limits of normal. It was originally founded by current Towson faculty. Towson alum have performed and directed past productions. http://www.ironcrowtheatre.org/
Submersive Productions is a Baltimore-based collaborative arts company focused on creating memorable, immersive, and impactful audience experiences. Towson alumni have devised, directed and performed in many of Submersive’s theatrical experiences.
And More: Baltimore Rock Opera Society, Single Carrot, Stillpointe, CREATIVE ALLIANCE
VENUES & ORGANIZATIONS
Station North Arts & Entertainment, Inc. promotes and supports artists and cultural organizations in the District, it seeks to create a vibrant neighborhood where arts, artists and entertainment venues flourish in the midst an economically diverse community with an abundance of healthy residential, retail and commercial offerings.
The EMP Collective rents a 5,000+ square foot space in downtown Baltimore that they generously rent out for one-night events and longer term runs. The space is quite flexible and operates as a theatre, gallery and cinema space.
Le Mondo is a new artist-owned-and-driven project creating a multi-use community hub and experimental performance complex. It’s located in historic Howard Street corridor and houses a black box theatre and dance space, affordable live/work apartments, workshop facilities, rehearsal space, classroom space, and a cafe.
Baltimore Theatre Project , located in Mt. Vernon, presents original and experimental work. It offers a black box feel with fixed seating. BTP offers straightforward rentals, co-productions and sponsored presentations. BTP’s lobby is sometimes home to curated visual arts shows.
The Crown is a no-frills bar & music venue with Asian cuisine. With three distinct rooms for performance complete with sound systems and projectors, they host and book a wide-range of late-night events from fundraisers to to burlesque shows and everything in between.
And More: Motorhouse, Creative Alliance, Metro Gallery, The Wind-Up Space, Red Room, Area 405, 2640 Space
FESTIVALS
AKIMBO is an afternoon of site-specific dance and movement art throughout Station North Arts and Entertainment District in Baltimore. AKIMBO events are designed to build community between artists, audiences, and venues to encourage ongoing relationships for future projects and collaborations.
Charm City Fringe is a new, underground campaign to celebrate Baltimore's theater and arts while offering opportunities for young people to get interested and involved. Charm City Fringe, Inc. aims to connect and develop Baltimore’s theater community, engage existing audiences, attract non-traditional theatergoers and reach out to communities not commonly represented.
Fields Festival is a weekend-long camping experience that celebrates and integrates DIY music, performance, and arts culture from Baltimore and beyond. Attendees can experience a wide-range of events including comedy, theatre, film, sound installation, performance art, poetry, yoga, and more.
High Zero Festival is the premier festival of improvised, experimental music on the East Coast, being fully devoted to new collaborations between the most inspired improvisers from around the world. Lasting two weeks in total, the festival brings together 28 core musicians each year, but also involves a much larger subculture of musicians in Baltimore and on the East Coast.
The Transmodern Festival is a cultural phenomenon presenting radical, experimental, expectation-defying work from local, national and international artists. The Festival’s mission is to represent communities and artists who defy cultural normative practices and disciplines from Baltimore and beyond.