Uncover the Best of Baltimore’s Theater Scene in the DMV
Explore Baltimore’s performing arts scene at this line up of historic and independent theaters.
Baltimore is a haven for the arts, and not just the kind you find displayed in a museum. Theater and performing arts options abound, from the grand venues showing Broadway plays to the independent stages uplifting local playwrights. Whatever your preference, read on to learn a little more about some of our most popular theaters and what to expect at each.
Baltimore Center Stage
As the State Theater of Maryland, Baltimore Center Stage is dedicated to making theater accessible to all regardless of race or socioeconomic status. As part of its mission, it develops new works by Maryland-based writers, like David Feldshuh’s Miss Evers’ Boys, and works by Eric Bogosian and Tony Kushner. And since 2014, the company has brought the arts on the road with the Baltimore Center Stage Mobile Unit, an initiative that brings theater to those who might not otherwise have access.
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
Housed in the landmark renovated Romanesque-style Mercantile Trust & Deposit Company building, the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company has been exploring the question, “What makes Shakespeare so great?” The company’s goal is to help audiences connect in new ways to classic works, both by the Bard and others, including Henrik Ibsen, Thornton Wilder, Charles Dickens and more. They especially seek to reach young people, offering school matinee programs and free tickets for children to limited productions.
Creative Alliance
Located in the Highlandtown Arts & Entertainment District, Creative Alliance is a community arts organization that aims to bring creatives and audiences from different backgrounds together under the belief that art is a powerful tool for place-making and cultural expression. The Patterson multipurpose center features two galleries and a 200-seat flex theater space where you can view a wide variety of performances, from burlesque shows to musicals to candlelight concerts. They also offer several free drop-in art and music classes, as well as trivia nights and yoga sessions.
Everyman Theatre
Differing from many traditional theaters that cast new actors for each production, the Everyman Theatre in Station North Arts & Entertainment District employs a resident company of professional actors that perform together in several shows throughout the season; this dynamic creates a deep bond amongst the actors, and that emotional connection is evident in every production Everyman stages. As for the repertoire, Everyman boasts a mix of classical and new offerings to engage its audience. Past productions have included All in the Timing by David Ives, Fences by August Wilson, The Children’s Hour by Lillian Helleman and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.
Fells Point Corner Theatre
The Fells Point Corner Theatre launched in 1987 with a production of Sam Shepard’s Fool For Love. Thirty-three years later, Fells Point Corner Theatre is a thriving volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization. In addition to mounting productions of plays by modern and classical playwrights like Christopher Durang and Caryl Churchill, the Fells Point Corner Theatre also stages work from local artists, such as Mark Scharf’s The Quickening. An annual highlight is the 10x10x10 Festival: Ten ten-minute plays by ten local playwrights.
Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center
Constructed on the site on the old Eutaw House luxury hotel, The Hippodrome Theatre opened on November 23, 1914 as a movie palace that featured vaudeville performances. By the 1930s, it had solidified its reputation as a top performance venue, featuring headliners like Bob Hope, Benny Goodman, The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra and more. In 2004, the curtain rose once again on the Hippodrome Theatre as the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center…