New Theater Proposed In Annapolis; Leaders Hope To Draw Visitors

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Theatre for Performing Arts hopes to build a new venue in Downtown Annapolis. The development would replace an empty plot of land at 3 Park Place, near the intersection of Taylor Avenue and West Street. Leaders predict that the $57 million project would bring $25 million to the city each year.

The complex would include large auditoriums and meeting rooms. This could attract sizable cultural and business events.

One concert hall would house 1,200 people. Another 350 seats would encircle a second intimate theater.

"You need facilities like that to attract international and national talent," Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said in a video. "We have to have that capacity."

The Maryland Theatre for Performing Arts is a nonprofit. That means the new site, dubbed the Maryland Cultural and Conference Center, is still recruiting donors.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from the Annapolis Arts District. Here's what Executive Director Erik Evans wrote about the proposal:

"Maryland Theatre for the Performing Arts (MTPA) for several years has owned land in the Annapolis Arts District next to the Westin Annapolis Hotel that has been the site of their Stage One outdoor performance space.

This past year during COVID this non-profit art organization has been as busy as ever lending its outdoor stage to the Priddy Music Academy so its students could safely take music lessons together, hosted the Ballet Theatre of Maryland for their performances of Dracula, hosted the Orange Groove Dance Company for their performances of Still Standing and a twelve-hour live streaming event featuring 9 different arts organizations.

Indoors at their offices in the Park Place complex the MTPA continued last year to hold art receptions following COVID safety protocols, they worked on community outreach programs with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Salisbury University, Towson University, University of Maryland, MFA students, and Frederick Douglass High School and established a resident professional contemporary dance company.

This past year the organization also took the opportunity to do some introspection and re-envisioning. After engaging with community stakeholders, they have reimagined the design of the future building to have a more flexible use that focuses on both the arts and conferences. The organization is rebranding [itself] and its planned new building as the Maryland Cultural and Conference Center (MC3).

They have developed a new strategic plan, website, and a spring programming schedule as part of their rebranding. They intend to become a world-class cultural and conference center offering state-of-the-art meeting and entertainment spaces, innovative and dynamic multi-cultural programming in a venue that honors veterans.

MC3 has determined that there are at least three distinct communities with different needs that will serve as pillars for any building that will be constructed: the arts community, the business community, and the region’s veterans.

MC3 is reaching out to diverse communities for input and participation. The results of these efforts are seen in the make-up of the MC3 Board, as well as the current plan to devote a new mural on the MC3 Lawn in celebration of Carr’s Beach that will be created by local artist, Comacell Brown.

The results can also be seen in the performances and programs scheduled over the next year. There will be a Silent Disco & Outdoor Lighting Installation with UMD graduate students, and six new art exhibitions from local Maryland artists at The Gallery. MC3 will also serve as a co-host for the Annapolis Juneteenth VIP reception.

MC3 Board Chair, Michael (“Mike”) W. Davis is certain these efforts will make MC3 stronger and better able to identify and access even more opportunities as we go forward.

“MC3 has made a commitment to present culturally diverse, accessible, and innovative arts programs, not just in the future, but now,” stated Executive Director, Mattie Fenton.

The first phase of their redevelopment also known as Stage One will be upgrading their outdoor performance spaces so that they can be used by more members of the community, the second phase is planned to be a four-story building to be located on the existing terrace. It will include a multi-purpose stage, breakout rooms, offices, galleries, a veteran’s overlook, street-level retail, and restaurants.

The final phase will be the main-stage flexible theater. It will be built on the lawn at Park Place and will be the largest element of this plan. With the retail, restaurant, and conference capabilities, MC3 will be a place where business meets the arts.

Erik Evans the Executive Director of the Annapolis Arts District says, "MC3 will become another great arts anchor in the Annapolis Arts District and is an arts-related economic development that can enrich our diverse community. With other nearby arts organizations, galleries, art studios, hotels, and restaurants this will further cement Annapolis is an arts destination."

“We are here to stay,” emphasized Davis, “and we want to work with our community partners and with all the other members of the Annapolis Arts District to make Annapolis the cultural center of Maryland and a valuable resource for our business community.”

To learn more about the Maryland Cultural and Conference Center (MC3) visit www.mc3annapolis.org

To learn more about the Annapolis Arts District visit www.AnnapolisArtsDistrict.org

Erik Evans

Executive Director

Annapolis Arts District"

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