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Check out below what Philip Arnoult, our associate of 25 years, is up to in Baltimore...

From Philip Arnoult:

I have some news. I'm starting a new theatre in Baltimore:
The Baltimore Open Theatre.

Factoids:

- The Baltimore Open Theatre
- a free theatre
- presenting international, regional and local theatre and dance
- building an audience/community through social media--no paper, no subscriptions, no tickets
- providing context and developing conversations around the art through social media & other digital platforms
- commissioning local work
- commissioning local/international collaborations
- hosting gatherings and conversations

I'll be introducing you to my partner in this endeavor, Buck Jabaily, a young Coloradoan who moved to Baltimore with a cohort of theatre makers 5 years ago and started Single Carrot Theatre. I've been a fan of the company, and watching Buck since he got here. He's smart, committed, and young--we are birthing this theatre together. You will see us around--a lot--in the coming months.

Five months ago, I had no thoughts of doing such a foolish thing as starting a new theatre--it's 2011, you know. But an old friend, the actress Karen Allen (Karen was a member of the Washington Theatre Lab, and was at the Theatre Project in the early 70's) reintroduced me to two Baltimoreans--Jane Brown and Neil Didriksen. With a foundation begun by Jane's father, Robert W. Deutsch, a world-renowned physicist, Jane and Neil are committed to making a real difference in Baltimore.

They have also committed to helping us create the Open Theatre. Two key grants from the Deutsch Foundation have set us on our way: a $50,000 start-up gift that has allowed Buck to commit full-time to the project in January, and then a $150,000 challenge grant for the first year. And as we are looking at a $600,000 budget for the inaugural season--the Foundation's commitment is huge.

We plan to open in the Fall of 2012--and we hope to announce our space/home in the next month. We are looking at two vibrant arts districts in Baltimore.

As for the Center for International Theatre Development, that work will not stop.

I'm deeply committed to our presence in Eastern and Central Europe, and our long-time partnership with The Trust for Mutual Understanding. We will be in Hungary and Eastern Europe in 2012 and beyond, and our two Russian projects, New American Drama for Russia and Beyond the Capitals: Not the Usual Suspects, are both continuing through 2012.

I'll also continue my long-term relationships with both Towson University's graduate theatre program and Double Edge Theatre and the Farm Center. Exciting things are happening at both Towson and Double Edge, and we are already weaving both into the OT orbit: Towson has just committed three graduate assistants to the new theatre, and we plan to preview Double Edge's new work, The Grand Parade, prior to it's opening at Arena Stage in Washington.

Buck will be in Baltimore, doing the heavy organizational lifting with a small, professional staff.

There is a kernel of a website up now: baltimoreopentheatre.org

Our first hire will be the Wizard, a cross between a dramaturg & an IT person, so look for great growth in the website.

So, here's the best to all of us for 2012.

Philip

PS: There is something about years ending in a "1" for me: I was born in '41, Theatre Project is celebrating season 40 (I started it in '71), CITD in '91, and now this!

Philip Arnoult
founder & director
C. I. T. D.
Center for International Theatre Development