The Cumberland Theatre is Western Maryland's only regional professional theatre. It is located in Cumberland, Maryland, and stages a wide variety of musicals, plays, and dramas. It is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1988 and relocated in a formerly empty church in 1991.
History Started as a project of Frostburg State University as a way to rejuvenate the summer theatre program, the theatre has since become independent of the university. Three of the founders were President Reinhard, Dr. Press and Dean Phillip Allen. It was incorporated in 1987, after Frostburg President Herb Rinehard expressed concern about the absence of summer theatre in Cumberland, which led to the cooperation of current theatre professor David Press and Dean Phillip Allen in founding the Cumberland theatre with a view to stimulating the local economy. A board of Trustees was later established, chaired by Shirley Giarritta. This board included members from the university, County and City administration, local businesses, and local residents.
The new Summer Theatre started in 1988 and 1989 as a rotating repertory theatre. Dr. Press acted as the artistic director as well as the Producing Director. In the next season, Dean Allen assumed the role of executive director and the Producer, while Dr. Press remained the artistic director. By the third season, the first full-time Producing Director and general manager, Mr. Pat Julian, was selected.
The theatre group performed in a borrowed storefront in the Schwarzenbach building on the Downtown Mall until 1991, when with assistance from the state of Maryland, Mrs. Giarriatta and Mr. Nicholas Giarriatta bought and renovated a disused Assembly of God church on Johnson street. Mr. Don Whisted was engaged in 1992 as artistic director and remained in that position assisted for many years by Mr. Gary Goodson, Associate Producer, until his retirement in October, 2016. In 2003 William H. Macy, an Emmy Award winning actor, agreed to serve on the board of trustees. That same year the auditorium was named “The Nicholas and Shirley Giarritta Playhouse” to honour their many contributions to the theatre. The newly selected theatre management team consists of Co-Artistic Directors Kimberli Rowley & Rhett Wolford.
Accommodation The theatre's present location is at 101 North Johnson Street, formerly an Assembly of God Church. The building houses the costume and scene shops and storage, as well as the theatre house. The theatre seats 198 patrons. The Bev Walker Gallery serves as the lobby of the theatre with an art show on display with each production.
Management The Cumberland Theatre is owned and operated by a volunteer board of trustees and is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. The theatre is also supported by volunteers who serve on various committees and work as front of house staff.
The theatre is supported by donations from residents of the city of Cumberland, along with patrons such as Allegany County, Maryland Arts Council, Allegany County, the City of Cumberland, and the Allegany Arts Council.
Productions The Cumberland Theatre produces a variety of plays. The artistic director posts a brief synopsis of the play and usually a subjective rating, based on the language and themes contained in the shows. The wide variety of genres include, comedy, drama, horror/thriller, musical, colonial, autobiographical, romance, crime, and mystery. Over the years, musicals have proven to be generally the most popular, followed by comedies and thrillers. Furthermore, the theatre has produced many shows featuring stories specific to different minorities. Some examples are: The Diary of Anne Frank, Ain't Misbehavin', Hairspray, The All Night Strut, and To Kill A Mockingbird.
Past productions + Past productions Date Show CreditsJuly 2013Theatre Review: ‘The Producers’ at Cumberland Theatre, Maryland Theatre Guide The Producers by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan July 2012 The Pirates of Penzance Book by W. S. Gilbert, Music by Arthur Sullivan April 2012 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare February 2012 Boeing Boeing December 2011 Every Christmas Story Ever Told by Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald & John K. Alvarez October 2011 Little Shop of Horrors by Alan Menken & Howard Ashman July 2011 RENT by Jonathan Larson April 2011 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde February 2011 The Last of the Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon Nov/Dec 2010 Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island by Ken Ludwig October 2010 The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien July 2010 Hairspray Book: Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan, Music & Lyrics: Marc Shaiman, Lyrics: Scott Wittman 2009Dirty Blondeby Claudia Shear Fiddler on the RoofBook by Joseph Stein, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, Music by Jerry Bock Laughter on the 23rd Floorby Neil Simon The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield Plaid Tidingsby Stuart Ross 2008Jekyll & HydeConceived for the stage by Steve Cuden & Frank Wildhorn; Book & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Music by Frank Wildhorn Copenhagenby Michael Frayn The Glass Menagerieby Tennessee Williams A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Tony Reich 2007The Full MontyMusic & Lyrics by David Yazbek, Book by Terrence McNally The Man Who Came To Dinnerby Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman Shirley Valentineby Willy Russell Ten Little Indians (And Then There Were None)by Agatha Christie CinderellaMusic by Richard Rodgers, Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II 2006Camping With Henry & Tom by Mark St. Germain Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatMusic by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Tim Rice Hay Feverby Noël Coward Deathtrapby Ira Levin Twelfth Nightby William Shakespeare 2005Truby Jay Presson Allen The Sound of MusicMusic by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Book by Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse PippinBook by Roger O. Hirson, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz The Diary of Anne Frankby Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted by Tony Reich 2004My Wayby David Grapes & Todd Olson Play It Again Samby Woody Allen ShenandoahBook by James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell & Philip Rose; Music by Gary Geld, Lyrics by Peter Udell Frankensteinbased on the novel by Mary Shelley A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted by Tony Reich 2003Sweeney ToddMusic & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler The Odd Coupleby Neil Simon Big RiverMusic & Lyrics by Roger Miller, Book by William Hauptman Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbirdby Christopher Sergel A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, adapted by Tony Reich 2002Guys & DollsMusic & Lyrics by Frank Loesser, Book by Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows Jerry's GirlsConcept by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento & Jerry Herman Bye, Bye BirdieBook by Michael Stewart, Lyrics by Lee Adams, Music by Charles Strouse Macbethby William Shakespeare Angel Streetby Patrick Hamilton 2001Forever Plaidby Stuart Ross Pump Boys and Dinettesby John Schimmel, Cass Morgan, Jim Wann, Debra Monk, John Foley, Mark Hardwick AnnieBook by Thomas Meehan; Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin BrigadoonBook & Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Lowe Arsenic and Old Laceby Joseph Kesselring 2000West Side StoryConcept by Jerome Robbins, Book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Blithe Spiritby Noël Coward OliverMusic, Lyrics & Book by Lionel Bart Draculaby Hamilton Dean & John L. Balderston 1999Dames at SeaBook & Lyrics by George Haimsohn & Robin Miller; Music by Jim Wise Noises Offby Michael Frayn The King And IMusic by Richard Rodgers, Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II The Taming Of The Shrewby William Shakespeare The All Night Strutby Fran Charnas Dial 'M' For Murderby Frederick Knott 1998Nunsense Jamboreeby Dan Goggin Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?by Edward Albee Blood BrothersBook, Music & Lyrics by Willy Russell Barefoot in the Parkby Neil Simon A Closer Walk With Patsy Clineby Dean Regan The Woman In Blackby Stephen Mallatrat 1997GodspellConcept by John Michael Trebelak; Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz The Lion In Winterby James Goldman The Pirates Of PenzanceBook by W. S. Gilbert, Music by Arthur Sullivan Moon Over Buffaloby Ken Ludwig Ain't Misbehavin' - The "Fats" Waller MusicalConcept by Murray Horowitz & Richard Maltby Jr. Sleuthby Anthony Shaffer 1996The FantasticksBook & Lyrics by Tom Jones, Music by Harvey Schmidt Cat On A Hot Tin Roofby Tennessee Williams CabaretBook by Joe Masteroff, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb Don't Dress for Dinnerby Marc Canolletti, Robin Hawdon A Closer Walk With Patsy Clineby Dean Regan Sherlock Holmesby William Gillette & Arthur Conan Doyle 1995Forever Plaidby Stuart Ross Private Livesby Noël Coward The Music ManBook, Music & Lyrics by Meredith Wilson, Story by Franklin Lacey Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in ParisConception & English Lyrics by Eric Blau & Mort Shuman; Music by Jacques Brel Rumorsby Neil Simon The Mousetrapby Agatha Christie 1994Nunsense IIby Dan Goggin Greater Tunaby Jaston Williams, Joe Sears & Ed Howard Man of La ManchaBook by Dale Wasserman, Music by Mitch Leigh, Lyrics by Joe Darion Love, Sex and The I.R.S.by William Van Zandt & Jane Milmore Something's AfootBook, Music & Lyrics by James McDonald, David Vos & Robert Gerlach 1993Lettice & Lovageby Peter Shaffer EvitaMusic by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Tim Rice Run For Your Wifeby Ray Cooney Murdererby Anthony Shaffer 1992A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The ForumBook by Burt Shevlove & Larry Gelbart; Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Social Securityby Andrew Bergman I Do! I Do!Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones, Music by Harvey Schmidt Draculaby Hamilton Dean & John L. Balderston 1991Nunsenseby Dan Goggin Other People's Moneyby Jerry Sterner Lend Me A Tenorby Ken Ludwig 1990The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasBook by Larry L. King & Peter Masterson; Music & Lyrics by Carol Hall Steel Magnoliasby Robert Harling Side By Side by SondheimMusic & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Additional Music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers & Julie Styne. Continuity by Ned Sherrin 1989Broadway Boundby Neil Simon Promises, PromisesMusic by Burt Bacharach, Book by Neil Simon, Lyrics by Hal David Romantic Comedyby Bernard Slade 1988Brighton Beach Memoirsby Neil Simon The Pajama GameMusic by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross; Book by George Abbott, Richard Bissell; Lyrics by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross The Nerdby Larry Shue
References
External links Theatre website