The show must go on, and will go on, at another venue for three theater companies who normally share space in Bowie Playhouse.
The Playhouse, in Whitemarsh Park, one mile over the Anne Arundel County line, is undergoing renovations. And Prince George's Little Theatre, 2nd Star Productions and Bowie Community Theatre, which normally alternate shows in the Bowie Playhouse, have had to find a temporary home - in City Hall.
Taking the move in stride, this trio of troupers is grateful to the city of Bowie for providing space this fall in City Hall and looking forward to the improvements that will await them when the renovated playhouse reopens in mid-November.
FOR THE RECORD - An article in Thursday's Anne Arundel section on renovations at the Bowie Playhouse gave an incorrect date for the start of 2nd Star Productions' season-opening performance. That performance was Friday. Also, the article incorrectly stated that A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was the group's opening play. That play is to be the first staged at the renovated Bowie Playhouse in November.
The Baltimore Sun regrets the errors.
Bowie Playhouse was built in the late 1970s and is owned by the city of Bowie. Renovations began in early July and are expected to be completed by the end of October.
Bowie Playhouse technical director Garrett Hyde recently led us on a tour of both facilities - Bowie Playhouse and the temporary City Hall location. The tour showed the financial and technical expertise the city is investing in the arts to assure uninterrupted performances by the three companies. It also illustrated how Bowie is turning a first-rate theater into one with few peers for handling scenery for instant set changes and a hidden orchestra pit. The only other theater I know with similar facilities is Anne Arundel Community College's Pascal Center for the Performing Arts.
The renovations cost about a half million dollars and include replacing the entire roof, covering the exterior with metal and vinyl siding, adding a handicapped-accessible restroom and a box office, improving dressing room facilities and more than doubling the size of the lobby, Hyde said. Theater systems, including rigging, lighting, sound and intercoms, are being upgraded, he said.
Also on hand for our tour was Matt Reno, Bowie's special projects facilities manager. He has navigated governmental and contractual hurdles to come up with a strategy for getting the work done on what he described as "a design vision that will work today and 20 to 30 years from now."
Annette Esterheld was recently appointed arts specialist for the city of Bowie and has helped get the renovation project moving. In the interim, she has helped to establish temporary performing space in Bowie's City Hall. Bowie City Hall is one mile from Bowie Playhouse off Route 3, at 2614 Kenhill Drive.
2nd Star opens the season Thursday.
