Blog

Welcome Allison Brown and the Young Playwrights Seminar

Through the kindness of Baltimore Center Stage, the Young Playwrights Seminar is back again this year! This seminar which runs weekly through the first week of January teaches the students the structure and art of playwriting that culminates in each student producing a 10 minute play.  The plays are then entered into a regional contest where the plays chosen are professionally produced and performed at Center Stage.  The Community School has had two students in the last several years whose works have been chosen – Ronan Guilfoyle and Hector Rivas.

We are very fortunate to have Artist Allison Brown teaching this seminar.  Ms. Brown is a multi-talented artist, writer, designer and entrepreneur and brings her enthusiasm and gift for dynamic storytelling to our students.

Thank you Baltimore Center Stage! We are excited to work with Allison.  Keep your eyes out for more on this adventure!

Student Honors Veterans

In Honor of Mary Pat

Mary Pat Clarke, a good friend and long time member of the TCS community, has passed.

From our earliest beginning, Mary Pat was always an advocate for our school and all of the students in it. She came to know each student throughput the years, offering encouragement and personal support. She brought many political leaders and speakers to the school, developed an co-taught a class, and spoke to the class more times than I can count. She fought for us in zoning hearings, helped resolve conflicts with the city when needed, stood beside us as we worked to improve education and other issues and was just a steady and consistent presence over nearly 5 decades.

She will be missed by so many and our life, though not the same without her, is so much better because she was in it.

Conversation with Harold Young

Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) program officer Harold Young was our guest in our weekly “Conversation with…” series. BCYF is committed to funding and supporting youth programs in Baltimore City while assisting them in building their capacity and effectiveness.  They also provide networking opportunities to bring these groups together.  TCS is in its second year of being supported by BCYF.

Besides BCYF and a career in youth and social service work, Harold is also an actor who just finished a film and a stand up and improv comedian. He engaged in an enjoyable and meaningful conversation with students where he shared his background and the work of BCYF .  He was also keenly interested in each of the students and their experiences, challenges and goals. This is his second visit with us.

We appreciate Harold and the entire team at the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund.

Pride and Prejudice!

Smiles and laughter were on full display as the students attended a performance of Pride and Prejudice at Baltimore’s Center Stage. This adaptation directed by Ken-Matt Martin was hilarious filled with witty lines and larger than life characters. Following the play, we were fortunate to have a conversation at the school with three of the actors – Alanna Newton (Mrs. Bennett) and Kathryn Pryor (Mr. Bennett + Charlotte Lucas) and L’Oreal Lampley (Mary Bennet + Miss Bingley). They shared their perspectives on their characters and the play as well as their career journeys and passions.

Our thanks to all of the folks at Center Stage for making this possible including artistic associate staff Hope Hynson and Erin Margaret Pettigrew for inviting us to the performance and joining us for the conversation.