Spotlighters renew lease, will stay in Mt. Vernon

Baltimore, MD. – Spotlighters Theatre is pleased to announce the signing of a long-term lease renewal with Madison Apartment Associates LLC to remain at its current location – 817 St. Paul Street in Baltimore’s Mt .Vernon neighborhood – through October, 2022.

Fuzz Roark, Spotlighters’ Artistic/Managing Director, negotiated the lease on behalf of the theatre. “We have been looking for a new home for some time now” said Mr. Roark. “Extending our lease at 817 St. Paul allows us the time we need to raise the money needed to make a new home possible while strengthening our organization to accomplish such a move.”

“We hope to expand our audience while continuing to serve our artistic community” continued Roark. “Spotlighters has always been a unique marriage between artiste and audience, a character trait that continues to define and differentiate us in an area rich in community theatres.”

Located on the Terrace Level (basement) of the Mt. Vernon Apartments building at 817 St. Paul Street, Spotlighters Theatre has long been known for its “down the steps and through the courtyard” entrance.

“There will be some cosmetic improvements to our space, but it will remain essentially the same. We’re focusing on our future as part of producing great theatre in the present” concluded Roark.

In February, 2017, following a year long process of submitting and being awarded the initial bid for the old Read’s Drugstore (in the west-side Howard-Lexington Streets Superblock), Spotlighters Theatre decided to not pursue acquisition and renovation of this property.

The Theatre is currently engaged in activities that will promote long-term institutional sustainability to prepare for a major capital campaign in the near future. The Board of the theatre continues to investigate various properties in and around the city, in hopes of finding one that meets all the needs of the theatre and our patrons.

For the present, we are focusing on securing our financial status and developing a strong fund raising program.

The current production at Spotlighters is Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape, through November 19, 2017. For performance schedule and ticket information, www.spotlighters.org .