Photo Flash: Maryland Ensemble Theatre Celebrates Stage2 Ribbon Cutting

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET), Frederick's largest producing non-profit theater, launched a Capital Campaign in September of 2013 to raise funds for an additional performance venue and alterations to the existing facilities. On January 10, 2015 MET celebrated the completion of the Stage2: The Greene Space venue and numerous other capital improvements with a ribbon cutting ceremony, hours of free activities for families, and an evening of comedy and music. Scroll down for phots from the ribbon cutting!

The Maryland Ensemble Theatre incorporated and began producing full seasons of theatre in 1997, originally operating out of the former McCrory's five and dime. Since 2003 the MET has performed in and operated out of the lower level of the historic FSK Hotel at 31 W Patrick Street. During this time, the MET occupied roughly 12,000 square feet of space, encompassing the performance venue, the administrative offices, a classroom, a rehearsal area, and a backstage area that included dressing rooms, a scene shop and storage. The 2013 signing of a six-year lease extension to stay at the FSK added an additional 1,700 square feet of space that was previously occupied by Volunteer Frederick to the MET facility.

Over the course of the past year the MET, led by a Capital Committee that included Dr. Mark Pitts, Rich Haney, Tad Janes, Abby Sievers, Kai Hagan, and Suzanne Beal, embarked on a Capital Campaign to raise $100,000 for the transformation of the additional 1,700 square feet into a second performance space. The campaign was an unequivocal success, exceeding the initial financial goal. The generosity of Dr. Mark Pitts and Shawn Pitts was integral to that success, as was the support of MET Board President Jim Hochadel, Board President emeritus Suzanne Beal, and more than a hundred individual donors with contributions ranging from five dollars to thousands of dollars. The campaign also received generous corporate and foundation support from the George L Sheilds Foundation, The Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, Delaplaine Foundation, Inc., Joseph D Baker Fund, PNC, Frederick County Bank, and others. Many vendors also contributed to the effort including Anthony Owens Remodeling, Creative Metal Design, Rick Jones Electric, and Parlights.

Stage2: The Greene Space will primarily serve educational programming including the Youth Ensemble and Ensemble School performances, and will also be home to the full season of performances by MET's family theater, The Fun Company. "Last year alone we produced over 200 events," said Tad Janes, MET Artistic Director. "With the amount of producing we do we have been thinking about an additional space for awhile," said Janes. In addition to producing a Mainstage season of roughly a hundred performances, a full season of family theater, more than twenty performances by The Comedy Pigs, and numerous MET-X shows, the MET is also home to The Ensemble School and Fun Camp. "There is hardly a single night when there aren't two or three things happening simultaneously in our space," said Janes.

Stage2 seats roughly seventy and is a flexible space that can accommodate seating designed for family theater or a cabaret. All the stage lighting in the space is supplied by energy efficient LEDs. Other improvements include a new sign on the façade of the building, a new box office window, a new ticketing system, new lobby décor, and new lobby lighting. The new performance space is named in honor of Frank Greene, the late husband of former MET Board president Suzanne Beal, who performed in several MET productions and was very committed to the company's mission.

The Maryland Ensemble Theatre is located at 31 W Patrick Street in downtown Frederick. For additional information visit marylandensemble.org or call 301-694-4744.