Two area theater organizations will have a new home in Columbia late this year.
Construction on the new 10,000 square-foot Red Branch Theatre began last week, with approximately 40 community members attending its groundbreaking ceremony, says Ray Weiss, the theatre's publicist.
Red Branch Theatre Company, a theater company founded in 2008, and
Drama Learning Center, a theater education organization, will both be housed at the new location near the intersection of Red Branch Road and Old Annapolis Road in Columbia.
The project is being financed by the Sanford Companies Inc.
Owner and artistic director of Red Branch Theatre, Stephanie Lynn Williams, hopes the space will provide additional resources for the community of Howard County in the area of dramatic and performing arts.
Williams also owns Drama Learning Center, which offers year-round production and acting classes for youth from grades pre-K to 12.
The new space will include a 200-seat theater, a reception area, a backstage area, and two rehearsal spaces, Williams says.
With the expansion, the Drama Learning Center plans to hire additional teaching staff, and the theater company will hire a new technical director for the space, Williams says.
The space will also be available to rent, which will address the demand for performing arts space in Howard County, says Weiss.
Sources: Ray Weiss, publicist for Red Branch Theatre; Stephanie Lynn Williams, owner and artistic director of Red Branch Theatre.
Writer: Alexandra Wilding,
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