BACKSTAGE…
...IS BACK!

After years of talking about it, a year of planning, the generosity of our fundraising gala patrons and volunteers, and many months of hard work, CP is ready to reveal its all-new backstage area!

It seems like just a short time ago we kicked off our “Summer of Fun” Renovation with a celebration on June 26th. Exactly 9 weeks later we would love for you to help us celebrate the end result and thank everyone who has worked so hard to achieve out latest success.

Be among the first to view our backstage renovation and join us at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, August 26th at 7:00 pm at the Theater at 108 East Street, Annapolis, MD.

Share a Potluck Dinner and socialize with CP friends and “family” starting at 7pm. The official Ribbon Cutting—yes a real honest-to-goodness ribbon (or caution tape, anyway!) - will be at 8pm. After that, people are free to wander through the backstage areas to check them out.

If you would like to be part of this celebration, please RSVP by Saturday 20 AUG 2011 with the potluck item you will be bringing and the number of attendees to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Many of you have been following our pictorial diary of renovation progress throughout the summer at the Colonial Players website, but for those who have not, here is some of what you can expect...

Many of the improvements will be visible. Revamped dressing rooms have custom built dressing station cabinets with practical countertops and bin storage, as well as overhead shelving. Both overhead and mirror lighting is vastly improved. Rooms also have additional outlets, built in ironing stations, new carpeting, small sinks and - most welcome - attached restrooms!

In Prop Alley, a window into the theater gives Stage Managers a direct view of the stage for improved awareness of the action on stage and preparation for upcoming cues. New drop ceilings in the dressing rooms and Prop Alley serve several purposes including reducing the noise levels backstage, reducing dust spillover from the shop area, and improving the overall aesthetics.

The shop area also got a makeover! A new workbench, custom built by Dick Whaley and Company, is now resident. New shelving on the back wall of the shop allows for improved parts storage and organization. Other improvements include new overhead lighting, a new shop sink and a second small workbench. The old sink room in the shop was converted to a locked tool closet to store our more expensive tools, and a rolling tool cabinet. And finally - the opening between the shop and E4 has been heightened to reduce the incidence of bumped heads!

That is only one of several other safety enhancements - most not as obvious to our backstage denizens. New underground plumbing was installed to enable many of our improvements. The sprinkler system was upgraded, with the antiquated fire system controller replaced to bring our fire monitoring system up to date. And additional electrical receptacle capacity allows for all of our modern “plug-ins” in the dressing rooms and other backstage areas.

August 26th will be your only chance to see the new backstage in its “pristine” condition - before our first show of the season starts moving into the theater, putting all those new spaces to work! Here’s to new beginnings!