Tony nominee and Obie Award-winning director Stevie Walker-Webb has been named the new artistic director of Baltimore Center Stage, succeeding Interim Artistic Director Ken-Matt Martin. Walker-Webb will officially join the company October 1, alongside Managing Director Adam Frank.
Walker-Webb received a Tony nomination helming Ain't No Mo' on Broadway and won an Obie Award for its 2019 Off-Broadway run at The Public. His directing resume also includes one in two and Black Odyssey Off-Broadway, Gun & Powder at Paper Mill Playhouse, and Fairview at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Walker-Webb is no stranger to Baltimore Center Stage, having helmed productions of Our Town, The Folks at Home, and Life is a Dream at the Maryland company.
The upcoming season, programmed by former Artistic Director Stephanie Ybarra, includes Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Mexodus, The Hot Wing King, and a new adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest. Walker-Webb will lead the season as he transitions into the company, ultimately fully programming the 2024-2025 season.
"From the moment I stepped into the lobby of Baltimore Center Stage, I intuitively knew that I'd found a creative home,” says Walker-Webb in a statement. "The rich history and undeniable heart of this city is unmatched. Baltimore has long been a cultural beacon, and I'm excited to use my experience and national reach to amplify what makes Baltimore so special. This theatre sits at the precise intersection of all the things that matter to me both as an artist and as a civically engaged citizen. I am honored to be leading an institution that has over 60 years of proven commitment to its community and intend to deepen that commitment by working with the Baltimore Center Stage team to bring only the most exciting and cutting-edge art to our city. This theatre belongs to all of us, and my plan is to program plays that will make Baltimore fall in love with live performance again and again."
"Stevie is a bold and thoughtful leader, who matches artistic brilliance and delight with a history of placing art at the center of the work to build healthier communities and a better world," adds Frank. "At this critical juncture in the American theatre, his passion, energy, and commitment to Baltimore make him an inspired choice for a vibrant future for BCS. I can’t wait to work with him to realize a beautiful new chapter for this amazing company."
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