Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts 40th Anniversary Gala

The Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) will host a 40th Anniversary Gala on April 30, 2012 to celebrate four decades of educating children through the arts in Central Maryland. The event will be held at Toby’s Dinner Theatre-Baltimore with a cocktail reception and dinner followed by an original production featuring performances by CCTA students past and present.

Proceeds from the event will support CCTA and its Outreach Programs that make quality arts programming accessible to low income and special needs youth. In the past year alone CCTA served over 26,000 children, provided work for 84 artists, awarded $23,000 in scholarships and provided free performances, after school programs and a summer camp to 2,725 Baltimore City students.

CCTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Toby Orenstein in 1972 at the invitation of visionary developer Jim Rouse. Rouse brought Orenstein to Columbia to open a theatre school in his new city of the future. Through CCTA Orenstein formed The Young Columbians performance ensemble that toured extensively including a performance at The White House; the nationally-recognized Teen Professional Theatre, recipient of five grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; and an extensive Outreach Program that serves disadvantaged and special needs youth. CCTA students have performed in movies, television, on Broadway, in national tours and on local stages. Among the best known are opera singer Harolyn Blackwell, Broadway Performers Ric Ryder and Steve Blanchard, and
Actor/Director Edward Norton.

 “I have always championed the importance of the arts and how it empowers children,” says Orenstein.
“As we approach the 40th anniversary of the founding of The Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, I am humbled and amazed by the number of students, teachers and families that have participated in achieving CCTA’s goal of building young peoples' confidence and opening their eyes to the endless possibilities in life through the arts.”

Individual tickets to the event are $75 and a variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. For additional information contact the CCTA office at 410-381-0700 or info@CCTArts.com.

6655 Dobbin Road, Unit #4 . Columbia, MD 21045 . 410-381-0700 . info@CCTArts.com . www.CCTArts.com