New Spire Arts Presents Stages Grand Opening January 19th, 20th, & 21st

USA - English

• USA - English

FREDERICK, Md., Dec. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As the performing arts scene in Frederick continues to grow, so does the need for a venue to showcase talent. Many local performing artists dream of having a space to call home. The arts community needs a space that can transform to accommodate a variety of acts and performances. Starting on Saturday, January 19th, those dreams will become a reality. New Spire Arts is thrilled to unveil Frederick's first flexible use theatre, Stages, over the course of its Grand Opening weekend.

New Spire Arts is pleased to welcome choreographer, solo performer, educator, community arts animator, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Grinnell College, Celeste Miller. Miller will premiere a brand-new theatre work that she has created in collaboration with Frederick-based actors, dancers, and musicians, including The Frederick Chorale.

"I am excited to work with Frederick artists to create a new devised dance theatre work for New Spire Arts' Grand Opening! What better way to launch a theatre than showcasing the stories and stellar performances of the local artists," said Miller. She shared the vision of the original piece, explaining that "The work, titled Strangers in a Strange Land, seeks to reinforce our human connections to each other, and the process will reinforce the need to open our hearts and minds in the manner that only art is able to."

Whether working solo, as part of an ensemble, a community project, or in the classroom, Miller explores the possibilities of dance as a performing art, cultural practice, political act, and a method for the embodiment of ideas and beliefs. Dubbed the "Dance Whisperer," Miller has devoted her life to finding ways that anybody and everybody can experience the world and express ideas through participatory dance-making.

For the first time since gaining his world-renowned status, New Spire Arts welcomes actor, model, dancer, Deaf activist, and Maryland School for the Deaf alumni Nyle DiMarco back to his hometown. Nyle DiMarco gained national recognition in 2015 after becoming the first Deaf winner of America's Next Top Model, a reality television competition hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks. Within a year of winning America's Next Top Model, DiMarco went on to win Dancing with the Stars, captivating audiences everywhere with his ability to control the dance floor.

New Spire Arts' Executive Director, Daniel Singh shares, "New Spire Arts is thrilled to be launching Stages in January 2019 with featured artists such as Nyle DiMarco, Celeste Miller, The Frederick Chorale, Tango Mercurio, and several of our local artists. Our mission is to serve as the nexus for local, national, and international artists coming together to celebrate the power of art. The new theatre venue has been a long-time wish list for local artists, and it was crucial for us to include Frederick and regional artists in our Grand Opening."

Stages is located at 15 West Patrick Street in the heart of Downtown Frederick's Theatre District, which also includes the Weinberg Center for the Arts and Maryland Ensemble Theatre. The building has a history in Frederick stretching back nearly 150 years. Long-time Frederick residents will remember it as McCrory's 5 & 10 Cent Store. After McCrory's closed in 1996, the space became the Cultural Arts Center of Frederick County and was managed by the Frederick Arts Council. In order to transform the building into the flexible use venue desired by the arts community, New Spire Arts engaged Ziger/Snead Architects in 2017, and construction began earlier this year. The new plans include a lobby, box office, and black box theatre. Original elements were preserved including the flooring from McCrory's famous lunch counter. Patrons will be able to experience a new theatre together and share memories of the original structure with future generations.

In addition to the theatre at Stages, New Spire Arts also operates an education building, Studios, located at 115 E. Church Street which offers programs for all ages, in music, multimedia, movement, and theatre arts.

Patrons of Stages' Grand Opening weekend will experience the homegrown talents of local artists paired with international stars celebrating the exceptional level of artistry Frederick has to offer. The community's support is an investment in the next generation of talent to be discovered in Frederick. Come be inspired and raise a glass of champagne with New Spire Arts over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend 2019 for this once-in-a-lifetime launch of the theatre. The Saturday performance will be followed by a VIP reception with the artists. Tickets can be purchased at newspirearts.org or by calling 301-620-4458.

SOURCE New Spire Arts