A range of programs and partnerships throughout the year feature BSA students and faculty working closely with other artists, scholars, educators and philanthropists to enrich our cultural landscape and create opportunities in the greater Baltimore community. Stay tuned to our homepage and calendar at www.bsfa.org for details and ticket info on all these events!

For many years, BSA and BSO have been working closely together but this year the collaboration reached new heights as the two organizations presented The Nutcracker at The Modell Lyric on December 21&22. The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) was the fourth member of this incredible team working together to celebrate Tchaikovsky’s perennial favorite. BSA dancers, the BSO players, new backdrops designed by MICA students, all on the big stage at the newly refurbished Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric – What a wonderful way to fete the holidays this December!  An invitation to 2,000 children from city schools to attend the final dress rehearsal free was also an exciting part of the production.

In January 24-27, the partnership continued with Hairspray. BSA music and dance students were featured alongside the BSO players in a concert version of the John Water’s favorite and Mr. Waters himself participated in this hometown rendition of the pop classic.

In its 11th year, this ongoing annual partnership with the Red Cross features BSA’s senior acting ensemble.  They help to write and then perform educational shows that are presented at public elementary and middles schools around the area. Topics for the show vary, but all of them address important issues relevant for children and families in the community. BSA students visit about 20 schools each year in December and January. In 2012-13, the show was called After the Fire. This play about fire safety and fire prevention follows a young girl as she grapples with the aftermath of fire that destroyed her family’s home. As she works with a counselor she re-lives the night of the fire and learns valuable lessons about how to prevent fires, what to do in a fire and how to survive the past. After the Fire is both serious and comic to engage and teach. The 40-minute show helps students in grades 3-8 learn vital information and includes a discussion with the actors. Red Cross provides booklets for students to work on in class as a follow up or to take home.

BSA students work with Ages on Stages, a multigenerational touring company, performing socio-drama scenarios developed through improvisation. These scenarios deal with issues between teens and senior citizens as they interact. They are performed in schools, senior citizen centers and correctional facilities.

Each year, Theatre and Stage Design students also work closely with scholars at the Maryland Historical Society on researching, writing, costuming and publicizing and presenting historical "scenes" that are performed at MdHS for home-schooled and city students.

BSA musicians, artists and actors are regularly featured at Centerstage, performing in pre-show curtain warmers or exhibiting in the theatre’s mezzanine. Theatre students also benefit from a mentoring program with Centerstage staff and regularly attend dress rehearsals for the shows being featured.

In April, BSA is thrilled to present a multi-disciplinary festival centered on the ballet Appalachian Spring and an illustrated children’s book, Ballet for Martha, written about this landmark work. The festival will celebrate the collaborative efforts of Martha Graham, Aaron Copeland and Isamu Noguchi in creating this American Classic. Their story is beautifully rendered in the illustrated book, Ballet for Martha, written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan and illustrated by Brian Floca, also a collaborative work. The festival will encompass all the artistic disciplines and will also include a historical/literary component. Illustrator Brian Floca will visit, and in a partnership with the Enoch Pratt Free Library, will conduct workshops. A variety of events will be offered for audiences of all ages.

Over the years, BSA has been honored by visits from luminaries in the arts, including many alumni, who generously conduct master classes or workshops, often open to the public. Keep an eye out on our facebook page for news about who is in town and who is at BSA!