RAISING THE CURTAIN ON
OPPORTUNITY
FOR MORE THAN years
Since 2004, the Hippodrome Foundation, Inc. (HFI) has served both as the non-profit presenter of Broadway in Baltimore–bringing world-class musical theater to millions of Marylanders–and as an arts education provider, introducing students to the performing arts through free outreach and education programs. This report is a retrospective of HFI’s commitment to this community over the past two decades. We invite those who love Baltimore and care deeply about possibilities for local youth, to partner with us to increase access to truly enriching experiences.
After being shuttered for fifteen years, the Hippodrome Theatre re-opened to much fanfare in 2004. HFI led the $70 million project in collaboration with the Maryland Stadium Authority and other partners and the result was the creation of the FranceMerrick Performing Arts Center. Ever since, Marylanders have enjoyed National Touring Broadway in an historic theater, close to home.
As soon as the FMPAC opened, HFI fulfilled promises to legislators and created programs to increase access to the
arts for Maryland students. HFI has built free programs that leverage our worldclass performing arts center and provide unmatched access to live theater and awardwinning industry professionals. We are proud to have served more than 100,000 young people, senior citizens, and individuals with special needs.
Recently, HFI led the renovationof the former Eutaw Savings Bank: the northernmost building in our complex, which had been left unfinished since 2004. The spec-
tacular M&T Bank Exchange opened in 2023 and serves as a flexible, state-of-the-art event and theater space for more than 100 community events each year. HFI hosts free master classes, camp programs, and career training in this space.
As funding for arts education in public schools comes ever more into question, and demand for HFI programming grows well beyond our current capability, the Hippodrome Foundation is committed to expanding our reach.
Make musical theater and arts education accessible to more young Marylanders! JOIN US! givetoday
CAMP HIPPODROME
immerses more than 500 students in musical theater each summer. This camp warmly welcomes students with no experience on stage, those used to the limelight, and everyone in-between! In both week-long and day-long sessions, campers focus on performance, costumes, and/ or stage technology. Middle and high school students take away increased confidence, skills applicable to life on-stage and off, and memories to last a lifetime.
CAREER PATHWAYS
introduces students to exciting, viable professions that most never knew existed. Over the course of several sessions, local, unionized industry professionals offer students an understanding of the inner workings of the theater industry, and knowledge of how to gain employment in specialties like stage management, wigs, costumes, lighting design, and sound engineering. Our collaboration with the industry’s foremost professional stagehands and costume designers helps participants discover their potential, and envision a possible path for their future.
BRINGING TALES TO LIFE” BOOK PROGRAM engages elementary and middle school students in literacy, through theater! The program ties the content of a theatrical show to common-core standards for English Language Arts, incorporating Maryland State mandatory curriculum and the STEAM approach. Students learn the elements of a fairy tale and collaboratively write a class story. Each participant receives a hard-bound copy of their book, and attends a live performance at the Hippodrome Theatre – a first exposure to live theater for most.
MASTER CLASSES
Maryland students tradition in the arts best talent in the Broadway industry. show presented at Theatre, HFI enables learn from Broadway dancers, musicians, designers, costumers, production professionals. learn directly from industry, gaining insight inner workings of honing their skills and deepening their the arts.
ARTS EDUCATION...
• Builds well-rounded individuals
• Improves school engagement and culture
• Develops valuable life and career skills
• Broadens our understanding & appreciation of other cultures & histories
• Builds empathy, reduces intolerance, and generates acceptance of others
• Supports social and emotional development
• Strengthens community and civic engagement
CLASSES expose students to a favorite arts and to the very National Touring industry. With every at the Hippodrome enables students to Broadway actors, musicians, choreographers, costumers, and professionals. Students from the best in the insight into the the business, and techniques, their interest in
DRESS REHEARSALS AND SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
transform students into patrons of the performing arts and inspire young people to make the arts a part of their lives! To enhance learning opportunities and and grow young audiences in Maryland, HFI invites students to experience performances and equips teachers with related lesson plans, aligning mandatory state curriculum with entertainment.
A Theatrical Production Tax Credit instituted in 2022 has enabled HFI to invite thousands of students to experience a free dress rehearsal in recent years.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS
equips Maryland teachers with tools and knowledge to maximize their own theater resources. Industry professionals provide tutorials on sound and lighting operations, at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center and in school theaters. Professionals specializing in costumes, set design, props, makeup, stage management and more “teach the teachers,” building the knowledge they then impart to their students. The value of this expertise spreads as youth theatrical productions improve, teacher satisfaction increases, and enthusiasm for the arts swells.
THE VOLUNTEER USHER PROGRAM engages more than 700 community members to provide hospitality services and act as ambassadors for hundreds of thousands of patrons annually at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Ushers are critical to the success of our beloved performing arts center— welcoming patrons, scanning tickets, guiding patrons to their seats, assisting in the event of a medical emergency and more. 50 to 60 ushers grace our venue during each performance.
Maryland public school students are enrolled in theater courses. Only 4.2% HFI is { Maryland Arts Education Data Project }
unqiuely positioned to augment Maryland students’ access to learning using performing arts as both a subject and a tool.
The Hippodrome Foundation has made tremendous efforts to bring educational programs to Title I Community School students and has a long history of removing barriers to access to the transformative power of the arts.”
— SARA C. BENNETT SENIOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL FACILITATOR
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
How is the HIPPODROME FOUNDATION UNIQUE?
Free programs in a magnificent venue
The Hippodrome Theatre and M&T Bank Exchange contain highly advanced stage technology. This provides a unique first-class training ground, preparing students to seek employment on any stage. The HFI Board is committed to removing barriers to participation by keeping our programs free.
Top industry professionals
Actors, stage managers, directors, and technicians who travel through Baltimore offer their expertise through HFI’s Master Classes and Career Pathways programs. Baltimore is a sought-after city in which to launch National Broadway Tours. We bring the world’s top talent to Maryland! Incredible opportunities for learning arise when Broadway shows launch locally.
All-in-one arts
Musical theater uniquely includes elements of many arts disciplines, using vocal and instrumental music, dance, poetry and prose, playwriting, visual arts, media arts stagecraft, and technology to present one cohesive artistic experience that engages the mind and senses.
Twenty years of experience
Our seasoned team holds long tenure and deep commitment. In a time of high turnover, the HFI team expertly presents free programming proven to enrich lives and improve outcomes.
To learn more about the Hippodrome Foundation or discuss how you can help, please reach out to Katie Norton, Director of Development, at KatieN@HippodromeFoundation.org or (410)727-7787.