 04/15/10 What You Can Do ... READ MORE 03/30/10 The Official MTPA "Stage Door" Office Now Open! ... READ MORE 11/30/09 Official MTPA Stage Door office opening Winter 2010 ... READ MORE 11/30/09 See a story on MTPA in the December What's Up Annapolis ... READ MORE 11/30/09 MTPA to launch a newsletter called Stage Door ... READ MORE |
What You Can Do to Help The proposed Maryland Theatre for the Performing Arts (MTPA) is a 1500-seat, state-of-the-art performance venue that is proposed to be built in the Park Place complex, behind the Westin Hotel on Taylor Avenue. The facility will bring world-class talent to the city, provide a sophisticated setting for local arts groups, and include an educational component that will enhance and expand what is presently available in the county. Unlike Maryland Hall, it will not have classrooms, nor will it be a teaching facility. A performing arts venue has always been part of the Park Place master plan, and as such $17 million has already been expended in the form of site acquisition, parking specific to a performing arts venue, and infrastructure. In July of last year, an economic impact study was commissioned, determining that the facility would create over 400 jobs and put back $127 million into the local economy during the construction phase, and return an estimated $25 million annually to the economy once built. It will also significantly increase patronage of hotels, restaurants and small businesses. The project is now in serious jeopardy. The developer of Park Place and present owner on the land (Carlyle) has stipulated that MTPA must be recognized in the state’s 2011 Capital Budget or the land will not be transferred to them. In essence, the project will of necessity be scrapped. The board of Maryland Hall has asked the legislature NOT to approve funds for MTPA and, at this moment, it appears that they are going to accede to that request. As the legislative session ends in several weeks, there is very limited time to turn that decision around. What You Can Do. E-mail your representatives, particularly: Volunteer to disseminate written information on MTPA. Again, without your help, Maryland Theatre for the Performing Arts will be only a memory. For more information, contact: |
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