About Open Stage of Harrisburg
Mission
Open Stage of Harrisburg is a regional professional theatre and educational program dedicated to supporting a company of artists to present diverse offerings of thought-provoking theatre and educational activities in intimate settings.
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History
Open Stage of Harrisburg is a professional, non-profit regional theatre dedicated to presenting thought-provoking plays and community-wide educational outreach programs.
Founded by Don & Anne Alsedek and Marianne Fischer, Open Stage of Harrisburg established its Studio/School in 1985 and began the production of contemporary and classical modern plays in the following year.
Productions were first offered in a small space on Jonestown Road owned by Nick and Ellen Hughes.
The Theatre moved to the Rose Lehrman Center for the Performing Arts at HACC in 1988, sharing the space with the college's theatre department.
In 1992 Open Stage created an intimate theatre and gallery in the un-programmed space on the street level of the Walnut Street Parking Garage.
In 2001 Open Stage facilitated the establishment of the Capital Area School for the Arts (CASA), via its Education Program, which is the program administrator. CASA is offered for high school students from the Capital Area Intermediate Unit and beyond.
In September, 2007 Open Stage will launch its 22nd Anniversary Season.
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Goals
Open Stage of Harrisburg seeks not only to produce contemporary drama that is unavailable in the Capital Region, but also to link its production with an on-going
educational outreach to audiences from across Central Pennsylvania.
The Theatre partners with local and regional groups to maximize the impact of its productions.
Open Stage endeavors to promote the development of new scripts.
In the last twenty-two years of its operation, the Theatre has regularly premiered
new scripts beginning with Elizabeth at 33, WINTERSTORM, and, most recently, Karen Gray's OH CRAP I FORGOT TO HAVE KIDS, THE GONE CHAIR by Sean Lewis and STORY CIRCLE:Coming to America in the 21st Century developed by imigrant women who live in the Harrisburg community.
Open Stage's Education Program strives to positively affect the lives of the citizens in Central Pennsylvania and to promote the arts education for all.
A program of school matinees, school residencies, interactives, and in-service teacher training are among the many activities this vibrant educational outreach uses to positively influence the lives of its audiences.
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Board of Directors
Mary Lou Harris,
President
Bridget M. Whitley, Esquire,
Vice President
Karen H. Lehman,
Secretary
Nicholas D. Hughes
Treasurer
Donald L. Alsedek, Founder,
Executive Artistic Director
Ben Allatt
Anne Alsedek, Founder
Christopher W. Baldrige
Ellen C. Brown
James L. Cowden, Esquire
Beth Esler
Shawn Farr
Francine Feinerman
Kent Frese
Carole Forker Gibbons
David L. Herman
Sally S. Klein
