Silhouette Stages is Howard County's Premier (and only) Nonprofit Community Theater

Jeremy Goldman, Silhouette Stages Board President and Executive Director since 2015, was guest speaker at a recent Columbia-Patuxent Rotary Club meeting.

Silhouette Stages is Howard County's premier (and only) nonprofit community theater, founded in 2003. “You can always judge the strength of a community by how it supports its most vulnerable citizens and how it supports the performing arts,” Jeremy said. “Howard County is a beacon across the region for performing arts, and we're really honored to just be a small part of that.”

He emphasized that Silhouette Stages is a nonprofit organization powered by more than 200 volunteers a year where “everyone is there just because of their passion for the arts.” Its productions welcome over 3,000 audience members annually. The mission is (1) to give artists an inclusive, welcoming place to create and perform, and (2) offer audiences affordable access to live theater. The emphasis on affordability has kept ticket prices low for a long time, along with a variety of discounts for seniors, Howard County educators, students and children.

The organization’s values highlight equity, diversity, and inclusion. "That's a huge part of what we do. Everybody is welcome, no matter who you are, what you look like,” Jeremy said. “It takes a lot of people to do what we do, and a wide range of skill sets.” He invited people with no theater experience to get involved, whether onstage or behind the scenes, including helping build sets.

The theater typically stages three mainstage musicals a year, with each production running eight performances over three weekends. It also holds community cabaret nights, including performances for young artists ages 8–18, and offers a wide variety of entertainment. The theater values artistic excellence. “One of the things we love to do is set the bar incredibly high. If we fall just slightly below that, we're happy, “Jeremy explained. “We've heard people say that the quality of our shows is among the best they've ever seen.”

Jeremy detailed partnerships with the Howard County Public School System and other local organizations and nonprofits. “We do a lot of community engagement. We do a lot of workshops. We support the school system,” he said. “I do a lot of talks with middle schools and high schools about kids interested in the performing arts and alternative careers.” He also mentioned advocating for arts funding in Maryland plus participating in local arts and community events.

Jeremy thanked the club for a recent grant that contributed to the purchase of new theatrical audio equipment. This upgrade improved communication between backstage staff, the booth, and the lobby. “Our equipment was extremely old. The sound was really rough and that was like the one thing really holding us back,” he explained. “Your ongoing support helped more than you can even imagine. It's great.”

Columbia-Patuxent Rotary is the largest and most active of the seven clubs in Howard County. It meets on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at JAM Eateries. Visitors are always welcome.