
Theater: Then & Now
Rep Stage, an Equity Theatre, holds the distinction of being the only professional regional theatre in the country in residence at a community college. Established in 1993, Rep Stage has been producing critically acclaimed and award-winning theatre for the college community, Howard County, and beyond. Productions feature contemporary American classics, as well as new works that have included several regional and world premieres. With a commitment to local regional artists, Rep Stage started its production in its earliest days in the college’s former Outback Theatre. Shown above (left) is a photo from the February 1998 production of "Man with a Load of Mischief," the Clifton/ Tarver musical about romance and intrigue set in 19th century England. The production featured actor Nigel Reed, a Columbia resident who has since appeared in nearly 25 Rep Stage productions. After the construction of the Peter & Elizabeth Horowitz Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Rep Stage transitioned to performing in the Studio Theatre. This image on the right is from the February 2020 production of James Ijames’ “Kill Move Paradise.” Inspired by the growing list of slain unarmed Black men and women, this show was set in a cosmic waiting room in the afterlife prepared for its newly deceased inhabitants.