Arts Council of Anne Arundel County

COMPASS ROSE THEATER MARKS 15TH ANNIVERSARY Theater Celebrates with a Cabaret of Award-Winning Musicals
2026-04-25 19:30 - 2026-04-26 21:15, 2026-04-25 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-24 19:30 - 2026-04-25 21:15, 2026-04-19 16:00 - 17:15, 2026-04-18 19:30 - 2026-04-19 21:15 (America/New_York) | Unity by the Bay, 4 Pointless Forest Trail, Annapolis, MD, 21409, United States
COMPASS ROSE THEATER MARKS 15TH ANNIVERSARY
Theater Celebrates with a Cabaret of Award-Winning Musicals

Compass Rose Theater, a critically acclaimed professional theater and educational nonprofit in Annapolis, proudly announces Compass Rose Cabaret, running April 10–26, 2026. This musical revue, featuring live piano accompaniment, will showcase some of the theater’s most memorable songs since its founding in 2011.
Opening night, April 10, will include a special Cabaret & Soirée Fundraiser honoring founder Lucinda Merry-Browne. Guests will enjoy drinks and dessert while mingling with the professional cast.
“Our founder, Lucinda Merry-Browne, had a bold vision to bring a professional teaching theater to the Annapolis area, and we’ve been gaining momentum for 15 years. Now, we’re regularly earning prestigious Helen Hayes Award nominations and recommendations,” said Barbara Webber, Executive Director of Compass Rose Theater. “We’ve expanded teaching opportunities—this season collaborating with Anne Arundel Community College for Rent, and this August partnering on our youth production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Historic London Town & Gardens for an outdoor, interactive Shakespeare experience.”
Each year, Compass Rose Theater produces 4–5 professional shows, one student production, and offers multiple camps and classes for all ages.
The Compass Rose Cabaret cast features audience favorites from Helen Hayes Award–recommended productions, including: Brady Cherneski (Annie), Jewel Freeman (Annie), Barrett Johnson (Little Shop of Horrors, Annie), Keila Mumphord (Little Shop of Horrors), James Toler (Little Shop of Horrors, Annie), and 17-year-old newcomer to Compass Rose, Lily Glista.
Performers will present songs spanning the company’s history—from its first musical, Oliver, to its most recent, Rent—as well as selections from The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Cats, and other Broadway and Compass Rose favorites.
The production is directed by Artistic Director Madeline Austin, with musical direction, original arrangements, and accompaniment by Jack Benedict (Little Shop of Horrors). The original script is by Barrett Johnson, with choreography by Victoria Farnsworth (Annie).
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Dates: April 10–26, 2026

Fridays & Saturdays: 7:30–9:15 PM
Sat. 3 PM Matinee
Sundays: 4:00–5:45 PM

Location: Unity by the Bay
4 Pointless Forest Trail
Annapolis, MD 21409
Since its founding in 2011, Compass Rose Theater has produced more than 50 professional shows, earning eight Helen Hayes Award nominations and multiple recommendations. Known for its powerful storytelling and commitment to education, the theater serves students of all ages across the DMV region.
TICKETS
Tickets range from $25–$55 and are available until showtime while supplies last. Discounts are offered for students, seniors, military/veterans, and groups of 12 or more. (Soiree fundraiser event tickets April 10 only: $60-100 include drinks and desserts)
The performance will take place in a cabaret-style setting, with drinks and snacks available for purchase. Doors open 20 minutes before showtime, and seating is open. Free parking is available onsite.
Purchase tickets:
https://www.compassrosetheater.org/compass-rose-cabaret
or via InstantSeats
or call 410-980-6662

Music from Maryland Traditions and Annapolis’ Tuesday Club
2026-04-25 19:30 - 20:40 | MD
Local celebrities in Irish music–Peter Brice on button accordion, Tess Hartis on fiddle, and guest pianist Donna Long– are featured in a concert of 18th and 19th century music from Maryland and Ireland. The concert will highlight minutes from the manuscript of Annapolis dancing master John Ormsby who taught dancing here in the 1750s. Also featured is music from Annapolis’ Tuesday Club, a colonial gentleman’s club. Though dance had always been a popular form of entertainment in America and Europe, dance masters like Ormsby heightened the trend through private and public instruction. This evening’s program is inspired by the research of former United States Naval Academy musician John Barry Tally who wrote Secular Music in Colonial Annapolis: The Tuesday Club 1745-56.
Peter and Tess perform regularly as “The Livebox,” and focus on the revival of traditional music from Maryland, restoring its links to ancient traditions in Ireland and Scotland, while identifying and demonstrating the mutations in popular American music movements.

La Esmeralda
2026-04-25 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-04-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Bringing The Hunchback of Notre Dame to life through dance.​

Join us for the company and Maryland premiere of La Esmeralda! This romantic ballet follows the noble-hearted Esmeralda as she defies the wicked Archdeacon Claude Frollo to protect herself and her love, Captain Phoebus.

La Esmeralda
2026-04-25 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-04-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Bringing The Hunchback of Notre Dame to life through dance​.
Join us for the company and Maryland premiere of La Esmeralda! This romantic ballet follows the noble-hearted Esmeralda as she defies the wicked Archdeacon Claude Frollo to protect herself and her love, Captain Phoebus.

Reflecting Closing Reception at MFA Circle Gallery
2026-04-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Circle Gallery, 18 State Circle, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
“Reflections can appear in many different forms – they can be both literal or metaphorical. Reflections found in shop windows, still ponds, or on faces in mirrors can surprise and delight.”
Bring your friends and family to help us celebrate all thew incredible work featured in this year’s Reflecting exhibition!

COMPASS ROSE THEATER MARKS 15TH ANNIVERSARY Theater Celebrates with a Cabaret of Award-Winning Musicals
2026-04-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Unity by the Bay, 4 Pointless Forest Trail, Annapolis, MD, 21409, United States
COMPASS ROSE THEATER MARKS 15TH ANNIVERSARY
Theater Celebrates with a Cabaret of Award-Winning Musicals

Compass Rose Theater, a critically acclaimed professional theater and educational nonprofit in Annapolis, proudly announces Compass Rose Cabaret, running April 10–26, 2026. This musical revue, featuring live piano accompaniment, will showcase some of the theater’s most memorable songs since its founding in 2011.
Opening night, April 10, will include a special Cabaret & Soirée Fundraiser honoring founder Lucinda Merry-Browne. Guests will enjoy drinks and dessert while mingling with the professional cast.
“Our founder, Lucinda Merry-Browne, had a bold vision to bring a professional teaching theater to the Annapolis area, and we’ve been gaining momentum for 15 years. Now, we’re regularly earning prestigious Helen Hayes Award nominations and recommendations,” said Barbara Webber, Executive Director of Compass Rose Theater. “We’ve expanded teaching opportunities—this season collaborating with Anne Arundel Community College for Rent, and this August partnering on our youth production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Historic London Town & Gardens for an outdoor, interactive Shakespeare experience.”
Each year, Compass Rose Theater produces 4–5 professional shows, one student production, and offers multiple camps and classes for all ages.
The Compass Rose Cabaret cast features audience favorites from Helen Hayes Award–recommended productions, including: Brady Cherneski (Annie), Jewel Freeman (Annie), Barrett Johnson (Little Shop of Horrors, Annie), Keila Mumphord (Little Shop of Horrors), James Toler (Little Shop of Horrors, Annie), and 17-year-old newcomer to Compass Rose, Lily Glista.
Performers will present songs spanning the company’s history—from its first musical, Oliver, to its most recent, Rent—as well as selections from The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Cats, and other Broadway and Compass Rose favorites.
The production is directed by Artistic Director Madeline Austin, with musical direction, original arrangements, and accompaniment by Jack Benedict (Little Shop of Horrors). The original script is by Barrett Johnson, with choreography by Victoria Farnsworth (Annie).
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Dates: April 10–26, 2026

Fridays & Saturdays: 7:30–9:15 PM
Sat. 3 PM Matinee
Sundays: 4:00–5:15 PM

Location: Unity by the Bay
4 Pointless Forest Trail
Annapolis, MD 21409
Since its founding in 2011, Compass Rose Theater has produced more than 50 professional shows, earning eight Helen Hayes Award nominations and multiple recommendations. Known for its powerful storytelling and commitment to education, the theater serves students of all ages across the DMV region.
TICKETS
Tickets range from $25–$55 and are available until showtime while supplies last. Discounts are offered for students, seniors, military/veterans, and groups of 12 or more. (Soiree fundraiser event tickets April 10 only: $60-100 include drinks and desserts)
The performance will take place in a cabaret-style setting, with drinks and snacks available for purchase. Doors open 20 minutes before showtime, and seating is open. Free parking is available onsite.
Purchase tickets:
https://www.compassrosetheater.org/compass-rose-cabaret
or via InstantSeats
or call 410-980-6662

Create & Chill: A Mindful Art Pause
2026-04-25 11:00 - 13:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Saturday 4/25 11am-1pm. Room: 117b Price: $51.75 (WS26EC6)
Mindful Art is a gentle creative pause—no rules, no judgments, just color, presence, and play. Using watercolors and markers, we’ll relax, explore mindful exercises, and let go of stress.
All are welcome. No experience needed, every class is different so returning students are always welcome. Questions? ecarren@gmail.com
Supplies: all supplies are provided.
Teaching Artist: Liz Carren
Minimum enrollment to run: 2

Revolutionary Annapolis Walking Tour
2026-04-25 11:00 - 12:30 | Museum of Historic Annapolis, 99 Main Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Celebrate America 250! Walk in the footsteps of patriot leader William Paca as you follow his dramatic personal and political story through the revolutionary era. Learn how a promising young lawyer became a rebel, a revolutionary, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the Governor of Maryland through the course of less than 20 years.
Guided by Glenn E. Campbell, HA’s retired Senior Historian, this 90-minute, 1.5-mile walking tour begins at the Museum of Historic Annapolis (99 Main Street) and ends at the Maryland State House, with stops at eleven other sites along the way.
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as the tour is held rain or shine. The tour route is approximately 1.5 miles long and includes elevation changes and uneven walking surfaces.

Jewelry - Make and Take: Metal Clay Workshop
2026-04-25 10:00 - 15:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Saturday, 4/25, Start Time: 10:00 AM, End Time: 3:00 PM, Room:117A, Price: $113.85 (WS26JM9)
A beginner-friendly workshop where you learn to transform a clay-like material into solid, wearable silver jewelry, typically creating a pendant, ring, or earrings. You’ll learn basic techniques like molding, shaping, texturing, and refining the clay, and finish by learning how to fire the piece in a kiln or with a torch and polish it into a unique piece of fine silver jewelry.
Teaching Artist: Jess McGrath
(For more information, please contact the instructor at studiojmcg@gmail.com)
Minimum Enrollment for class to run: 3

“Paint Like a Butterfly” with Jean Brinton-Jaecks
2026-04-25 10:00 - 12:00 | MD
Join artist and gardener Jean Brinton-Jaecks for a talk about her painted memoir and journal chronicling her pollinator garden, Paint Like a Butterfly. Inspired by her parent’s dedication to sustainable organic gardening, J.I. Rodale’s revolutionary gardening vision and local author Rachel Carson, Jean’s pollinator garden is a sustainable native oasis for butterflies, bees, and a myriad of insects and wildlife. Her garden is certified by the National Wildlife Federation and is part of the Pollinator Pathways, a movement dedicated to native organic practices to maintain a safe and flourishing environment for all creatures. Paint Like a Butterfly was inspired by the experience of witnessing the 1990 butterfly migration in Cape May, New Jersy, and later the overwintering monarchs in Pacific Grove, California.
Paint Like a Butterfly: An Artist’s Pollinator Garden will be available for purchase.

Friday Night Kids Club: Pizza, Art, Games & Movies (Ages 6-10)
2026-04-24 05:30 - 20:30 | ArtFarm Annapolis, 111 Chinquapin Round Rd., Suite 200, Maryland, Annapolis
🎉 The Not Slumber Party: The Ultimate Friday Night Kid-Free Escape! 🎉
Looking for a fun, safe, and hassle-free way to enjoy a date night or mom’s night out? Look no further! The Not Slumber Party is back again this month – the perfect solution for parents who want to enjoy a Friday night out while their kids have a blast with friends.
✨ Details:

Ages: 6-10 years old
Max Kids: 12 (so your child gets plenty of attention!)

What’s Included:

🍕 Pizza, juice boxes, and snacks to fuel all the fun
🎲 A game activity table to keep little hands busy
🎨 An art station to get those creative juices flowing
🍿 A cozy movie & wind-down time to end the night just right

What to Bring:

💧 Water bottle (stay hydrated!)
Favorite games to share (Optional)
🧘‍♀️ Yoga mat, blanket, or sleeping bag to snuggle up during the movie (Optional)

✅ Drop them off in their PJs, and enjoy your night out while we handle the fun!

Podcasting 101 (adults)
2026-04-23 18:30 - 20:30 | ArtFarm Annapolis, 111 Chinquapin Round Rd., Suite 200, Maryland, Annapolis
tep into the host chair of your very own podcast!
Our 4-week Podcasting Class is designed to introduce you to the essentials of podcast creation. Led by John Wist, co-host and producer of his own podcast, this hands-on course will guide you through every step of the process—from developing your concept and honing your storytelling skills to mastering interview techniques, gear setup, audio engineering, and video production.
By the end of the class, you’ll produce a polished episode of your own podcast while collaborating and exchanging ideas with fellow participants. Whether you’re looking to launch a personal project or refine your content creation skills, this class will give you the tools and confidence to hit record and share your voice with the world!
Note: our podcast studio is available to rent after your class, so you can jump right into recording your own podcast in the same space you learned how to do it! To find out more:
https://www.andcreativestudio.com/podcast-studio

Gallery Reception for Growing Forward: AACPS Visual Arts Seniors Exhibition
2026-04-23 17:00 - 19:00 | MD
Growing Forward: Showcasing the Creative Success of AACPS Visual Arts Seniors Exhibition
Reception: April 23, 2026, 5-7 pm
Complimentary drinks and light snacks will be served during the reception.
All Ages!
Free to attend
Patricia Barland Gallery and Hal Gomer Gallery

Growing Forward: Showcasing the Creative Success of AACPS Visual Arts Seniors is a celebration of the AACPS seniors who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of artistic growth. This exhibition includes representation from every high school and spans a wide range of media. The selected artworks highlight the artistic critical thinking, expression, risk-taking, and perseverance of these 2026 graduates.
This exhibition is on view in both our Hal Gomer Gallery and Patricia Barland Gallery from April 16 to May 10, 2026.

Soul Line Dancing 7:15pm - Beginner Friendly
2026-04-22 19:15 - 20:15 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Wednesdays 7:15-8:15pm, 4/22/26-5/27/26, Room 301, PRICE: $124.20 (WS26DMW6)
Soul Line Dance is a choreographed, repeated sequence of steps to music. Often referred to as “exercise in disguise”, you will burn calories as you have fun dancing to R & B, Smooth Jazz, Motown, Gospel, Reggae and Zydeco to name a few! No dance experience or partner needed.We will learn at a comfortable pace. Wear supportive athletic or dance footwear (please no street shoes) and comfortable clothing. Bring water to stay hydrated. Come for the fitness, stay for the friends and fun!
For questions regarding registration, contact lzetterlucas@marylandhall.org

Thrift Reimagined: Statue Make Over
2026-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Wednesday, 4/22 6:00pm-8:00pm. Room: 117B. Price: $53.82 (WS26NL3)
Upcycle a thrift store figurine into a dazzlingly original art piece. A selection of statues will be provided to choose from, or you may bring in your own thrifted figure. In this 2-hour class, we will transform trash to treasure with creativity and paint.
Teaching Artist: Nichole Leavy
Minimum enrollment to run: 2
Ages: 12+

Bleach-painted T-shirt
2026-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Wednesday 4/22 6pm-8pm. Room: 117B. Price: $50.71 (WS26NL4)
Bleach painting is a fun and creative way to personalize clothes and décor. In this 2 hour workshop, you will learn techniques to create stunning DIY fabric art using just bleach and water. Transform a plain t-shirt into one-of-a-kind wearable art.
Teaching Artist: Nichole Leavy
Minimum enrollment to run: 2
Ages: 12+

Soul Line Dancing 6pm - Beginner Friendly
2026-04-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Wednesdays 6:00-7:00pm, 4/22/26-5/27/26, Room 301, PRICE: $124.20 (WS26DMW5)
Soul Line Dance is a choreographed, repeated sequence of steps to music. Often referred to as “exercise in disguise”, you will burn calories as you have fun dancing to R & B, Smooth Jazz, Motown, Gospel, Reggae and Zydeco to name a few! No dance experience or partner needed.We will learn at a comfortable pace. Wear supportive athletic or dance footwear (please no street shoes) and comfortable clothing. Bring water to stay hydrated. Come for the fitness, stay for the friends and fun!
For questions regarding registration, contact lzetterlucas@marylandhall.org

Watercolor for Beginners (3 week)
2026-04-20 18:00 - 20:30 | ArtFarm Annapolis, 111 Chinquapin Round Rd., Suite 200, Maryland, Annapolis
Completely new to watercolor or want to brush up on your brushwork? Whether you have painted with watercolor before or are a complete novice, you can feel comfortable and accomplished each week with this watercolor class.
Our teaching artists will demonstrate and integrate a variety of techniques into each week’s lesson. With a new subject each week, feel free to bring an inspiration reference photo (either printed out or on your phone) or we can provide some excellent references.
Challenge yourself and get creative with some traditional brushwork and techniques, color blending, and composition in this multi-week class.
All materials are provided, but if you have your own paints or brushes you want to use, feel free to bring them along with you!
Beginner Watercolor Class – 3 weeks (Lindsday) – Feb 2, 9,16 (6-8:30 pm)
Beginner Watercolor Class – 3 weeks (Cat) – April 6, 13, 20 (6-8:30 pm)
Beginner Watercolor Class – 3 week (Em) – October 5, 12, 19 (6-8:30 pm)

The 38th Annual Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition
2026-04-19 15:00 - 17:30 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Prepare to be dazzled by Opera’s rising stars!
The 38th Annual Vocal Competition showcases the most exceptional singers from across the nation, handpicked by a panel of judges from the top organizations in the opera world today. From hundreds of talented applicants, only the best will make it to the Finals stage. But the excitement doesn’t stop there!
Join us in the audience and become a crucial part of the action. It’s your chance to influence the outcome and crown the winner with the prestigious Opera Guild Audience Choice Award. Will your favorite performer rise to the top? Join in and find out!
Bring your friends and family along for this exciting FREE afternoon!

Pysanky Workshop (Ukrainian Egg Decorating)
2026-04-19 12:30 - 16:30 | ArtFarm Annapolis, 111 Chinquapin Round Rd., Suite 200, Maryland, Annapolis
Creating a New World Vision From Ancient Design Considered by many to be a “sacred magical art”, the creation of a talisman with specific intentions written into the life-giving egg, the Pysanky is an ancient means to celebrate the cycles and events in nature and in life.
Created using motifs rooted in nature and the cycles of life, designs are made with simple instruments (made of wood and copper) called kistkas, the humble materials of beeswax and candlelight, and intensely vibrant dyes. Create a beautiful egg in the time-honored Ukrainian tradition of Pysanky, or create a symbolic piece of art to invoke a new world vision.
This workshop will explore the art in a free form, using symbolism that tells a specific story and holds a deliberate intention. Instructor Coreen Weilminster has been making Pysanky for over 30 years.
*Instructor will be offering opportunities to support the World Central Kitchen on the frontlines of Ukraine with each class.

Notes

You will receive an email before this workshop with additional information. Be sure to check your spam folder if you have not received any communication at least 24 hours before class begins.

Yoga in the Gallery
2026-04-19 09:30 - 10:30 | ArtFarm Annapolis, 111 Chinquapin Round Rd., Suite 200, Maryland, Annapolis
AND Relax… Yoga Series Sundays | 9:30 AM | AND Creative Gallery
Come as you are, leave inspired — AND Relax is your monthly gallery-inspired yoga series designed to move your body, spark your creativity, and recharge your mind. Each Sunday session blends mindful vinyasa, playful flows, and meditative stretches in the beautiful space of AND Creative Gallery, surrounded by art that inspires movement and imagination.
Once a month (last Sunday of each month), we turn up the volume on creativity with our themed flows:

AND Bend Ova – Afrobeat-inspired flow: let rhythm guide your body and loosen your edges.
AND Drop It Low – Hip-Hop / R&B flow: grounded, bold, and full of attitude.
AND Twist & Shout – Rock ‘n’ Roll yoga: energizing, dynamic, and full of power.
AND Stretch – R&B Slow It Down: deep stretch, meditative, and restorative.
AND Pop & (un)Lock – Pop music + movement yoga: playful, upbeat, and fun.
AND Chill Out – Lo-fi / Chill Hop restorative yoga: slow, restorative, and fully zen.

Whether you’re here for sweat, stretch, or stillness, AND Relax invites you to move at your own pace, explore your creativity, and connect with a community’s curious and playful minds.

Wildlife Photo Workshop
2026-04-19 08:30 - 16:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Sunday 4/19 8:30am-4pm. Room: 307 & outdoor location. Price: $116.43 (WS26LB1)
This photo workshop, set in a location selected for spring wildlife activity, will provide students with field experience in photographing the magnificent creatures that inhabit our area in the early spring. Students will gather at Md Hall for an 8:30 a.m. overview of techniques and settings to utilize in the field. Students will drive to the selected location (within 15-20 minutes of Md Hall) and set up for mentored shooting of waterfowl, including (but hopefully not limited to) osprey, ducks, heron, egrets, cormorants, and gulls. Students will be individually assisted in shooting techniques, camera settings, composition, and using the light to create beautiful wildlife photographs. The actual location will be selected shortly before the workshop date, based upon maximum activity and subject matter opportunities. Pack a lunch and picnic as you shoot. The day will conclude back at Md. Hall for image review and critique with discussion of optimal editing techniques to be applied. Students will be provided with a packing list of preferred gear prior to the workshop. Modest walking on unpaved surfaces may be involved depending on the location selecton.
CLASS PREREQUISITES.
1. Students must have a working knowledge of their DSLR/ mirrorless camera (no cell phone cameras will be used). They must know how and where to adjust settings in manual, shutter, and aperture modes for: shutter speed, aperture, ISO, shooting mode, drive mode and focal area and must understand the interplay of shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.
2. Students must bring a tripod or monopod with any required camera-mount (such as separate foot to allow mounting the camera on the device),
3. Students must be able to drive (or work with other participants to share a ride) from Md. Hall to the shooting location.
4. Students must be able to walk over unpaved surfaces carrying their gear, potentially through woodlands, for short distances. A photo backpack is recommended for carrying gear. Be sure to do a test-walk with the backpack loaded to assure you can walk with the weight.
*A lens of at least 200mm is recommended*
Teaching Artist: Leslie Billman
Minimum enrollment to run: 4
