After a yearlong, community-driven process rooted in workshops, storytelling sessions and open dialogue, Baltimore Center Stage, Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh and Oh to Dream proudly present Charm Pass, a production created for and by the people of Baltimore.
The 12-month collaborative journey to the final production is made possible by the Inheritance Theater Project, a national nonprofit that uses theater to bridge divides and strengthen community connections. More than 700 participants, 33 partner organizations and 47 public events contributed to the process, with residents from across neighborhoods, professions, and generations sharing their stories, perspectives and lived experiences to help shape the production.
Led locally by process director Rain Pryor — actress and episodic screenwriting instructor at the Baltimore School for the Arts — alongside community weavers Antoinette Duren and Mia Smith, and producers Bridgette Burton and Evan Hall of Oh to Dream, the production guides audiences through Baltimore as both a place and a collection of experiences. Along the way, the city reveals itself not as a singular identity, but as a tapestry of many voices and stories.
“This process has been an extraordinary reminder that every Baltimorean carries a story worth hearing,” Burton said. “We didn’t just create a performance. We brought the city together, building connections across Baltimore’s diverse neighborhoods, voices and ways of life.”
Throughout the remainder of April, open rehearsals will take place at locations across the city, offering community members the opportunity to observe, engage and help shape the final production.
Final performances of Charm Pass will be held Saturday, May 2, at 2 PM and 7:30 PM at Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St, Baltimore, MD, and Sunday, May 3, at 3 PM at Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh, 2001 Liberty Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD. Tickets for all performances are available on a pay-what-you-can basis and may be purchased online.
For more information, including a full schedule of open rehearsals, visit www.inheritancetheater.org/baltimore.
ABOUT THE INHERITANCE THEATER PROJECT
The Inheritance Project, founded in 2015, works with intersectional, interfaith, and intergenerational communities through collaborative theater projects inspired by shared cultural touchstones. It was founded at a national moment of deepening divides between neighbors of different faiths, political viewpoints, generations, and ethnicities — divides that are only increasing.
Its work targets division and isolation where they begin at the local level, intentionally building relationships across schisms to create the personal relationships and community understandings that protect against prejudice and hate.
The Inheritance Project currently serves 3-4 communities per year, with a current growing waitlist of 29 cities around the United States. The organization is in the midst of a strategic planning process that will allow scaling up in the coming years to serve more communities.
ABOUT BALTIMORE CENTER STAGE
Baltimore Center Stage, designated the State Theater of Maryland in 1978, is a nationally recognized leader in the development of new work and a cultural cornerstone of the Baltimore community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Stevie Walker-Webb and Producing Director Ken-Matt Martin, BCS has become a home for artists and audiences seeking bold, urgent, and joyful storytelling.
Known for developing work that moves beyond Baltimore to stages across the country, Baltimore Center Stage is a vital incubator for new plays and musicals, a place where artists take risks and audiences experience stories at the very beginning of their journey. At the same time, BCS remains deeply rooted in its city, serving thousands of students, families, and community members through expansive education programs, civic partnerships, and accessible public offerings.
Everything at Baltimore Center Stage is guided by a belief that theater is both an art form and a public forum. Grounded in the core values of Joy, Service, and Connection, BCS is committed to creating work that reflects the fullness of our communities and ensures that the culture belongs to everyone.
ABOUT THIRD SPACE AT SHAAREI TFILOH
Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh is an innovative organization based in a century-old synagogue building. It is a place of belonging where a full calendar of Happenings invites participants to stretch their minds, nurture their souls, find their people, and safely try on new rituals, ideas, and practices. Through learning, cultural events, and joyful celebrations in community, Third Space animates Jewish tradition, weaving timeless wisdom into our lives in ways that are meaningful and relevant.
The concept of a “third space” is based on the idea that a healthy society is shaped by three environments: a private space, a space of contribution, and a third space for connection and community.
For more information, visit https://www.thirdspacest.org.
ABOUT OH TO DREAM
Oh to Dream is a Black artist-owned social enterprise based in Baltimore, MD, with a mission to build an environment where creativity can flourish and artists are empowered. Oh to Dream provides arts consulting and capacity building that bridges the gaps between creators and their needs by fostering collaborative networks and leveraging shared resources. Since 2022, their impact has been over 500 artists supported through their residency experience, Sunday Dinner series, and other arts projects and workshops.
Oh to Dream stands out because they approach their consulting and initiatives through their POUR Artist Framework, seeking to revolutionize the artistic landscape by providing a comprehensive community of support and curated portfolio development opportunities for artists. Unlike conventional models, POUR emphasizes mutual aid, resource sharing, and interconnected communities.
For the 2025/26 season, Oh to Dream is one of Baltimore Center Stage’s Shared Space Initiative partners.
For more information, visit: www.ohtodream.org.
