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Children’s Theatre of Annapolis (CTA) is proud to welcome its new executive director, Susan Baum, who joined the team in August and has since been hard at work using her skills and talents to serve the young people in the performing arts community of the greater Annapolis area. “I love theater and I love working with young people,” Baum says. “It is a privilege to be working with such a well-established and successful organization.”
Over the past 25 years, Baum has taught middle and high school students, directed and taught theater, and been involved in many aspects of theater management both in Annapolis and Washington, D.C. Most recently, from 2011 to 2014, she was managing director of Compass Rose Theater in Annapolis, where she was responsible for many of the daily operations of the professional theater and helped it grow from its original location in the Eastport Shopping Plaza to its new venue on Spa Road. Before that, Baum was associate managing director of Living Stage Theatre Company, the former social outreach and educational theater program of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. While at Living Stage, she coordinated theater programs for inner-city at-risk youth, teen mothers and child care providers. In addition to her theater background, she has extensive nonprofit management experience. Baum coordinated Anne Arundel County’s Pets on Wheels program and Anne Arundel Community College’s Explore program for gifted and talented youth. She also has experience working directly with youth and teens through teaching middle and high school students with such organizations as The Close Up Foundation and The Potomac School summer theater camp.
Having discovered her own passion for the arts at a young age while performing in community theater, Baum is thrilled to work with CTA. “Since joining CTA, I have enjoyed meeting all the wonderful people involved with this dynamic organization,” she said. “I have been so impressed by the dedication and hard work of all the board members and artistic staff, the commitment of the parents and the energy and creativity of the young people who bring stories to life on the CTA stage.”
The board of directors is equally enthusiastic to have Baum. “Susan comes to CTA bringing fresh ideas and a genuine passion for theater arts,” said CTA President Ginny White. “ The entire board of directors is excited about the potential Susan brings to lead our organization in new directions and expand our educational and production offerings to the community. As we begin our 56th season at CTA, there has never been a more vibrant and fulfilling time to be a part of our celebration of theater arts for children.”
Baum hopes to help fulfill the vision of the board and maintain CTA’s strong reputation for presenting professional-quality children’s theater in a nurturing, collaborative, educational environment. “I am always looking for ways to further engage young people and their families in the arts because it leads to success in all aspects of life, in school and later in careers,” Baum concluded. “The skills built in the arts, from individual presentation to teamwork to creativity, serves people well at any age.”
Baum lives in Arnold with her husband and their two children. For more information about CTA and its upcoming productions, auditions, workshops and other programs, visit www.childrenstheatreofannapolis.org.
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