Cumberland Theatre

The Cumberland Theatre is Western Maryland's only regional professional theatre. It is located in Cumberland, Maryland, and stages a wide variety of musicals, plays, and dramas. It is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1988 and relocated in a formerly empty church in 1991.HistoryStarted as a project of Frostburg State University as a way to rejuvenate the summer theatre program, the theatre has since become independent from the University. Three of the founders were President Reinhard, Dr. Press and Dean Phillip Allen. It was incorporated in 1987, after Frostburg President Herb Rinehard expressed concern about the absence of summer theatre in Cumberland, which led to the cooperation of current theatre professor David Press and Dean Phillip Allen in founding the Cumberland theatre with a view to stimulating the local economy. A board of Trustees was later established, chaired by Shirley Giarritta. This board included members from the University, County and City administration, local businesses, and local residents.The new Summer Theatre started in 1988 and 1989 as a rotating repertory theatre. Dr. Press acted as the Artistic Director as well as the Producing Director. In the next season, Dean Allen assumed the role of Executive Director and the Producer while Dr. Press remained the Artistic Director. By the third season, the first full-time Producing Director and general manager, Mr. Pat Julian, was selected.The theatre group performed in a borrowed storefront in the Schwarzenbach building on the Downtown Mall until 1991, when with assistance from the State of Maryland, Mrs. Giarriatta and Mr. Nicholas Giarriatta bought and renovated a disused Assembly of God church on Johnson street. Mr. Don Whisted was engaged in 1992 as Artistic Director and remained in that position assisted for many years by Mr. Gary Goodson, Associate Producer, until his retirement in October, 2016. In 2003 William H. Macy, an Emmy Award winning actor, agreed to serve on the board of trustees. That same year the auditorium was named “The Nicholas and Shirley Giarritta Playhouse” to honour their many contributions to the theatre. The newly selected theatre management team consists of Co-Artistic Directors Kimberli Rowley & Rhett Wolford.