Arts on Stage Presents…

The Magic School Bus

Monday, April 27, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$11.50

Grades K-5

When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system. Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic. A Theatreworks USA Production.

Study guide, click here

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-May 10, 2026.

DIRECTIONS: Chesapeake Arts Center's address is 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225. When you arrive at CAC and turn into the parking lot from Hammonds Lane, follow the parking lot past Hammonds Lane Theatre to the rear of the building and look for a large blue awning and sign that says Chesapeake Arts Center (Next to the Maya Angelou mural.)

Arts on Stage Presents…

A Terrific Time to Tell A Tale

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$10.50

Grades K-5

Here is a delightful collection of stories, specially adapted for younger audiences. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm and Aesop’s Fables, the stories include The Fisherman and His Wife, Henny Penny, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Bremen Town Musicians, Stubborn as a Mule, The Lion and the Mouse That Returned a Favor, and The Tortoise and the Hare.

This original musical features bold storytelling and a tuneful new score!!

Arts on Stage Presents…

Romeo & Juliet

Friday, April 17, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10 am

12 pm

$11.50

Grades 6-12

Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy is presented in a very contemporary setting.

Romeo and Juliet fall in love at a party, but they come from families who hate each other. Knowing they will not be al- lowed to marry publicly, they marry in secret instead. Unfortunately, Romeo kills Juliet’s cousin in a duel, and is forced to leave her to save himself. She hatches a plan to allow them a life together, but a series of miscues turn her hopes to tragedy instead.

***70 minute performance***

Arts on Stage Presents…

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Thursday, April 16, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10 am

12 pm

$11.50

Grades 5-10

Shakespeare's uproarious comedy is the ideal "first Shakespeare" for elementary students and a riotous roller coaster ride for teens (and teachers).

***This is a 70 minute performance***

Study guide, click here

Arts on Stage Presents…

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10 am

12 pm

$11.50

Grades 5-10

Shakespeare's uproarious comedy is the ideal "first Shakespeare" for elementary students and a riotous roller coaster ride for teens (and teachers).

***This is a 70 minute performance***

Study guide, click here

Arts on Stage Presents…

Macbeth

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10 am

$11.50

Grades 7-12

"What's done cannot be undone."

Four centuries later, Shakespeare's brilliant psychological drama remains one of the world's most iconic studies of the corrosive effect and mesmerizing allure of power. This intense peek into the dark part of the human psyche is both riveting and chilling. We witness Macbeth's tragic, downward spiral from good to bad to the worst, and as his moral compass disintegrates, so does his beloved nation as it reels from the potent violence and amorality of his corrupt and brutal rule.

***70 minute performance***

Study guide, click here

Maryland Concert Series Presents... Concert Series Presents...

The Regal Beagles

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Hammonds Lane Theatre

3PM

$10 - $25 | $1.30 - $1.75 Fees

Six cool dudes in loose moods bringing you the finest Yacht Rock music from the land of pleasant living! Bring your hat, sunglasses, no sunscreen required, and a cruise along with us, listening to the soft rock classics of the 70s to the mid-80s. Chill out with us during a simpler time, enjoying the classic hits of the Eagles, Journey, Christopher Cross, Chicago, and many, many more!

Ticket Link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/firebird-spring-performances

Disclaimer: This event is organized by an independent group renting space at Chesapeake Arts Center. The views and activities of this event do not necessarily reflect those of Chesapeake Arts Center, which is not affiliated with the organizing group. Tickets are sold through an external website; Chesapeake Arts Center is not responsible for ticketing and does not handle any ticket sales or inquiries.

The Game We Play

A solo exhibition by The Artist Oliver James

Reception: March 26, 2026 6-8 pm

Complimentary drinks and light snacks will be served during the reception.

All Ages!

Free to attend

Patricia Barland Gallery

The Game We Play is a new series from The Artist Oliver James. A play on "The Debt You Owe," a previous series about national wealth built on native land, this new series aims to put the focus on Black towns, cities, and communities that disappeared overnight. An attempt at celebrating what was created, but also a realization of a current reality in their absence. While there isn't a monopoly on gentrification, it's a game that African Americans know all too well. A game of cultural, mental, and physical survival on the move.

This exhibit is on view in our Patricia Barland Gallery from February 25-April 7, 2026.

DIRECTIONS: Chesapeake Arts Center's address is 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225. When you arrive at CAC and turn into the parking lot from Hammonds Lane, follow the parking lot past Hammonds Lane Theatre to the rear of the building and look for a large blue awning and sign that says Chesapeake Arts Center (Next to the Maya Angelou mural.)

HER Maryland: Stories that Inspire Exhibition

A group exhibition featuring Maryland Women Icons during Women's History Month

Reception: March 26, 2026 6-8 pm

Complimentary drinks and light snacks will be served during the reception.

All Ages!

Free to attend

Hal Gomer Gallery

HER Maryland: Stories that Inspire exhibition brings to life the extraordinary stories of Maryland’s women icons through a vibrant celebration of art and history. From pioneers and trailblazers to artists, leaders, and changemakers, each work illuminates the vision, strength, and creativity that have shaped Maryland’s culture. This exhibition honors their legacies, sparks reflection, and inspires audiences to recognize the influence and transformative power of women across generations.

This exhibit is on view in our Hal Gomer Gallery from March 11-April 7, 2026.

DIRECTIONS: Chesapeake Arts Center's address is 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225. When you arrive at CAC and turn into the parking lot from Hammonds Lane, follow the parking lot past Hammonds Lane Theatre to the rear of the building and look for a large blue awning and sign that says Chesapeake Arts Center (Next to the Maya Angelou mural.)

*This event is free to attend, however registration is required.

Wednesday, March 25

Artist talk: 12-12:30 pm with The Artist Oliver James and Cynthia Guillen from Kunta Kinte Celebrations

Artist led art workshop with The Artist Oliver James: 12:30-1:30 pm

Patricia Barland Gallery

Light refreshments will be provided

*Sponsored by Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area

Join us for a Q&A with The Artist Oliver James and Cynthia Guillen from Kunta Kinte Celebrations on March 25 from 12-12:30 pm in our Patricia Barland Gallery. Art workshop with The Artist Oliver James to follow from 12:30-1:30 pm.

For more information about Kunta Kinte Celebrations, please visit their website at www.kuntakinte.org

For more information about The Artist Oliver James and their current exhibition, The Game We Play, on display at Chesapeake Arts Center, please visit www.theartistoliverjames.com/thegameweplay

DIRECTIONS: Chesapeake Arts Center's address is 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225. When you arrive at CAC and turn into the parking lot from Hammonds Lane, follow the parking lot past Hammonds Lane Theatre to the rear of the building and look for a large blue awning and sign that says Chesapeake Arts Center (Next to the Maya Angelou mural.)

Arts on Stage Presents…

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley

Thursday, March 19, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$10.50

Grades 1-5

Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill, ten-year-old: normal mom and dad, normal little brother, normal life. That's just the problem... for Stanley, life is too normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one's ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley's bed comes loose and falls – right on top of Stanley! The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat... really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley – the ultimate exchange student – scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He's stamped, posted and cancelled from Hollywood and France to Honolulu and beyond. And, whether he's thwarting a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or "hanging ten" off the coast of Hawaii, Stanley is closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more.

Arts on Stage Presents…

SuperHero Math

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$10.50

Grades K-5

Combining Magic, Math and Superheroes in his dazzling production of "Superhero Math!" Multiply your students' excitement for math in a fraction of the time.
We encourage to dress up like your favorite Superhero! (Please no masks)

Study guide, click here

Arts on Stage Presents…

Super Scientific Circus

Thursday, March 12, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$10.50

Grades K-5

Back by Popular Demand!!! Proving that science can be fun using amazing circus skills involving boomerangs, bubbles, beach balls, bullwhips, magic, and mime. Students will learn about friction, inertia, centrifugal force, aerodynamics, sonic booms, air pressure, and ultraviolet light. They will also learn how to make and throw a boomerang, how to blow giant soap bubbles, and how to put a needle through a balloon. First prize winner at the International Circus Festival and featured performer on ABC and HBO circus specials. Internationally traveled performer. (NO Clowns or Animals in this show.)

***PLEASE NOTE: During this performance you will experience, loud sounds including a representation of a sonic boom created by using a bullwhip. Individuals with audible sensory issues may want to bring noise canceling headphones. There will also be a temporary blackout where black lights will be used to demonstrate ultraviolet light.

Study guide, click here

Arts on Stage Presents…

Seussical the Musical!

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$10.50

Grades K-5

The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.

Study guide, click here

The Power Within

A group exhibition honoring Black History Month

Reception: February 26, 2026 6-8 pm

Complimentary drinks and light snacks will be served during the reception.

All Ages!

Free to attend

Hal Gomer Gallery

The Power Within: Honoring Black History Month group exhibition is a vibrant tribute to the spirit and legacy of Black and African American artists. Inspired by this year's Black History Month theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” the exhibition weaves a century of remembrance through bold, visionary artworks. Each piece reflects the strength, creativity, and collective memory shaping each artist, inviting audiences to see art as both a vessel of history and a force for transformation.

DIRECTIONS: Chesapeake Arts Center's address is 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225. When you arrive at CAC and turn into the parking lot from Hammonds Lane, follow the parking lot past Hammonds Lane Theatre to the rear of the building and look for a large blue awning and sign that says Chesapeake Arts Center (Next to the Maya Angelou mural.)

Arts on Stage Presents…

The Lightning Thief TYA

Thursday, February 26, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$10.50

Grades 3-8

As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly-discovered powers he can't control, a destiny he doesn't want, and a mythology textbook's worth of monsters on his trail. When Zeus's master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, he has to find and return the bolt to prove his innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him. Adapted from the best-selling book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical 

Arts on Stage Presents…

Lift Every Voice: A Letter to the Editor

Friday, February 20, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$11.50

Grades 4-12

“Lift Every Voice…” celebrates the courage and resilience of everyday Americans during the Civil Rights Movement.

The story centers on Junebug, a 12-year-old boy in the 1960’s South, who learns of James Meredith’s attempt to enroll as the first African American at the University of Mississippi. When the editor of “The Oxford Eagle,” a local newspaper, expresses her negative opinions on integration, Junebug takes matters into his own hands and confronts these views, speaking out for equality and inclusion.

This play with music offers a pathway to understanding and compassion for young learners. Historical touchstones include the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Little Rock Nine, the Greensboro sit-ins, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The production resonates with the voice in each of us to fight against injustice.

Study guide, click here

Maryland Concert Series Presents...

Groovalicious - Disco Band

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Hammonds Lane Theatre

3PM

$10 - $25 | $1.30 - $1.75 Fees

Groovalicious will take you back to those carefree days of bell-bottoms and platforms. Disco balls and glitter. Clams on the half shell and roller skates. Playing all the hits from the decade of boogie and the dance floor at Studio 54, Groovalicious is the perfect tribute for any theatre, club, or event. We are GROOVALICIOUS, the ultimate disco revival, and we are bringing boogie back! Baby!

Brooklyn Park Middle School Apex Arts Exhibition

Reception: February 11, 2026, 5-7 pm

Complimentary drinks and light snacks will be served during the reception.

All Ages!

Free to attend

Patricia Barland Gallery

The Apex Arts Magnet program at Brooklyn Park Middle School brings student creativity to life, showcasing a vibrant array of artwork that reflects imagination, skill, and artistic growth. Alongside its counterpart program at Bates Middle School, it highlights the power of immersive arts instruction, guided by talented teachers and professional artists, cultivating not only artistic excellence but also collaboration, community connection, and a lasting love for the arts.

This exhibit is on view in our Patricia Barland Gallery from January 22-February 17, 2026.

DIRECTIONS: Chesapeake Arts Center's address is 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225. When you arrive at CAC and turn into the parking lot from Hammonds Lane, follow the parking lot past Hammonds Lane Theatre to the rear of the building and look for a large blue awning and sign that says Chesapeake Arts Center (Next to the Maya Angelou mural.)

Arts on Stage Presents…

TUBMAN: Road to Freedom

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$11.50

Grades 3-12

Introduce your students to a real-life hero who led 300 people from slavery to freedom, served the Union army during the Civil War, and was one of the most prominent voices in the push for women's voting rights.

Harriet Tubman was born enslaved, but from the time she was a child, she knew that she had to be free. After several attempts to steal herself away, she finally succeeded in escaping to the North - and that's just the real beginning of an inspirational true-life adventure story.

Harriet went on to go South and back dozens of times, eventually bringing over 300 people up to freedom. In addition, she worked as a nurse and a spy with the Union Army, and after the war, became a prominent voice for suffrage for American women.

Study guide, click here

Arts on Stage Presents…

The Rainbow Fish

Monday, February 9, 2026

in the Hammonds Lane Theatre

10:15 am

12 pm

$10.50

Grades PK-2

The Rainbow Fish is a shiny, multi-colored fish that is the most beautiful and one of a kind fish in the ocean. When he refuses to share one of his scales to share his vibrant, dazzling and beautiful scales, the whole ocean seems to refuse his presence. This results in an unhappy fish finding himself advised by a wise octopus which gives guidance and advice on generosity, humility, and friendship.

Study guide, click here

Maryland Concert Series Presents...

229th Army Band

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Hammonds Lane Theatre

3pm

Free

The 229th Army Band proudly designated as “The Adjutant General's Own” consists of highly trained soldier-musicians who serve both as professional instrumentalists and capable National Guard Soldiers.

Maryland Concert Series Presents...Concert Series Presents....

AACC Christmas on Broadway

Sunday, December 21

Hammonds Lane Theatre

3PM

$10 - $25 | $1.30 - $1.75 Fees

Who doesn't love New York City at Christmastime? The Store windows are dressed and decorated, and in the air, there's a feeling of Christmas! In December 2025, NYC comes to Anne Arundel County, and our local theater gem, the Hammonds Lane Theatre at the Chesapeake Arts Center! Our holiday show is just like gazing into elaborately decorated store windows and visiting festive holiday trees, with all of your favorite music from shows that have a theme of Christmas, joy, peace, and love! Our festive production features local professionals, community, and student performers collaborating under the direction of Professor Douglas Brandy Byerly, gives you the opportunity to experience the great energy of Broadway and NYC with a stress-free local show. Suitable for families and children.