Brown Box Theater
Since its foundation in 2009, Brown Box Theatre Project has been dedicated to bringing professional, high quality performance art to the Eastern Shore. Through its initiatives including the annual Free Shakespeare at the Beach as well as other productions of new works and modern plays, Brown Box strives to create theatrical experiences that challenge and excite audiences in communities with little or no access to the arts. With the development of new plays and reviving and making classical plays relevant to today’s public, each Brown Box production has successfully expanded the company’s reach and proven itself a reliable and quality source of arts entertainment.
Co-founded by local Berlin native, Kyler Taustin, Brown Box has made its Eastern Shore tours a pivotal part of its mission. Imbedded in its name, Brown Box is a touring company; packing their shows in a brown box and taking them to people who crave the arts. “We are working hard to eliminate the burden of travelling to D.C or New York see quality theatre by bringing the theatre to you,” says Taustin. “As a child, I had minimal access to the arts here, and I am dedicated to making sure that the Eastern Shore communities, especially the young people, can have these experiences regularly and affordably.”
Brown Box will be touring the Eastern Shore with three different shows as a part of its 2013 season. In June, The Nina Variations by Steven Dietz explores a relationship cursed by unrequited love in 43 variations of how the love story could have ended. Dietz pits these lovers’ vibrant wit and soaring passions against one another in a fast-paced tour de force of romantic entanglement. In September, a magical interpretation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will mark the third annual Free Shakespeare at the Beach that will tour Boston, Rehoboth Beach, Ocean City, Snow Hill, Berlin, and Salisbury with at least 10 opportunities for the public to enjoy Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy free of charge. This production will also tour local schools throughout Worcester and Wicomico counties. The season will end with the new work, Ashes by Ali Muriel in late November. Ashes tells four stories. As each of the four characters finds a burnt paper fragment of their story, the audience is immediately transported to the time period of that character’s life to learn their history as they faced the flames. A tale of protection, politics, censorship, and love, Ashes is a hopeful revelation born of a blasted landscape. For more information on locations, dates, and ticket sales for these productions, visit www.BrownBoxTheatre.org.
This year Brown Box is working to expand their Arts and Education opportunities on the Shore as well. With the first two years of Free Shakespeare at the Beach, Brown Box included school tours in its programming. In 2012, Brown Box reached over 3,000 students and led 10 workshops for students studying the arts and the Bard. This year they will be collaborating with these schools throughout the year.
Brown Box Theatre Project is an enthusiastic, committed company dedicated to creating and presenting exciting theatre here on the Eastern Shore. The ambitious 2013 season promises even more thought provoking and entertaining productions from this talented ensemble.
