Arena Players – Rendering of New Theater.
Arena Players, the oldest continuously operating African-American community theater
in the United States, begins the first holistic renovation in 50+ years
on their home theater at 801 McCulloh Street in Baltimore.
BALTIMORE, MD – September 23, 2026 – On August 24, 2026, Arena Players, Inc., the nation’s oldest continuously operating African-American community theater, broke ground on the long-awaited renovation to their home theater. Arena Players began performing at 801 McCulloh St. in Baltimore’s Seton Hill neighborhood in 1961, and purchased the space in 1969. Since making an addition in the 1970s, there has been no holistic capital investment in the building.
The renovation will dramatically increase the quality, accessibility, and flexibility of the building. Notable outcomes include a new ADA-accessible ramp; a fully renovated main theater with an upgraded stage, resloped floor, new seats, and improved acoustics; and a modernized lobby including new concession and office areas, an event/reception area, and the addition of windows on the currently windowless south and west walls. Audio/visual and lighting upgrades will modernize the theater, improving the experience for performers and audience members and ensuring that the theater is a relevant teaching space for young people. And, thanks to durable and low-maintenance materials, a more efficient HVAC system, and fewer maintenance needs, the project will also significantly improve operating costs for the theater.
The current phase of the project, with a budget of $8.47 million, includes full renovation of the first floor and upgrades to infrastructure and building-wide systems, such as the building’s facades and plumbing. Full renovation, including the second and third floors, is expected to cost $13.7 million.
The renovation of API’s long-standing theater honors the organization’s storied history, while sustaining this space for future generations. Catherine Orange, an Arena Players board member and a volunteer with the organization since 1972, shared: “It’s extremely important to preserve these cultural institutions. Arena Players began when Baltimore was a segregated city; there was no place for African Americans to do credible work on stage. It is so important that we continue the legacy and maintain the cultural connection to Baltimore City and surrounding counties.”
The renovation is supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Maryland state capital funding secured by Senator Antonio Hayes, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Abell Foundation, the France-Merrick Foundation, the Middendorf Foundation, and the Aibel-Pittman family. The design team is led by Kathy Dixon Architects and the project is being managed by Plan Build LLC. Further donations can be made in support of the project at arenaplayersinc.com/donate.
About Arena Players, Inc.: Arena Players is the oldest continuously operating African-American community theater in the United States. From its humble beginnings in 1953, by a small aspiring group of ambitious fledgling actors, Arena Players has a proud history of community service and outstanding dramatic achievements. Arena Players’ mission is to entertain, educate, and serve the Baltimore community, and they nurture and give growth to new, emerging, and established artists while boldly illuminating the African-American experience through the performing arts. For more information visit arenaplayersinc.com.
