Cohesion Theatre Company's Launch Party Set for Tonight

Cohesion Theatre Company, a new collaboration-based Baltimore theater group, will host a launch party and fundraiser to introduce its inaugural season line-up at Gallery 788 in Hampden at 8 p.m. tonight, Sept. 26.

Cohesion Theatre Company is the creation of the artistic team behind this spring's critically acclaimed production of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II at Spotlighter's Theatre in Mt. Vernon. Brad Norris and Alicia Stanley, who respectively directed and assistant directed Edward II, have been involved for several years in the Baltimore region theater community as directors, actors, lighting designers and stage managers for companies such as the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company and The Jewish Theatre Workshop, among others.

Norris is the events manager of Center Stage, and has worked in the non-profits arts world in Chicago and Baltimore for more than 15 years.

"The goal of Cohesion is to be a catalyst for growing theater and the arts in Baltimore," Norris said. "We want to create a strong sense of community in this wonderful and artistically thriving city by partnering with other theater groups and local artists of every discipline."

Norris and Stanley will direct two of the three shows planned for Cohesion's inaugural season, with Edward II lead actor Jonas David Grey directing the third. Grey, a resident member of the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company and starring as Richard II this season, has decades of national and regional acting and directing experience.

"Earlier this summer, I had the privilege of bringing together Brad and Alicia to direct Edward II. The show was a personal dream for me and one of the best theater experiences I've ever had," Grey said. "That little show sparked something between Brad and Alicia that has rapidly grown into this exciting endeavor. They have a very clear vision to develop engaging theater experiences and bring together members of the artistic community in Baltimore as part of the process. I believe very strongly in Cohesion's vision and purpose to accommodate 'cohesion' within the Baltimore artistic community."

Tickets to Cohesion's launch party may be purchased by making a donation of $20 or more to the company's Indiegogo campaign page. Donors at various levels will receive gift certificates to area restaurants and tickets to Cohesion shows, in addition to tickets to the launch party. Cohesion's Indiegogo campaign donations are the initial fundraising efforts for Cohesion's inaugural season budget.

The launch party will include food, drinks, raffle prizes, dancing, live music by The Black and White Milk Bar singers and music by DJ Aurturo Ozaeta. Gallery 788 is at 3602 Hickory Ave. in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore.

Cohesion Theatre Company is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Cohesion Theatre Company must be made payable to "Fractured Atlas" and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

For more information, visit www.cohesiontheatre.org or www.facebook.com/CohesionTheatre, or email cohesiontheatrecompany@gmail.com.