CABARET! Evening of Music, Songs and Laughter to Benefit Children's Theater 5/20

The Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) will host CABARET!, an Evening of Music, Songs and Laughter on May 20, 2013 featuring members of Capitol Steps" onclick="linkClick(this.href)" href="http://www.capsteps.com/">The Capitol Steps and with performances by CCTA students and alumni. The event will be held at Toby's Dinner Theatre-Columbia beginning at 5:30pm with cocktails, dinner and a silent auction. Preceeds will benefit the children's theater Scholarship Fund and Outreach Programs that make quality arts programming accessible to youth in under-resourced communities.

In 2012 alone CCTA served 28,000 children through its Conservatory, Theatrical Arts Productions and Outreach Programs; awarded over $30,000 in scholarships to its camps and classes, and served 2,800 students through its Theatre Outreach to low income and special needs youth.

CCTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Toby Orenstein in 1972 at the invitation of visionary developer Jim Rouse. Rouse brought Orenstein to Columbia to open a theatre school in his new city of the future. Through CCTA Orenstein formed The Young Columbians performance ensemble that toured extensively including a performance at The White House; the nationally-recognized Teen Professional Theatre, recipient of five grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; and an extensive Outreach Program that serves disadvantaged and special needs youth. CCTA students have performed in movies, television, on Broadway, in national tours and on local stages. Among the best known is Actor/Director Edward Norton.

"We are incredibly proud of the work we've done with young people in the Baltimore-Washington area," says Orenstein. "This event will support CCTA's mission to educate and enrich children of all ages, means, backgrounds and abilities through the wonder of the performing arts!"

Individual tickets to the event are $50 and a variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. For additional information contact the CCTA office at 410-381-0700 or MelissaRosenberg@CCTArts.com.