Dundalk Community Theatre names new artistic director
May 03, 2022 | by Lisa Harlow | 443.840.4668 (office) | 443.610.3246 (cell)
Dundalk Community Theatre, a program of Community College of Baltimore County, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly Williams Carlson as its new artistic director, following the retirement of longtime artistic director Tom Colonna. At the end of the 2021-2022 season, Colonna will retire from the faculty of CCBC after 47 years of service, having spent 39 of those years as managing artistic director of DCT.Carlson, a native of Baltimore, earned her BA in Musical Theatre and Secondary Education from American University, and her MFA in Directing from Roosevelt University. She has served as the chairperson of the Theatre department at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts for the past 14 years. She has also served on the executive boards of the Maryland Thespians and the Maryland Theatre Education Association. Carlson has produced, directed or choreographed over 50 productions in the Baltimore/DC area. She was the national recipient of the 2018 Inspirational Theatre Educator Award from the Educational Theatre Association.
“We’re excited to have Kelly come on board to lead the next phase of DCT,” says Bill Watson, Dean of Arts and Communication at CCBC and producer of DCT. “Kelly’s artistic and administrative skills will help to ensure this program has a smooth transition and continues to be stable and responsible. At the same time, we’re looking forward to a fresh artistic eye working with the board to expand DCT’s audiences and outreach.”
DCT was founded in 1974 at what was then Dundalk Community College. Under Colonna’s leadership over the years, it has built a strong reputation for staging high-quality, live musicals and stage plays that draw audiences from throughout the Baltimore region.
About DCT
Dundalk Community Theatre is a program of CCBC and provides high-quality live theatre experiences for the entire family at affordable prices.
About the Community College of Baltimore County (www.ccbcmd.edu)
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, nearly 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2021 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.
