Young Artists of America has announced plans to open a new state-of-the-art rehearsal facility in the heart of Rockville Pike, marking a major milestone for the Emmy Award-winning nonprofit and the local arts community.
Through its Building Dreams Campaign, an $8 million fundraising initiative, the organization will establish Montgomery County’s first Collaborative Performing Arts Hub. The new space will serve both YAA students and the broader arts community while ensuring continued access for young artists from all backgrounds.
The future home of the facility will be located at 1626 East Jefferson Street at Congressional Plaza, a highly visible and central location along Rockville Pike. The site sits within 25 minutes of downtown Washington, D.C., adjacent to Twinbrook Quarter, and offers convenient Metro access along with free on-site parking. The location also places the organization just minutes from its home stage at Strathmore.
For nearly 15 years, Young Artists of America has provided a nurturing and inclusive environment where students are encouraged to take creative risks while receiving elite-level training. One in five students receives scholarship support, helping ensure accessibility regardless of financial background. Over the years, YAA has earned a Regional Emmy Award, performed on world-class stages, hosted Tony Award-winning Broadway artists as mentors, and helped launch careers that have gone on to Broadway and other professional productions.
Despite its growth and recognition, the organization has operated without a permanent rehearsal space, relying on short-term and borrowed locations. The lack of a dedicated facility large enough for full mainstage rehearsals has limited efficiency and collaboration, challenges the new hub is designed to solve.
The new space is being designed by architecture firm Grimm + Parker and will feature specialty flooring and acoustic treatments tailored specifically for performing arts education. For the first time in the organization’s history, YAA will be able to bring its entire artistic community together under one roof. The facility will also create new revenue opportunities through expanded class offerings, special events, and rentals for the wider arts community.
The campaign is supported by a high-profile group of leaders from the arts, government, and philanthropy. Honorary co-chairs include Stephen Schwartz, Jason Robert Brown, Andrew Lippa, former U.S. Representative Constance A. Morella, and former Montgomery County Executive and First Lady Ike and Catherine Leggett, among others.
An invite-only campaign launch event, Curtain Up!, will take place Sunday, February 22, 2026, with expected attendees including Maryland Senator Cheryl Kagan, Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton, and Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman.
The organization reports it has already secured more than $4 million toward its $8 million goal through contributions from private donors, the building’s landlord, and the State of Maryland. An additional $4 million is still needed to complete renovations, build long-term infrastructure, and support the Tuition Assistance Fund. Donors contributing $10,000 or more will be recognized on a special donor wall inside the facility, with select naming opportunities available for gifts of $50,000 and above. All pledges are payable through 2027.
