Bethesda-based Imagination Stage received a three-year grant from the Kaiser Permanente Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation to expand its educational theater programs promoting children’s mental health. The initiatives include Empathy Quest, an interactive play for elementary students focused on empathy and self-regulation, and RISE UP, a virtual workshop designed to help educators address mental health challenges in schools.
When the last bell rings at Quince Orchard High School, most students know Mr. Tyler as “Coach” the calm but commanding wrestling coach who preaches discipline, resilience, and self-respect. But […]
In a moment of pop culture triumph, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Montgomery County-grown artist Rei Ami delivered the first full television performance of “Golden” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (video below).
Following a binding arbitration hearing, National Philharmonic at Strathmore founder and former Music Director & Conductor Piotr Gajewski has been awarded $391,402 in damages for breach of contract, wrongful termination, and violation of Maryland Wage Payment and Collections Law, to be paid by the National Philharmonic.
Jodie Turner-Smith, who spent her formative years growing up in Montgomery County, is taking on the role of Athena in the latest installment of Disney’s Tron franchise. Known for her powerful performances in films like Queen & Slim and After Yang, Turner-Smith continues to rise as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic talents.
Laytonsville’s Katie Killacky, who we first featured in 2022 for her work as an actress and longtime acting coach, is seeing her daughters make waves of their own in Hollywood. Killacky, the founder of Capital Coaching Studio, has taught acting from her home in Montgomery County for nearly a decade. Now, her daughters Maggie and Annabelle are building impressive résumés with appearances across some of television and film’s biggest projects.
Every October, as Halloween approaches and horror fans revisit their favorite scary movies, The Blair Witch Project inevitably makes its way back into the spotlight. The 1999 indie phenomenon not only redefined the horror genre but also has deep ties to Montgomery County, where much of it was filmed.
Strathmore has appointed Rochelle Rice, a 2015 Artists in Residence alum, as Director of the Artists in Residence and Artistic Advancement Fellowship Programs, where she will oversee the flagship artist development initiatives and launch the new fellowship this fall. (more…)
Cynthia Adarkwa, a writer-producer on HBO Max’s hit medical drama The Pitt, took home an Emmy last night as part of the show’s Outstanding Drama Series win, an honor with a Montgomery County connection. Adarkwa is a Montgomery Blair High School alum (Class of 2006).
Tillman, a native of Prince George’s County, MD has made history at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. The Severance star won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first Black man ever to win in the category. According to Variety, it was the only acting field in the Emmys’ 77-year history that had never before honored a Black performer.
Songwriters in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. are invited to compete for $10,000 and a chance to perform on one of the region’s premier stages. Applications are now open for the 10th Anniversary Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, founded by Cathy Bernard to honor her uncle, Broadway legend Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York). The competition culminates in a live concert featuring the finalists at the Music Center at Strathmore right here in Montgomery County on April 24, 2026.