The Baltimore Playwrights Festival was established in 1981 with the first productions taking place in the summer of 1982. It all started when John Bruce Johnson (Vagabond Theatre), found his desk swamped with good, new plays written by local playwrights. Brian West, a director at Fell’s Point Theatre, suggested a summer festival to boost the production of these homegrown theatrical offerings.

John then contacted Al Tyler at Fell’s Point and Chris Dickerson at Corner, and the three theatres decided to stage five new shows during the forthcoming season.

Subsequently, Fells Point Theatre merged with Corner Theatre and reinvented themselves as Fell’s Point Corner Theatre, now a primary resource for BPF efforts.

Subsequently, Spotlighters, Mobtown, Chesapeake Center for the Creative Arts, Goucher College, Uncommon Voices, Arena, Axis, Harbour, Avalon, Director’s Choice, and Paragon Theatres have joined in the creative process started by the original three theatres.

The Maryland State Arts Council provided the initial funding to kick off our first season.

The BPF has presented works by playwrights Carol Weinburg, Mark Scharf, Chuck Spoler, Rosemary Frisino Toohey, Kathleen Barber, George Gipe, Tim Evans, Grant Carrington, Chris Dickerson, Linda Chambers, Joan Bonato, Joe Dennison, Bob Bowie, among many others.

With the enthusiastic support of our participating theatres, the City of Baltimore, and the theater going public, the Baltimore Playwrights Festival found its audience and mission:  "...to encourage creative local writers in their work and to provide a showcase for their talent."

Today the BPF is still going strong, producing one-acts and full-length plays all over Baltimore City and the surrounding areas. Since the first summer of the BPF in 1982, over 200 full productions have been produced, and nearly 140 playwrights and 18 theatres have participated.

We are constantly striving to find new playwrights, better plays, additional theatres and public support. So far, we have been very fortunate in our success and are forever grateful to our theatres, directors, actors, support staff and you – our loyal patrons.