Bowie Center for the Performing Arts
“So That All May Enjoy”
The Bowie Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) was created to bring arts and entertainment to Bowie. We were able to speak to the Executive Director, Christopher Dwyer, to learn more about the history of the BCPA, the upcoming productions for the year 2022, and the importance to the community. Christopher tells us, “It was joint effort of 4 main organizations to bring this project to life. The plan to create the building began in 2002. These four entities; Bowie Regional Arts Vision Association (BRAVA), Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission (MNCPPC), Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), and the City of Bowie form the Governance Board and it came to life in 2006. The initial investment for building the center Article By Alyson Turner were handled by BRAVA, MNCPPC and the City of Bowie. Photography By Ro Moreno The land was provided by Prince George’s County Public Schools. From the very beginning there was Verna Tisdale of BRAVA along with Mary Nasser, who was really the driving force that got this place built. Mary has since passed away, but was really instrumental in getting the center off the ground and running.” Technical Director, Jerrell Benson, agrees, “The group BRAVA and our former outreach person Mary Nasser fought very hard to get the building built. Mary wore several hats and was very well respected in the Bowie community. We needed a place for the arts to be seen and we needed a place for the arts to be recognized in this county so people would have a place to come and enjoy.”
Executive Director Christopher Dwyer shares the mission and the joy of Bowie Center for the Performing Arts
Who They Serve The Bowie Center for the Performing Arts is not just a theater. It serves the entire community. “Our first obligation is to Prince George’s County Public Schools and to the students. We serve as a location for Bowie High School events and countywide school events. This is a meeting place for a lot of the schools when it comes to education, field trips, performances, and the choral and band assessments. First, and foremost, we serve the students. Secondly, we serve residents of the City of Bowie and residents of Prince George’s County. We also serve as a rental venue for the community with fairly affordable pricing. People will rent the facility like Brencore Entertainment who puts on our Motown and Jazz Revue shows, the Prince George’s Philharmonic or various dance companies may put on their performances here. The people that fill the seats are the residents of Bowie, the parents of the performers and the followers of the organizations that use our venue,” Christopher says, “Our motto is, ‘So that all may enjoy.’ We provide programming that all may enjoy including Motown Revues, national ballet, Nutcracker, and we serve a lot of organizations for dance performances. There are not many venues that seat 756 people in the Bowie area. It is a place for everyone.”
Their Mission Christopher came on as Executive Director for Bowie Center for the Performing Arts in 2021 and previously served as an art educator at St. Vincent Palotti. “There was a foundation that was set before I got here to serve Prince George’s
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February 2022
