County Breaks Ground For New Parking Garage With Space For Bethedsda Academy Of Performing Arts

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Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530 (Montgomery County Public Information Office)
Laurie Levy-Page, 301-320-2550 (Bethesda Academy for Performing Arts)

For Immediate Release: June 27, 2000

COUNTY BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW PARKING
GARAGE WITH SPACE FOR
BETHESDA ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, along with other State and County officials, broke ground today for an unusual building project that will combine much-needed parking spaces with a permanent home for the Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts (BAPA) Imagination Stage, a center for the arts.

As the result of a public-private partnership, the County's new multi-level parking garage will house the Imagination Stage. BAPA will lease from the County 25,000 square feet of space on the ground level of the new 750-space garage, when it is completed on the current site of Public Parking Lot #36 between Auburn and Del Ray Avenues.

According to Bonnie Fogel, BAPA's founder and executive director, plans call for a state-of-the-art 450-seat professional theatre and a 250-seat theatre for student productions. When the project is completed, BAPA, which was founded in 1979 to integrate the arts into the lives of area children, will house a professional children's theatre company; year-round theatre education programs for children and teens; classes and performance companies for individuals with disabilities (including its nationally renowned Deaf Access Program); and professional arts integration training programs for teachers and parents.

"The Auburn-Del Ray garage/BAPA joint project is a wonderful example of Montgomery County's ongoing investment in the arts and this community's deep commitment to fostering an arts renaissance," said County Executive Douglas M. Duncan in ceremonies held at Lot #36. "This multi-use project allows us to meet varied needs in a creative and cost effective way within an urban environment where space is at a premium."

BAPA now operates in several locations, including White Flint Mall and the former Whittier Woods Elementary School. BAPA officials expect the new facility to increase the organization's users and audiences from more than 20,000 a year to more than 90,000.

"For two decades, BAPA has built its program and reputation on two principles central to its mission: excellence and accessibility," said Fogel. "BAPA's Imagination Stage will continue this tradition it its new home, while becoming the region's foremost center for the arts for children and young people."

Other officials participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies were County Council President Michael Subin, Councilmember Howard Denis, and State Senator Christopher Van Hollen, Jr.

"This innovative theater and garage combination is proof positive of the creative thinking going on in Montgomery County," said Council President Michael Subin, substituting for Transportation and Environment Committee chair and Councilmember Isiah Leggett, who was unable to attend.

As part of the ceremony, children from BAPA's summer camp performed 'Tomorrow' and 'Pure Imagination.'

"BAPA is a treasure for the children in our community," said Maryland Senator Christopher Van Hollen. "I am very pleased that we have marshaled the resources to build them a beautiful, permanent theater and home."

Construction on the theater and garage is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2001.

For more information, contact BAPA at 301-320-2550.

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