https://www.thebanner.com/culture/theater/baltimore-national-plays-tours-water-for-elephants-phantom-opera-gatsby-I4ACOFDFY5HTJCB3BPGRIIIC3E/
Maryland’s Theatrical Production Tax Credit, which can earn up to $2 million back to a single production — no small amount in the expensive, labor-filled world of theater production.
Before then, the Hippodrome will welcome more national tour launches like “The Phantom of the Opera” in November and “The Great Gatsby” in January, continuing a trend that has helped make Baltimore an East Coast destination for theater enthusiasts, Legler said.
Leading Actor Joined: 9/25/24
I think Maybe Happy Ending is launching there in the 26/27 season too
I know NY state has similar things. Many tours launch from Buffalo too. I believe Rhode Island has something too, as Providence has launched a lot too.
Swing Joined: 10/2/25
As someone from Baltimore, I have to say that its not that great, because when I wan't to buy a ticket to a show I can never hear from other people if they've liked it, because no one has seen it yet, so sometimes the cast is really bad, or for one reason or another the show is just terrible and I've wasted money and an evening on it.
I did undergrad in Baltimore and went to a lot of shows at the Hippodrome. It's a beautifully restored theater. Glad to hear that it's become a notable launching point for national tours.
Between the Hippodrome, Center Stage and the Arena Players, Baltimore has a thriving theater scene that's flown under the radar for a while now.
Understudy Joined: 1/2/15
The tax incentives have been great for the Baltimore economy as the tours originating from there brings in so many jobs and so much spending. The article has a paywall for me, but there is quite a list of shows that originated in B'more lately..
Gatsby Feb 2026, Maybe Happy Ending Fall 2026, Water for Elephants Sept 2025, Phantom Nov 2025, Ceilidh The Musical (North American Debut) Sept 2025, Life of Pi Dec 2024, & Juliet Sept 2024, The Wiz (pre-Broadway run) Sept 2023, Peter Pan Feb 2024
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