CTSMD Announces New President Set To Start In 2024
The Children’s Theatre of Southern Maryland would like to announce an upcoming transition in leadership. Bill Righter, who has been serving as the board president since its inception in 2021, will be stepping down effective Jan. 1, 2024 to take a more active role as artistic director. Lara Reisman, who has served as the board secretary since 2021, will be the new board president, also effective Jan. 1, 2024.
Righter helped to found the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2021 with Brandy O’Shields as treasurer, Kim Danek as vice president and Reisman as secretary.
During Righter’s presidency, CTSMD has flourished by forging partnerships with local venues to produce several successful mainstage and summer camp productions and expanded to include classes, pop-ups, show choirs and cabarets. CTSMD is in the process of building relationships with other individual organizations in the tri-county area to expand to St. Mary’s and Charles counties to provide education and performance opportunities for interested students.
Since its creation, CTSMD has had over 200 students either attend a class, perform in a production or volunteer backstage. In 2023, CTSMD launched an International Thespian Society Troupe. Righter has also served as a co-producer for every show and is directing the theatre’s first-ever drama, Twelve Angry Jurors.
Righter will be focusing his energies as CTSMD’s artistic director, a role he has also been serving in since the theatre began. One of his focuses will be growing the outreach in all three Southern Maryland counties.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as CTSMD’s President since 2021,” Righter said. “I am beyond excited to focus on the artistic director duties by expanding educational classes, bringing in new educators to expand our reach in the community and continuing to put together amazing main stage productions and camp opportunities.”
Reisman joined Righter in the early days of CTSMD, helping to develop the idea to bring more opportunities in performing arts to the Southern Maryland community. She was instrumental in recruiting teaching artists and other local leaders to raise the profile of the theatre.
In 2022, Reisman also began serving as the public affairs director and social media manager, including taking the photos of productions, classes and workshops. She connected with local media outlets like Southern Maryland News and LiveLocalMD, as well as internationally with Broadway Media Global to share CTSMD’s performances worldwide on social media.
As one of the founding members of CTSMD, Reisman has been with the theatre since the beginning helping to nurture this idea and turn it into a reality. Since then, she has planned CTSMD social activities, charitable work, performance events, recruited families, developed a voice for the social media pages and so much more.
Over the past few months, she has made so many connections in the community that will help fortify CTSMD for the years to come. She directly connected with the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, Calvert County Parks & Recreation and with the College of Southern Maryland, as well as countless other community leaders to help push CTSMD to the next level.
“This is an incredible opportunity and I am grateful to the rest of the executive board for trusting me with this role,” Reisman said. “I am especially thankful to Bill and Brandy for all they did to pave the way for me. The CTSMD community is so wonderful and I am looking forward to continuing to work with such great kids and their families.”
With Reisman moving to president in 2024, CTSMD will bring in a new secretary, who has not yet been named. Earlier this year, CTSMD welcomed Molly Weeks Crumbley as the vice president. O’Shields has served as the treasurer since the theatre’s beginning.
CTSMD has a busy fall of performances, with The Addams Family School Edition performances being held at St. John Vianney Family Life Center on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Performances of Twelve Angry Jurors will be held Friday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at NewLife Calvert. CTSMD will also have its first performances for its show choirs and holiday cabaret carolers.
Tickets to The Addams Family: https://www.showtix4u.
Tickets to Twelve Angry Jurors: https://www.showtix4u.
