Cockpit in Court Offers Something for Everybody

James Hunnicutt has a simple message for theater fans in Baltimore County: You don’t have to travel to Broadway to check out a high-quality performance.

Hunnicutt is the artistic director of the Cockpit in Court summer theater series. For 39 years, the series has been a mainstay at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex campus, offering a wide variety of productions for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

This year is no exception as Cockpit in Court will present five shows with the series running through through Aug. 7. Tickets for the shows range from $8-20, depending on the production, and parking is always free.

Each summer, Cockpit in Court offers large-scale musicals in its 412-seat Mainstage Theatre; comedies and dramas in its intimate 160-seat Cabaret Theatre, and a high-energy children’s musical in a 220-seat Lecture Hall.

Throughout the summer, the productions draw more than a combined 7,000 theater-goers who enjoy the efforts of more than a hundred area artists, performers, directors and musicians. Practically all of those involved in the shows are volunteers and come from all across the county to participate.

“We want to keep coming back every year,” Hunnicutt said. “We typically have 600-900 subscribers a year and we want to keep growing. It’s the passionate fans that help keep Cockpit alive.”

A typical Cockpit production costs between $20,000 and $40,000 to produce and the organization is mostly self-sustaining through ticket sales and sponsors. The cost is generally more than twice that of most other area community theater groups, which allows Cockpit to create high-quality sets and secure the rights for popular plays and musicals.

General auditions typically take place in March, and the production team tries to find some role for as many people as possible, Hunnicutt said.

This year’s productions include The Secret Garden (June 17- July 3), Over the River and Through the Woods (June 24-July 3), Disney’s Camp Rock – The Musical (July 8-17), Hairspray (July 22-Aug. 7) and The Edge of Darkness (July 29-Aug. 7).

“There are so many talented actors in the Baltimore area and Cockpit does a great job of bringing them together,” said Liz Boyer Hunnicutt, director of Disney’s Camp Rocks. “We get people from Harford County, northern Baltimore County and other places that requires a jaunt to get here so you know the dedication is there from the performers.”

Boyer Hunnicutt, who grew up in Dundalk and now lives in Perry Hall, has been involved with Cockpit since 1987 but prefers acting to directing. This year, however, Boyer was approached with the idea of directing the children’s production and felt it would be a perfect fit. She is in charge of the Children’s Playhouse of Maryland, which is also housed at CCBC Essex.

“There is something for all types of theater fans in the area,” Boyer Hunnicutt said. “Many of our current actors got their start by being involved in a Cockpit or Children’s Playhouse of Maryland production.”

Allison Comotto is one of those actresses. The 15-year-old junior at Loch Raven High School is one of the stars of Camp Rock. She has been acting since she was 7 after watching her first Children’s Playhouse of Maryland production. Her credits include roles in The Sound of Music and Annie with the Dundalk Community Theatre and Bye Bye Birdie at Loch Raven.

“I watched the people on stage and knew I wanted to do that,” Comotto. “I’ve made such amazing friends acting and I’m so impressed with how well Liz Boyer works with youngsters. She doesn’t call us children. She calls us young professional and treats us that way. I’m not sure I’m going to pursue acting as a career, but I do know that I hope to always have Cockpit and local theater be a major part of my life.”

Here is a listing of this season’s Cockpit in Court series at CCBC Essex. It includes a brief synopsis of the production as well as ticket information:

• The Secret Garden (June 17 – July 3) B Building Mainstage

This musical version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel brings the story of orphan Mary Lennox to the stage.  Enjoy her transformation and those of her uncle and cousin as they reawaken the magic of the secret garden.

Tickets - $20 adults; $18 seniors (60 years and older) and CCBC alumni association members; $12 children (12 and younger).   Call the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787) for tickets, times and other information.

• Over the River and Through the Woods (June 24 – July 3) B Building Cabaret Theatre

Joe DiPietro offers a hilarious and poignant look at the importance of family connections as his family tries to head off his move away from New Jersey to Seattle for a new job.

Tickets   - $16 adults; $14 seniors (60 years and older) and CCBC alumni association members. Call the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-2787 for tickets, times and other information.

• Disney’s Camp Rock – The Musical (July 8 -17) J Building Lecture Hall (J-137) 

The Court Jesters Young People’s Theatre production has the music, energy and the story as campers fight to save their beloved Camp Rock from its flashier neighbor Camp Star.  If you love TV’s “Glee” or Disney’s “High School Musical,” you’ll enjoy this summer musical.

Tickets - $8 all seats; $6 for groups of 18 or more. Call the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-2787 for tickets, times and other information.

• Hairspray, the Broadway Musical (July 22- Aug. 7) B Building Mainstage

John Waters’ ultimate homage to Baltimore circa 1960 musical. Tracy Turnblad, Corny Collins, and more.  You’re gonna love it, Hon!

If you are a “Deaner” or remember the “Deaners,” you will enjoy pictures and memorabilia including some rare footage of the dancers from the Buddy Dean show on display at all performances. Following the Sunday, July 24 matinee performance only, members of the original “Deaners” will talk with the audience and answer questions about their memories of The Buddy Dean Show, the making of Hairspray and what the musical has come to mean to them.

Tickets - $20 adults; $18 seniors (60 years and older) and CCBC alumni association members; $12 children (12 and younger).   Call the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-2787 for tickets, times and other information.

• The Edge of Darkness  (July 29 – Aug. 7) B Building Cabaret Theatre

Three years ago, the Cranwells’ daughter Emma disappeared only to return again three years later. But is this fragile, frightened, memory gone ghost of the daughter they lost really Emma?

Tickets  - $16 adults; $14 seniors (60 years and older) and CCBC alumni association members.   Call the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-2787 for tickets, times and other information.