UpStArt – Annapolis’ Musical Allure
+ By Mary Ann Treger
At first glance, Annapolis might appear to be an ultra-casual town focused on sailing and historic buildings—a place where streets are lined with wandering tourists mixed with Naval Academy midshipmen and t-shirt clad boaters sip a brew while savoring a crab cake. That image may be warranted given its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, but this “sailing capital of the world,” as it is known to some, has a more sophisticated side when it comes to classical and contemporary music.
This small capital city with its modest population of fewer than 50,000 attracts famous performing artists, and it’s not unreasonable to wonder why. The city’s venues are hardly posh. As charming as it is, Maryland Hall is an old, converted high school with a simple 750-seat auditorium—no elaborate lobby, no Veuve Clicquot at intermission, no fancy crystal chandeliers. There is no comparison with the sophisticated concert halls a short drive away. The elegant Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, both designed by world-famous architects, have seating capacities of close to 2,500 and offer a posh environment worthy of highly celebrated artists.
On the contemporary side, Rams Head On Stage seats 320 people in a cozy room—different than the 3,000-seat theater at the MGM National Harbor in DC. Could the Annapolis allure be venues without attitude—egalitarian and unstuffy?
For some performers, the small size of Rams Head On Stage is a big plus. “Not one seat in the room is further than 48 feet from the stage. Intimacy is one of the reasons performing artists love coming here,” says Kris Stevens, vice president of programming. Over the years, the venue has welcomed dozens of famous celebs, including Kevin Bacon, Greg Allman, Kevin Costner, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Idol, Wynonna, and Judy Collins.