The Highlandtown home of the former Hoehn’s Bakery is cooking up something new: improv theater.
In September, the Baltimore-based Highwire Improv opened a theater called The Highwire Center in the former bakery space at 400 S. Conkling St. Now, Highwire is holding a grand opening for that theatrical center on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The property, owned by Mike Ost, is Highwire’s first permanent home, after five years of holding pop-ups and temporary residencies in several other locations as well as online shows.
In addition to weekend shows, the Highwire Center will offer classes, workshops, and community events.
“We are so thankful for this amazing support and cannot wait to open our doors in Highlandtown,” Highwire board president Barry Wright III said in a statement. “Our motto ‘Community First’ fits right in with this thriving neighborhood and its growing arts community.”
Highwire received more than $100,000 in grant funding to renovate the Conkling Street space, including from the Southeast Community Development Corporation’s Project Restore Highlandtown program and a Facade Improvement grant from the Baltimore Development Corporation.
“We are thrilled that Highwire Improv is one of our Project Restore Highlandtown awardees,” said Johanna Barrantes, Small Business Project Manager for the SECDC, in a statement. “Our Project Restore program was developed to reduce vacancies by matching complementary, high-quality tenants to available properties as part of our commercial revitalization efforts. The South Conkling and Bank Street location is a critical intersection in our district, and we know the community is eager to see it fully activated. We are ready to lend our support and help Highwire reach this milestone.”
The Baltimore theater also relied on crowdfunding, as well as equipment provided by the Maryland State Arts Council and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts.
A facade sign, partially funded by the FIG, is slated to be installed later this year.
