About
Beyond the Stage Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Frostburg, Maryland, dedicated to empowering lives through the performing arts. It is the home of Mountain City Creative Academy (MCCA), and its work is organized in three focus areas: Academy, Outreach and Pathways.
Mountain City Creative Academy provides performing arts education, professional training and creative experiences for artists of all ages. Outreach brings arts experiences into schools and communities through school partnerships and community programs. Pathways connects students with scholarships, mentorship, leadership development and professional experiences.
The organization traces its roots to 2013, when Coty Forno founded Mountain City Center for the Arts as a welcoming space where artists of all ages could pursue their passions. In 2016 a scholarship fund was established in honor of Peter Forno to help remove financial barriers to arts education, and that fund grew into the nonprofit now known as Beyond the Stage.
For the 2025/2026 season the foundation reports 303 academy students, 3,643 school audience members reached through its Read & Sing program, 30 artists employed and 200 Jumpstart students served.
Address
Frostburg, MD 21532