Sister Kathleen Marie Engers, beloved founder of Baltimore’s Pumpkin Theater, dies at 101

When what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University ended its theater program in 1982 and decided to discontinue hosting its popular Pumpkin Theater for children, the founder of that program went to extraordinary lengths to keep it alive.

As recounted in Maravene Loeschke’s “Lives in Art: Sixteen Women Who Changed Theatre in Baltimore,” School Sister of Notre Dame Kathleen Marie Engers successfully bid at an auction for a chance to have lunch with then-Mayor William Donald Schaefer of Baltimore.

She used the meeting to tell the mayor about her efforts to relocate the theater. It’s not clear whether he was able to help, but Sister Kathleen Marie ultimately found a new home for Pumpkin Theater at Roland Park Public School, where it thrived for several years before moving on to other homes in the years that followed.

From its founding at Notre Dame in 1967, Pumpkin Theater entertained and educated thousands of Baltimore-area children in the arts for more than half a century.

Sister Kathleen Marie, who was also a longtime professor of communications and drama at Notre Dame of Maryland, died June 10 at Stella Maris in Timonium. She was 101.

“What she did with Pumpkin Theater was just unbelievable,” remembered School Sister of Notre Dame Paulette Doyas, a longtime friend. “You have to understand how much time and effort it took. She put her heart and soul into it.”

In a 2001 interview with the Catholic Review, Sister Kathleen Marie described Pumpkin Theater as a ministry. Featuring elaborately staged productions, dance, music and puppet presentations, it introduced the arts to many area children, with the goal of giving them a lifelong appreciation for the stage.

“Arts are the most civilizing discipline in the world,” Sister Kathleen Marie said. “Our philosophy was to bring them to as many people as we could.”

Every production began with what Sister Kathleen Marie called “kiddie talk,” where children learned good theater manners before getting the chance to interact with the performers.

Sister Paulette recalled that Sister Kathleen Marie insisted on high-quality costumes and sets for her productions.

“I remember she did a production of the ‘Princess and the Pea,'” Sister Paulette said with a laugh, “and there were at least 10 mattresses on that stage. She did a lot with costuming, too, and working with the students.”

Sister Paulette also recalled how Sister Kathleen Marie once asked a college donor for financial support for Pumpkin Theater. The benefactor declined, saying he would not give to something that wasn’t going to last.

“So 30 years later, she asked that person’s daughter for a donation,” Sister Paulette said. “She gave $1,000.”

Sister Paulette believes the program’s long run finally came to an end last year.

Born in Baltimore, Sister Kathleen Marie graduated from the Institute of Notre Dame in Baltimore and entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1948, one year after graduating from what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University. She professed her final vows in 1956 and later earned a master’s degree in theater from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Speaking at Sister Kathleen Marie’s July 1 memorial Mass at Stella Maris, School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Roy Weiss said her friend desired to “dwell in the house of the Lord” all her days.

“Her community life included a lot of praying and contemplating,” Sister Mary Roy said. “Kathleen Marie was often seen in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the fourth floor community chapel of Notre Dame and in front of the St. John Neumann portrait at 2 South in Stella Maris.”

Her spiritual life flowed into her love for community, Sister Mary Roy said.

“She once hosted a party in the stage craft room of Notre Dame for 103 sisters,” she said.

In the 2001 Catholic Review interview, Sister Kathleen Marie said she loved standing in the wings while Pumpkin Theater was in session so she could watch the expressions on the children’s faces.

“When the show was over, they were so excited they just floated out of the theater,” she said. “It was marvelous.”

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

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