Toby Orenstein

Toby Orenstein is a multifaceted American theatrical director, producer, and educator who has made significant contributions to the field of theater. She is credited with founding the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, an organization that has played a vital role in promoting theater arts. Additionally, Orenstein established the Young Columbians, a teen performance troupe that operates under the umbrella of the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts.

Orenstein's career in the arts spans several decades and has included various notable endeavors. She began her professional journey as a teacher for a federal education project initiated by Eleanor Roosevelt. Over the years, she has developed and implemented arts-based community outreach programs aimed at supporting disadvantaged and special-needs children. As the artistic director of Toby's Dinner Theatre, which she founded, Orenstein has been instrumental in shaping the theater scene in Maryland, with locations in Columbia and Baltimore operating since 1979.