In 1966 at the age of 27, Peter Culman returned to his hometown to become managing director of a newly established theater called Center Stage. Thirty-three years, 200 productions, and one fire later, Center Stage and Peter Culman are both Baltimore institutions, recognized nationally for excellence in the theatre arts. During Mr. Culman’s tenure, Center Stage has become known for innovative and risk-taking programming, producing plays that raise the bar for non-traditional casting and engage broader segments of the community. In nominating Mr. Culman, the Center Stage staff wrote that, "Peter himself is a cultural treasure. No one that has ever been treated to one of his fables can doubt it... because (they) connect to the reality of the human condition." Mr. Culman served two terms as president of the League of Resident Theater(LORT), and as a board member of Theater Communications Group(TCG) and American Arts Alliance. He also served on the National Endowment for the Arts Theater Overview. In 1991, TCG gave him the Zeisler Award for distinguished service in non-profit professional theater.

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