Building a Different Kind of Factory for the Mid-Shore: A Chat with Cecile Storm

For a good number of Talbot County residents and a few more on the Mid-Shore of a certain age, there is a collective memory of Cecile Storm as a young teen working as a waitress at her parents’ legendary sushi restaurant General Tanuki’s in Easton in the early 2000s. And if one tracked Cece’s life since those early days, it’s no wonder that almost 20 years later she has become a major force in the cultural life of the Mid-Shore.

Freelancing as a filmmaker and photographer in 2009, a production manager at the Avalon Foundation, and head of marketing at Rise Up Coffee, the list grows even longer, with over 300 wedding gigs as a videographer. And more recently, her “Stage Fright” play series has had record-breaking attendance.

All of this has prepared Cece for one of the most ambitious performance projects in the entire Eastern Shore.

Cece is spearheading an initiative called “The Factory,” which has an aspirational mission to be a regional leader in producing original works and reimagining classics to reflect and celebrate Eastern Shore stories, traditions, and arts.

This unique blend aims to make high-quality, avant-garde art accessible outside major urban centers. Storm’s approach combines production, education, and community outreach, drawing inspiration from prestigious national theatres. The Factory’s journey includes notable projects like the “Stage Fright” series, highlighting immersive theatre experiences.

By leveraging local assets like the extensive costume shop, Cece seeks to preserve and evolve the artistic legacy of the Mid-Shore area, emphasizing the importance of involving the younger generation in the arts to ensure its continued vitality and relevance.

The Spy sat down with Cece last week to learn more.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about The Factory, please go here.