A New Play Entitled “Love and Vinyl” is Performed in a Record Store

Bowie State University Professor Bob Bartlett Always Seeks to Innovate

 

MEDIA CONTACT: media@bowiestate.edu

(BOWIE, Md.) — Bowie State University Professor of Theatre Bob Bartlett isn’t just a playwright. He’s a visionary who brings theatre to unexpected places, making audiences see stories unfold in a whole new way. His latest play, "Love and Vinyl," is no exception. Set in a real record store, this site-specific production is a celebration of music, memory and human connection. 

For Bartlett, theatre is meant to be immersive, engaging and transformative.

“Whenever regional theatre is being produced in an alleyway, bar or in someone’s home, I’m there,” he says. “Something magical and beyond theatrical happens when we take our art out of traditional performance spaces.” 

With "Love and Vinyl," he taps into that magic, bringing audiences into a world where every album tells a story, and every spin of the record evokes a memory. 

The play is deeply personal for Bartlett, who has spent years collecting and cherishing vinyl. But beyond the music, "Love and Vinyl" is about the relationships we build through shared experiences. It’s about how a song can become the soundtrack to a friendship, romance or pivotal moment in life. 

As a longtime professor at Bowie State, Bartlett’s work is also shaped by his students. 

“I wrote "Love and Vinyl" with three of my students in mind,” he shares. “They had this lovely chemistry I wanted to capture on stage.” 

Although those students have since moved on, their influence remains woven into the play’s dialogue and characters. 

For Bowie State students and theatre lovers alike, Bartlett’s message is clear: great theatre doesn’t need elaborate sets or grand auditoriums — it can happen anywhere as long as there’s a compelling story at its core. His advice to aspiring playwrights? “Make the work a part of your life. Embrace the struggle, and don’t wait until you think you’re ready.” 

Catch "Love and Vinyl" at Byrdland Records in Washington, D.C., from February 13 to March 16, 2025. Whether you’re a lifelong vinyl collector or simply love a good story, this play promises an experience that’s as immersive as it is unforgettable. 

 

###

About Bowie State University
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.