Executive Director City by the Sea Museum Palacios
I’ve seen about four performances by CAST in the past year, and I’ve loved every single one of them.
I had the opportunity to watch the newest performance, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” directed by the dynamic husband and wife duo, Darve and Gena Lea Smith. But my column today isn’t about the musical itself. What I want to say has to do with the community aspect of community theater.
To set the stage (pun intended), during a lunch I had with Darve and Gena a few weeks ago, Gena mentioned an article she read about how community theaters across the country are declining and having trouble bouncing back after Covid.
During the talkback with the cast at Thursday’s performance, I asked why they thought our community theater program has been so successful in beating the odds.
Ray Garcia, professional choreographer and performer, answered by saying that the quality of each production speaks for itself - and indeed it does. “We’re having fun, and we love doing this. And people are spreading the word,” said Ray. Daren Norris, board member and professional actor, added that,
“The current board is doing great things, and we have some really great benefactors that continue to give their support.”
And it was a consensus among the cast that they all do it for the love of theater. Let’s face it, you have to love it when you’re volunteering your time for what is, as Daren says, “something bigger than yourself.”
I had the pleasure of sitting next to one of their benefactors who told me that for many years, there wasn’t much activity at all.
And then a few years ago, it started taking off.
Each show now has an aspect that involves immersing the audience into the performance, and each audience member receives a keepsake.
This unique aspect of CAST performances makes you feel like you’re part of the show from the moment you walk in!
Which is probably another reason people keep coming back.
Which brings me to my main point.
While sitting next to Victoria Mitchell who played Lucy, I asked her what it was like to act alongside such young performers.
Her answer touched me. She said that she taught some of these students in junior high (she teaches theater at Bay City Junior High) as their theater teacher and that to perform with them was special for her.
Seeing a student’s love for theater grow is also something that is shared with Gena Lea Smith who teaches theater at Van Vleck High School.
I have to add that the youngest actor was 15 and the youngest crew member was 12.
This is what community theater is about - creating laughs, creating hope, creating discourse, and fostering creativity.
It’s all ages, all walks of life, all talent levels, all coming together to create something special for the betterment of their community.
If you haven’t seen a performance by your community theater yet, you’re missing out.
The amount of talent that our county boasts is second to none!