A Brief History of CAST

"Have you dreamed of being an actor? director? want to work backstage? belong to a community theatre company? You can have it all! Call Judie Crawford at 386-5548" Classified ad in Hood River News, September, 1977.

The phone started ringing, and that's how CAST was born. Within a month, half a dozen people had joined Judie (now Hanel) in establishing the group's by-laws and constitution. Each of them also kicked in twenty dollars to jump start the kitty and the fledgling theatre group was in business.

CAST staged its first play, Vanities, in the fall of 1978. Frank Levin directed the comedy, although he, along with the actors, handled numerous other jobs as well. Back then, CAST didn't have a set designer, a costumer, or anyone to do makeup or hair. Everyone did everything to put on the show.

A lot has changed since then. For starters, CAST has experienced steady growth, both in membership and in the number of productions it has staged. Since Vanities, the group has produced more than 60 plays, including Mousetrap, Dracula, Play It Again, Sam, and Two Rooms, by such notable playwrights as Neil Simon, Agatha Christie, Woody Allen, and Lee Blessing.

CAST has also sponsored dance performances, choral groups, workshops for actors and directors, and local appearances by Portland area theatre companies. Just as important, CAST has been instrumental in bringing children's theatre to Hood River, including the magic of the renowned Missoula Children's Theatre. For the past three years, the Montana-based organization has conducted week-long workshops that have culminated in scores of Gorge area children participating in such whimsical productions as Wizard of Oz, The Pied Piper, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The emphasis CAST has placed on children has not been restricted t the stage. Fifteen Years ago CAST started granting scholarships to high school seniors who planned to continue their education in theatre. To date, CAST has awarded over five thousand dollars in scholarship money. The funds have come from revenue generated by CAST performances.

For more than a decade CAST has taken theatre off the stage and into the community through a number of efforts. The CAST performance of Safe Sex, a play by Tony award-winning playwright Harvey Fierstein, traveled to areas schools. Reader's Theatre, in which CAST members read plays, has been performed for Mid-Columbia civic organizations, churches and area high schools. CAST has also taken its play performances to Down Manor and has done Christmas reading and caroling at the Hood River Care Center. CAST is community.

In July, 1993, CAST found a permanent home, thanks to the great generosity of the late Butch Ogawa. Members of CAST and community volunteers surmounted the considerable challenge of cleaning up what had been the service department of an automobile dealership. By dint of sweat and perseverance, and not a little black paint, The Performing Arts Center (PAC) slowly began to take shape. The stage was built, ditto the seating platforms and the sound and lighting booth. To pay for improvements, grants were sought and obtained. With generous backing from the community, the PAC soon stood dressed with theatre curtains and graced by a sophisticated sound and lighting system. The PAC officially opened with its first show, The Night of January 16th, in July 1993.

The new owners of the building in which the theatre is housed are Bruce and Judy Thesenga. They've pledged their wholehearted support for the continued presence of CAST in its current Location.

CAST recently hired its first theatre manager and is now putting together its first, regularly scheduled full season. With the ongoing support of the community CAST will continue as a vibrant and important contributor to Columbia Gorge cultural life.

by Mark Nykanen, Oct. 1997