Welcome to Creative Arts Theatre & School!

Founded in 1977, CATS is one of the oldest operating youth theatres in the nation and the only youth theatre in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where youth perform for peers and run the lights, sound, and crew. CATS is a theatre…by youth for youth.

Perhaps best known for its rich heritage in theatre education, CATS offers classes year round for children 4-18 and adults in all aspects of theatre education. Classes include Creative Drama, Acting, Musical Theatre, Private Voice, Technical Theatre, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and more. The greatest opportunity that CATS offers to its students is the opportunity to perform in professionally produced productions.

MISSION
CATS' mission is to develop the potential of young people from diverse backgrounds through performing arts training and performance opportunities. CATS is devoted to professionally training, enriching, and inspiring all youth by igniting within them an enduring passion for the arts.

HISTORY
The history of CATS is an extraordinary story of dedication to the goal of bringing performing arts training and live family-oriented theatrical productions to young people and their families in the Arlington-Fort Worth-Dallas area. Under the direction of Zachary and Kathey Ward, both professional performers and educators, a ten-week pilot program during the summer of 1978 offered a limited selection of classes in creative dramatics and acting. Community response was so positive that CATS relocated from its temporary quarters at an Arlington private school to a leased facility where year-round activities began in June of 1979. During its four years there, CATS experienced tremendous growth in both its class enrollments and audience attendance at performances.

In December of 1982, CATS' Board of Directors, along with interested parents and citizens, formed the Arlington Arts Associates, Ltd. to purchase an empty church building at 1100 West Randol Mill Road in Arlington in an effort to insure the institute's ability to continue and expand. In August of 1983 CATS moved into its new headquarters - a facility five times larger than its previous home. Currently CATS' budget, which started at $10,000 in 1978, is over $600,000; enrollment, 75 per session in 1978, is now over 1000 annually; and combined attendance at CATS Spotlight Series, Summer Shows, Recitals, and touring performances reach about 25,000 each year.

The annual CATS Spotlight Series of productions often represent the first contact with live theatre for many children in the expanded Arlington-Fort Worth-Dallas community. With its 400 seat theatre, ample off-street parking for patrons, wheelchair accessibility and concession facilities, CATS represents an excellent opportunity for entertaining and educating family outing.

The success of CATS' programs is ultimately judged by the community response to its classes and shows - and by the successes of its students. Many CATS alumnae have been accepted into prestigious theatre programs at such schools as Florida State University, Southern Methodist University, Boston Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

While the community can come to CATS for live family theatre, CATS goes to the community as well with offerings by its KITTEN Co., CATTITUDES repertory groups and TOPCATS - professional adult touring group. Using portable sets and sound systems, actors in these touring groups present plays and concerts for PTAs, elementary schools, libraries, nursing homes, and other community service organizations.

CATS invites schools and daycare groups for daytime shows, conveniently scheduled on the second Friday of each show all at a special discounted group rate. Daytime shows are great for school field trips! To make the live-theatre experience more enriching, CATS created show study guides for each production. Study guides greatly extend the learning experience and the school curriculum and can be downloaded on our web-site. It is our belief that theatre arts are basic to education. We hope that you will find study guides both educating and entertaining.

STAFF

Executive Director: Charlie Bowles

Artistic Director: Kathey Ward

Education Director: Kim Howard

Technical Director: Michael Redden

Technical Coordinator: Greg Hartman

Registrar: Gina Galante

Marketing Director: Dawn Giammarco

Box Office Manager: Dawn Giammarco

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Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Summer Office Hours: Monday - Friday
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
June 6 thru Sept. 2

Contact Us | About CATS | Classes | Shows | Tickets | Supporters

Phone: (817) 861-2287 :: Metro: (817) 265-8512 :: Fax:(817) 274-0793