Our Program!

The Theatre Arts Department here at College of the Siskiyous offers a complete lower division transfer program, as well as, vocational training in technical theatre. The biggest advantage to studying theatre here at COS?--our small department.  Because of our size, opportunities abound for students to be involved in all aspects of our productions. The COS Theatre Department produces two main stage productions per year; a fall play and a spring musical.  Other Theatre Department offerings include student directed theatre productions and visiting artist workshops. Regardless of your aspirations, COS' Theatre Department adds experience and training which can serve students for a career in performing arts or help give them the confidence, poise, oral communication skills and ability to tap their creative imagination that will serve them for a lifetime in whatever profession they choose.

Students can earn an Associate degree in Performance Theatre, an Associate degree in Musical Theatre, a Technical Theater Certificate or obtain excellent course transferability to universities. All at the base of majestic Mt. Shasta in Weed, California. Surrounded by mountains, forests, lakes and streams, our college lives in an environment of scenic beauty and artistic inspiration.

Help Support COS Theatre by Contributing to our Theater Membership Fund

In an effort to meet our many budgetary requirements, new theatre department director, Tom Murdock has created a Theater Membership fund for the Department. This fund will supplement our production budget, (which has not seen an increase in over 20 years), as well as help fund many of the supplies our students do not have the means to supply for themselves. The upcoming 2008/2009 school year promises to be difficult for all of us in the community college system as large cuts are expected to meet the states shortfall in property taxes. We will announce our new season soon.

The Theatre Department wants to thank the COS Foundation and our current 2007/2008 Theatre Fund Members. With their help we were able to purchase six new black masking drapes for this theater.  Masking drapes or “legs” are essential to hide entrances and exits during a production as well as mask the back stage area. They also help frame the set. The masking drapes we had were tattered, fragile and over fifteen years old! With continued support we have many more repairs planned!

Are you a COS Theatre Department Alum???

If so, we want to know about you! When were you here? Did you go on to do theatre elsewhere? How did your experience in this theatre department impact your life? Do you have some photos you can send us of department productions you were in? We are putting together some info and pictures of past productions for COS's 50th Anniversary next year. E-mail sharon swingle if you would like to participate at swingle@siskiyous.edu For the Alumni Page follow this link.

The 4th Annual Student One Acts
Opens May 8th

Plays May 8th, 9th, 10th at 8:00 PM
May 11th at 2:00 PM
in the COS Black Box Studio Theater

Eight plays in one evening--all student directed:
The Acting Lesson, Anything for You, The Best Daddy, Ferris Wheel, Captive Audience, Brenda and Jerry, Buy One, Get One Free, and an original play: An Untitled Peace

$5 for students and $10 for general admission. Seating is limited and we often sell out. Make your reservations in advance with the Public Relations Office: 530-938-5373.

Our Spring Musical "The Spitfire Grill"
was a great success.

The COS Theatre Department enjoyed record attendance to its spring musical "The Spitfire Grill." Theatre members were treated to a fabulous catered spread by Maddelenas for their opening night's reception. Director Tom Murdock's hunch to pick a play that reminded him of Weed and the surroundings paid off. Spitfire's compelling and heart-warming story with infectious melodies were enjoyed by everyone. Many audience members did indeed walk away humming the catchy soulful tunes of Spitfire and with perhaps a better appreciation of how very lucky we all are to be here. The Mt. Shasta Herald wrote a wonderful article about Spitfire in its "Spotlight." Audience members had an opportunity to win a dinner for two at Café Maddelena via a raffle every night. We will post photos from the performance soon.

Thank You to everyone who came out to see it!!

Our Fall 2007 Production:
ER
was a Big Success!

check back soon for pictures

The Theatre Department is sad to announce the passing away of Mary Jane Lockard. In 1978 Mary Jane took some theatre classes at COS and from then on, she was hooked. She would be involved with COS’s Theatre Department for the next 26 years. She acted in over 30 plays and worked as makeup artist, lighting designer, assistant director and even as a director in countless other plays. She especially loved to work on props. As her daughter, Donna Starks explained, “She considered the theater her home away from home. The more she could get involved, the happier she was.”  Mrs. Lockard also donated her time to the local area schools, helping them with makeup, costumes and props.  She wrote several plays that students at Butteville Elementary School performed.

Since the Theatre Department was her home, Mary Jane considered everyone in the department family and for years she insisted everyone call her “mom.” She cherished her friendship with mentor and Theatre Department Director, James Witherell (now retired.) Some of Mary Jane’s favorite plays to work on were; Fiddler on the Roof, Carousel, Riders to the Sea, and her biggest thrill, Jim Witherell’s play, Big Foot’s Revenge. Her most recent roles at COS was as the “Inn Keeper” in Dr. Bullis’, Dracula, 2002 (photo) and a nun in Lilly's of the Field, 2004.   Mary Jane’s daughter Donna took some theater classes with her mother around 1980.  One of their fondest memories was when they performed the mother-daughter scene from Our Town.  They recalled that time during Mary Jane’s recent hospitalization in Redding.

Mary Jane’s family wants to thank everyone that has been involved in the COS Theatre Department with their mother over the years for helping to make her life happy one.