COS Theatre

The COS Department of Theatre is dedicated to the advancement of the theatre arts, through traditional study and performance, and to the development of new theatrical ventures. We prepare students for further study and for an ever-changing profession.

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Our Program

The Theatre Arts Department here at College of the Siskiyous offers a lower division transfer program, as well as, 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.  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.

Beyond earning an Associate degree in Theatre, students can 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.

Consider Being a Theatre Major!

A major in Theatre gives a student many advantages: Oral Communication Skills, Creative Problem Solving Abilities, Experience Working Cooperatively, Self Discipline, Self Confidence and Leadership Skills. You may also feel the pride of seeing your work on stage or the rush of acting in front of an audience. The Theatre discipline encompasses ART, HISTORY, MANAGEMENT, SELF EXPLORATION and more! The entertainment industry is the largest employer in California. Right now on Backstage Jobs.com for example, there are 783 jobs posted in technical theater! Several of our students have gone on to act in regional theaters, TV, and movies. One even recently premiered a movie he directed in the Saratota Film Festival. Theatre is tough work but EXTREMELY rewarding and a lot of fun. So take a theatre class and check us out.

  

Theatre Department News

THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT...
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!

Music and Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Conceived by Rebecca Feldman

Spelling Bee

The College of the Siskiyous Theatre and Music Departments have collaborated to produce the Tony Award-winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This is the first time the Theatre and Music departments have collaborated on a musical in many years.  While a musical is all ‘fun and games’ to watch, the reality is that it is a lot of work and an artistic collaboration between many people.  COS’ production team is headed by director, Neil Carpentier-Alting, assistant director, Mette Kolding, music director, Elaine Schaefer and Rick and Peggy Nixon as the choreographers. Behind the scenes, the COS Theatre Department’s lighting class has worked on the lighting for the show and work-study students assisted the set and costume designers.  A small orchestra has rehearsed all semester and will perform live backstage. This is not to mention, as they call in the movie business, the “talent.”  Our thirteen cast members are all seasoned actors and singers. These are students with Theatre, Music or Musical Theatre as their major.  Putting all the pieces together to fit in the making of a show is just short of miraculous and director Carpentier-Alting loves the process of seeing it happen, “This has been a tough show to put together, but well worth it. I think our community is going to love this show.”  It helps to have a great story and Bee is just that—it celebrates the triumph of doing the best you can.  It harkens the Taoist saying “The journey is the reward," because for most of Bee’s contestants, the destination is not to win.  Bee opened on Broadway in 2005 and enjoyed rave reviews.  Writers of this disarming musical include music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, and the story was conceived by Rebecca Feldman.  The musical director, Elaine Schaffer, put it simply, “Fun songs and fun characters!”   What more could you ask of a musical.  The story chronicles the experience of six adolescent outsiders competing for a spelling championship. It is a quirky yet charming cast of characters for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can standout and fit in at the same time. An exciting part of this show is that it calls for nightly audience volunteers to participate as on-stage guest spelling bee contestants. With new “cast members” each night, there will be a new set of hilarious and unexpected experiences.  Theatre goers will want to see more that one performance!


The show opens  April 13th at 7 PM with a reception to follow.  (Please note the new show times.) It also plays April 14th, 20th, and 21st, at 7 PM and April 22nd at 2 PM in the COS Kenneth W. Ford Theater. Tickets are $5.00 for students and seniors and $10 for general admission. For more information or tickets, please call the COS Public Relations Office at 530.938.5373. 

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