Welcome!

C.A.S.T. President - this student arranges executive board meetings and maintains contact with students, helping to disseminate important news.  When necessary, this student also serves to represent C.A.S.T. to outside persons and organizations.

C.A.S.T. Treasurer - although actual budget interaction is maintained (by legal necessity) by the faculty advisors, this student assists in channeling the necessary documentation and paperwork to provide for funding of necessities, and leads decision making regarding ticket pricing.  When possible, this student works to develop fundraising opportunties, both in conjunction with productions and independent of them.

C.A.S.T. Secretary - this student keeps track of all issues and decisions handled by the executive board, and assists in preparing key media such as programs and posters when necessary.  When data needs to be collected, such as graduating senior histories, this student is called on to assist. 

Performance Showcase - At the beginning of the school year, C.A.S.T. produces a performance showcase featuring independently staged pieces, including monologues, scenes, and musical numbers from a variety of Broadway sources (just what is included each year depends on what the participants want to do!).  Students are generally encouraged to work on the piece they would like to include over the summer, to be ready for auditions within the first week of school, as there are only a few weeks of rehearsal between those auditions and the late September / early October show dates.

Annual Play - The first of C.A.S.T.'s two largest productions takes place in the late fall, a non-musical full length play.  Auditions are generally in late September or early October, with rehearsals occurring during October and November, culminating in show dates during the first weekend of December.

Short Attention Span Theatre - One of two opportunities to showcase independent student direction and vision, this one-night-only workshop performance is staged in the intimate surroundings of the theatre room, converted for the evening into a workshop-style black box theatre.  Featured in the show are student directed one act plays, ranging in length from 5 - 20 minutes, with a short intermission between each.

Annual Musical - The second of C.A.S.T.'s two largest productions, a full-length Broadway musical, occurs as winter is turning into spring; auditions are generally in December so that cast members can bring a script home for the holiday break to begin work independently, with rehearsals resuming during January, February, and March, culminating in show dates during late March.

Interactive Murder Mystery - The final production of C.A.S.T.'s season is an unconventional journey into the world of interactive theatre, a murder mystery in which the audience interacts with the characters and seeks to solve the crime.  The second of two opportunities to showcase independent student direction and vision, auditions vary greatly as they are at the discretion of the student director, but generally occur in early April, with rehearsals during April and May, preparing for show dates on the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.  The Saturday performance also features C.A.S.T.'s Senior Night celebration, during which the memorabilia raffle occurs and seniors are honored for their service to the troupe.

Assistant Director - during the annual play and annual musical, one student (chosen from an interview process) serves as the assistant director, providing student leadership of the cast and crew, coordinating the efforts of the various student positions, assisting in the planning of schedules, and even directing short segments of the show under the mentorship of the director.

Student Director - productions prepared for Short Attention Span Theatre and the Interactive Murder Mystery are independently directed by students in their entirety, with only the guidance of the advisors as needed.  The student director for the Interactive Murder Mystery is chosen as the result of an interview process; any student is eligible to direct a play for the Short Attention Span Theatre, and need only contact the advisors to sign up.

House Manager - this student position, usually filled by a single student for the duration of one season, works to organize and implement everything necessary for productions on the audience side of the curtain.  From organizing and leading usher and concessions staff, to advertising, to ticket sales, to fundraising, to the very setup and tear down, all house issues are her purview.

Stage Manager - chosen for just a single show at a time, the student stage manager leads student efforts on crew in set building, prop procurement and management, special effects, and all backstage wrangling.  The stage manager generally serves in conjunction with the assistant director as student leader for a show.

Technical Director - generally also either the primary lighting or sound technician, this student coordinates all lighting and sound needs with the directors and converts those needs into actualized designs and implementation with the help of a small technical crew.

Costumer - serving for just one show at a time, the costumer considers the needs of each character along with setting and tone, and then works in conjunction with the vision of the directors to find, alter, and make all of the items worn by actors onstage during a production.

Propmaster - serving for just one show at a time, the propmaster establishes a list of needed items and leads the efforts to borrow, purchase, or otherwise obtain appropriate items for each need.

Questions?  Comments?  Email advisor Greg J. Hipius at hipius@twcny.rr.com.
Or... visit Mr. Hipius' personal web domain at hipius.com.