Celebrating Creative Theatre Experience and Kathy Dorgan

After forty years of productions, and with the upcoming retirement of longtime Artistic Creative Theatre Experience Director Kathy Dorgan, the board of directors invites the community to celebrate at the Anniversary Gala on Saturday, March 11. Students, parents, alumni, supporters, and the business sponsors will join to reminisce on the past collaborations, performances, and creative moments, all while looking forward to the next 40 years and beyond.

Creative Theatre Experience: Building Generations of Local Actors

By Molly Gilmore Since it started in 1981, Olympia’s Creative Theatre Experience (CTE) has produced 120 summer shows. It’s also built the confidence and skills of two generations of theater-loving students. “Forty years is pretty impressive,” said Elizabeth Swanson, vice president of the CTE board. “We now have children in the program whose parents were …

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Creative Theatre All-Stars

By MOLLY GILMORE Creative Theatre Experience is a summer program for young people, yet its season offers a chance to see mature work by local, theatrical powerhouses. This summer, the program presents Footloose, based on the Kevin Bacon film about a teen who moves to a town where dancing is forbidden; Crush, an alien-invasion rom-com …

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Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Olympians at Oregon Shakespeare Festival

by Kelli Samson for OLY ARTS Shakespeare famously wrote, “To be, or not to be? That is the question.” In theater as in life, this line from Hamlet always applies. Opportunities to grow in the craft present themselves to those actors passionate enough to heed their calling. Thus, under the dedicated artistic direction of Kathy …

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The Lion King on Stage in Olympia

by Ned Hayes for OLY ARTS In summer 2017, Creative Theatre Experience will showcase two mainstage productions among other experiences for young performers. CTE first offered an engaged introduction to theater for first-through-12th-grade students in 1981 and is now in its 37th year. The dates are the six weeks from June 26 to August 5. …

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Summer Youth Theater Programs

Olympia enjoys an embarrassment of riches when it comes to local acting talent, but every star owes his or her success to good teachers. Thus it’s no surprise Oly also has some of the best youth theater programs around. Get to know the companies that make this city a training ground for nationally lauded performers …

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Creative Theatre Experience

Creative Theatre Experience 2016

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS This summer marks the 36th season of children’s theater programs and performances by Creative Theatre Experience at Olympia High School. The program is run by Kathy Dorgan, drama director at OHS. Classes are offered in art, drama, music and other aspects of the performing arts. “CTE’s mission,” said Dorgan, …

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Creative Theatre Experience

Creative Theatre Experience, Summer 2016

Creative Theatre Experience (CTE) has offered unique opportunities to students in first through 12th grade since 1981. Now entering its 36th year, CTE is the longest-running youth summer theater program in the Olympia area. Programs and performances are held each summer at Olympia High School. Summer performances are listed here:   [template id=”769″]   Guide …

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Creative Theatre Experience (CTE)

Creative Theatre Experience (CTE) has offered unique opportunities to students in first grade through 12th grade since 1981. Now planning its 37th year, CTE is the longest-running youth summer theater program in the Olympia area. Programs and performances are held each summer at Olympia High School. Artistic director Kathy Dorgan is joined every year by …

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