Sourcebook Volume 9, 2010

CAST (Children’s Acting School & Theater)

Patty Hornsveld has taken the north end of Main Avenue and transformed it into a rich performing arts center that lends itself to the art and cultural atmosphere of downtown Fallbrook.

The Mission isn’t just theater—it is a mixture of performing arts training, studio work, and on-stage experience. Where once the theater enjoyed only a cast of older actors, it now hosts a number of youth performances and is the residence for CAST Academy of Dance.

CAST (Children’s Acting School & Theater) holds various acting workshops for children of all ages, including on-camera acting for film and television. To date, CAST has had actors on “The George Lopez Show,” “The Practice,” “Touched By An Angel,” “Judging Amy,” “The X-Files,” “That’s So Raven,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” and movies such as “Simon Birch” and “Jack Frost.” CAST is also developing a children’s Show Choir, which performs at various local community functions and charity events throughout North County as well as competitions around Southern California. CAST’s performance dance teams have entertained audiences across the United States and have been invited to entertain on Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines.

To help facilitate the needs of the Theater and Dance Academy, they have created CAST ASIDE Thrift Store. Donations are always welcome Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. There is a dancewear and costume shop appropriately called Tu Tu Much Dancewear & Costumes, which is also on North Main Avenue.

Summertime fun for children will include two drama workshops beginning in July. The first will have a storybook theme, an original adaptation written and directed by local college students that will give them firsthand experience working with students—something rare in the college learning environment. The second workshop will tie into a Broadway stage production performance.

Traditionally in January each year you can find CAST at the local elementary schools volunteering with the After School Acting Projects. All these projects are truly transforming the downtown performing arts to involve the entire community.

The Mission Theatre, located at 231 North Main Avenue, is also available for rental by local groups to hold meetings and has all the latest, state-of-the-art technology that will accommodate most everyone’s needs for lighting, sound, and video presentations.

To catch a CAST act on stage, log on to www.missiontheater.org, call 731-CAST for theater information or call the dance store at 7-BALLET to learn more about the dance academy and children’s acting workshops. Log on to www.castacademy.org.