VICTORVILLE, Calif. — I’ve always been a lover of theatre and musicals—just raw, real, live performances— and over the holidays, I was introduced to a little gem, tucked away in the High Desert. The Creative Arts Theater (CAT) in Victorville is turning 10 years old this year and will be bringing the community a host of great performances throughout the year.
I went to see the Motown Christmas musical in December and it didn’t have a “local theater/small stage feel at all. The performances and singing were top notch and on par with New York City Broadway performances I’ve seen. I liked the performance so much, I returned a few weeks later to see the stage performance of my favorite holiday movie—A Christmas Story. How the crew is able to develop the best backgrounds, stage equipment, costumes, set changes and, of course, actors, is amazing.
This theatre is the premiere production company in the High Desert Region. They produce four to six productions a year and all ages from five to 105 are accepted as actors and actresses.
If you or your children are interested in acting, there are also open auditions for their performances. Look out on their website (creativeartstheater.com) and/or their Facebook page (@CreativeArtsTheater) for audition dates and times for upcoming performances.
Since they’re opening in 2010, the CAT has put on shows including Grease, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Rent, Seussical, A Christmas Carol and many more.
The CAT has a large footprint in the community, offering acting classes for youth, Blitz Camps with a focus on the underprivileged, and scholarship opportunities. The theater was created to provide up and coming stars of the craft with scholarships and to further the education of the younger actors and actresses by way of experience on stage.
Coming this year at the Creative Arts Theater:
Ghosts in Chelyabinsk (Feb.13-23)
Matilda (April 16-26)
Mama Mia (July 9-19)
Fiddler on the Roof (Oct. 15-25)
In addition to the Creative Arts Theater, there’s also the Barstow Community College Performing Arts Center (BCC) and the Victor Valley College Performing Arts Center (VVC). Over the holidays, BCC had an enchanting, storybook performance of the Wizard of Oz, starring a nationally-renowned Judy Garland impressionist as Dorothy.
Coming up in 2020, they will have the Bob Hope and Jimmy Durante Tribute Show, entitled, “Thanks for the Memories: a Cha-Cha,” on Jan. 12; Tessie and the Calico Cats on Feb. 8; The Rainbow Fish Musical on March 6, 7 and 8; Anything Goes on April 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11; A Test of Faith on April 24-26; and “Blank 281” on May 2. Tickets for all of those performances are already on sale. Their website is barstowpac.com.
At Victor Valley College, there was a performance of the Nutcracker over the holidays, as well as a sold-out showing of It’s a Wonderful Life. You can follow their website at vvc.edu/offices/performing_art and/or their Facebook page at Victor Valley College Performing Arts Center to get a look at their 2020 performances, as they’re made available.
It’s no secret that NTC/Fort Irwin is located within driving distance of some world-renowned performances and theaters in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Diego but supporting community theater is important for developing young, eager talent, right here in the local High Desert area. Consider making the hour-long drive to Barstow or Victorville when etching out your planners for the family this year.
