What is the Columbia Gorge School of Theatre?
The Columbia Gorge School of Theatre is an actor training program for youth of all ages who love theatre. We are dedicated to the education of young theatrical performers and to giving them an adventurous summer to enrich their pre-college experience. We believe that a rigorous theatre training program helps students gain a sense of community, improves their communication skills , and raises their self-esteem. CGST offers a well-rounded experience to challenge and encourage growth in all students artistically and personally. Throughout the summer students are trained in various disciplines of theatre arts. Students also perform in a show and enjoy all the terrific activities that Reed College has to offer.
Most importantly, CGST is an emotionally safe oasis of love, support, and theatre!
Where are you located?
CGST is located on the 116 acre campus of Reed College:
3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard
Portland, OR 97202
What address should we use? You can enroll for camp online, or mail your application to:
CGST
1381 Snowden Road
White Salmon, WA 98672
All enrollment info will be mailed to the White Salmon address even while camp is in session.
During camp, you can receive mail at: Reed College
c/o CGST
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd
Portland, OR 97202-8199
What are your facilities?
At Reed College we'll be using three dorms--Woodbridge, Griffin and McKinley. We'll have our own private corner of campus. We will have access to classrooms, an indoor pool, dance studio, the cafeteria, and the beautiful campus.
Is there an opportunity to perform? Everyone gets to be in a show! Each session offers a different performance opportunity. We feel that theatre students learn by doing, and that they grow by being involved in a stage performance. Students get to give feedback on what type of a production they'd like to be a part of (musical, comedy, drama, etc), but not everybody gets their first choice. CGST students are expected to accept their roles professionally and gleefully.
What kind of summer activities do you offer?
CGST offers many chances for recreation during free time. The weekends are the perfet time to relax and engage in various activites after a week of rehearsal and classes. Throughout the summer, the camp counselors work to create activities to keep the weekends eventful. These activities may include: swimming in the indoor pool, volleyball, soccer, dances, movie nights, jewelry making, hiking the campus, scavenger hunts, and field trips. Overall, it's going to be an exciting summer filled with great times!
When are the applications due? Since CGST is filled on a first come basis, we urge you to enroll as soon as possible. Some sessions fill up early. If you enroll early, you can save a lot of money!
ENROLL TODAY!
Do you have to audition to attend? No. The only requirement to attend is that you love theatre! Some students have a lot of experience, and some have almost no experience. Our curriculum challenges and inspires students of all levels. Since there is so much competition in theatre, we strive to create a safe environment for freedom of expression and risk-taking. Your enthusiasm and willingness to learn are the keys to success at CGST.
How large is the CGST program? We enroll up to 60 campers at a time. We are committed to keeing the class sizes small, and average 16 campers per class. CGST is not a large camp where students get lost in the shuffle. We are a small, professional theatre training program dedicated to individual growth and instruction. Enrollment is on a first come basis, so remember to enroll early!
Is there a discount if we enroll with a friend? Yes. If you enroll with a friend, you'll both receive a one-time $50 discount.
How much does CGST cost? See the application for the costs of camp. Tuition includes 3 meals a day, snacks, classes, rehearsal, housing, production of shows, a water bottle, a show video, activities, and some field trips. The only additional costs are items you purchase on the campus, or on any field trips. Click here for the current enrollment sheet, which lists the price of each session.
Do you offer scholarships? CGST offers a limited number of partial need-based scholarships. This is for people who want to attend CGST, but cannot afford to attend. These are only partial scholarships. You will need to fill out a scholarship form, and write a short essay explaining why you think we should grant a scholarship to you. Click here for a scholarship form.
How big is the staff? Our permanent staff is: Executive Director Jan James, Artistic Director Jesse Merz, Camp
Directors Laurel Merz and Karisa Chappell. We also have a Musical Director, Dance Director, Body Awareness Instructor, Camp Counselors, Interns, and CITs. Our student to staff ratio is 1:3. All instructors have teaching experience, a degree in their expertise, and/or professional credits. Click here to read the permanent staff biographies. Click here to read the biography of Jesse Merz, Artistic Director.
Where does the staff come from? Our staff comes from all over the USA, usually from at least 10 states each summer. Many of our staff members are former campers that return to work for us. Many of our staff members return year after year to enjoy theatre at CGST!
What kind of food is available? Three meals a day are provided for campers, along with snacks. We accommodate vegetarians and people with special dietary needs.
What supplies do I have to bring? Once you enroll, a supply list will be mailed to you in May. For an idea of what is required, click here.
Am I required to have health insurance? All campers are required to carry health insurance and must furnish the insurance info to us.
Do you accept credit cards? Yes, we accept Visa and MasterCard, or you can enroll online.
What kind of rules does CGST have? We want camp to be fun for everyone, and to run as smoothly as possible. Therefore, we have installed some important guidelines for everyone to follow.
We expect all CGST Company members to be supportive of their fellow Company members at all times. Smoking, drinking alcohol, the use of drugs, romantic contact, sneaking out after lights out, and other unacceptable behavior are all strictly prohibited. You are required to sign a statement that you will abstain from such behaviors before you're accepted into the program. If you fail to follow these rules, we will contact your parents, and you will be expelled immediately with no refund. Failure to follow all reasonable directions of any staff member is also grounds for dismissal.At the Blue Moon Ranch, we believe in a cooperative spirit. Therefore, all students will be required to work together and do some light chores such as sweeping and cleaning throughout the summer. These will be on a rotating basis, and never take up too much time. They can even be fun! :-)
What do I do now?
If you already have an application, fill it out today! You can also enroll online. If you have any enrollment questions, you can contact Jan James, Executive Director, at 800-405-3450, or BlueMoon91@aol.com. Click here for an application.
CGST IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. All that's missing is you! If you would like a brochure and an application, email Jan at BlueMoon91@aol.com and she'll mail one to you.
