Today we’d like to introduce you to Cyndy Smith-English.
Hi Cyndy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Clackamas Community College had a thriving theatre department, led by my husband, David Smith-English. The college decided to invest in building a performing arts center in support of students and the community. We recognized that there was this beautiful theater built on campus that was going to be empty all summer.
With his experience in directing, and my experience working at the Portland Art Museum in development and grant writing, we realized we had the potential to create something special for the community — a professional theatre company that could be a home base for his extraordinary students to work with local professional talent, as well as provide opportunities for students interested in technical theatre.
So, in 2005, with other theatre department facility and a small cohort of students, we established Clackamas Repertory Theatre, which over time grew from a a student-based theatre to a professional one.
If it hadn’t been for the talent that came through the college program, and the support of the college, we wouldn’t be where we are today. It was really the students he trained that are the cornerstone of this company. Today, we are a professional theatre organization that is a member of both Actors’ Equity Association — the union for actors and stage managers — and the Musicians Union, Local 99.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I thought if we started a theatre, they would come. As it turns out, it’s not like Field of Dreams after all! Professional actors didn’t know us for some time, and as a result, casting was difficult. Luckily, we already had a healthy audience base that attended student productions, yet selecting a season that inspired the community to attend was, and continues to be, one of our most significant challenges. Most people want to watch shows that they know, yet we didn’t want to box ourselves in by only telling stories of the past. We wanted to create theatre that provokes thought or encourages conversation.
Today, we are doing just that. Our biggest challenge now is how to accommodate our continued growth.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My life focus has been theatre. I performed in community theatres since the age of 12, where I starred as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. My second role was Peter Pan. So, I started from the top, and the only place to go from there was down! But seriously, I have performed my whole life, I have a bachelor of arts in Theatre, and I married an actor/singer/director.
I am proudest of helping found a professional theatre company that means so much to the local community. We were smart to grow slowly and carefully, by being fiscally responsible and mindful of what audiences wanted to see, with a few exceptions. I am also proud that we navigated and survived the pandemic, which ended many small businesses, and hurt arts organizations worldwide. Again, our survival is thanks in large part to the generous support of the college, and our patrons.
What makes you happy?
Giving work to actors, technicians, designers, musicians, and crew — whether seasoned professionals or new students — and watching an audience give a production a standing ovation, in recognition of all the hard work and talent that goes into making a successful show.
Pricing:
- Tickets for adults, non-musical: $45; musical: $50
- Tickets for youth, non-musical: $30; musical: $35
- Season passes: $115; Two-Show passes: $79
- Preview: 1/2 price; Arts for All: $5; Access Tickets: $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clackamasrep.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clackamasrep/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/clackamasrep/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@clackamasrep
