Get to know Cd'A Summer Theatre

Devin Heilman Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 11 months AGO

Photo courtesy of Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre The 1971 players of the Carousel Players of the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre pose in front of the old Playland Pier carousel. CST was founded in 1967 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Photo courtesy of Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre Actors sing and dance during a scene from ‘The Music Man’ during Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s 2016 season. CST is inviting the public to Lunch and Learn sessions Feb. 28 and April 6 to educate and engage with the community.

Photo courtesy of Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre ‘The Little Mermaid’ performers act out a scene in the Kroc Center during the 2016 show season. CST is hosting a series of Lunch and Learn events to engage with the public and celebrate CST’s 50-year milestone.

Photo courtesy of Coeur dAlene Summer Theatre Actors sing and dance during a scene from The Music Man during Coeur dAlene Summer Theatres 2016 season. CST is inviting the public to Lunch and Learn sessions Feb. 28 and April 6 to educate and engage with the community.

Photo courtesy of Coeur dAlene Summer Theatre The Little Mermaid performers act out a scene in the Kroc Center during the 2016 show season. CST is hosting a series of Lunch and Learn events to engage with the public and celebrate CSTs 50-year milestone.

COEUR d’ALENE — Some of Coeur d'Alene's early community performers learned the true meaning of "the show must go on."

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre was in its infancy when founding actors found themselves among civil unrest on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

"The community theater was doing a production at Playland Pier when a riot occurred due to the hydroplane races," CST Executive Director Tracey Vaughan said.

"Police officers used tear gas to disperse the crowd, which ended up in the performance area. The entire show was disrupted," she said. "That is one claim to fame and one tie-in with the community and different historical events that have happened in Coeur d’Alene."

Through tear gas, venue changes and financial struggles, the show has gone on for CST, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

"That first year, the three shows we did were 'Carousel,' 'South Pacific' and 'Stop the World, I Want to Get off,'" Vaughan said.

Vaughan and other speakers shared information and anecdotes during a Theatre Lunch and Learn session Thursday at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

CST performer Brandon Michael performed show songs for attendees, including a piece from "The Phantom of the Opera." He will be performing in "South Pacific" this summer.

The luncheons are casual shindigs for CST members to educate and interact with the community while celebrating the 50th milestone, garnering support and looking to the future.

"We've always considered ourselves to be one of the rocks in the community in the arts," Vaughan said.

Guest speaker River Hopkins gave a brief presentation about her daughter, Kaleigh, finding her niche with CST and getting the whole family involved.

"It gives us some way that we can all connect," she said. "It's so wonderful to have a professional company and not just a children's theater. It's wonderful to have this professional experience while you're young."

The next CST Lunch and Learn events will be at noon Feb. 28 and April 6. They take place downstairs in the library's Community Room. They are free and open to all.

To reserve your seat, contact Vaughan at tracey@cdasummertheatre.com.

Info: 660-2958 or www.cdasummertheatre.com