CCA celebrates 20th anniversary

HOOD RIVER — Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA) will celebrate two decades of live theater performance on Nov. 7, hosting its 20th Anniversary Theatre Revue — a one-night extravaganza showcasing notable scenes, songs and talent from its storied tenure.

For 20 years, CCA has elevated the Gorge’s theater scene, promoting an equitable, accessible and arts-rich environment for local artists and audiences to enjoy. The event honors both the legacy of the original Creative Attention Seeking Thespians (CAST) troupe and the continuing vitality of CCA as a regional center for creativity.

Its 20th anniversary season commenced earlier this year with “Love in 4/4 Time,” a new play by longtime local playwright Gary Young and directed by John Bryan, who each reflect the organization’s commitment to celebrating the region’s visual and performing artists.

The big night will feature scenes and songs from “The Full Monty,” “Next to Normal,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Twelfth Night,” “Urinetown,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and the aforementioned “Love in 4/4 Time,” among others.

Formed in 1977 by Judie Hanel, CAST has performed in the area for nearly three decades, borrowing makeshift spaces before helping to establish CCA. In 2003, four community donors stepped forward to secure and flip the historical American Legion Hall downtown into a hub of creativity for CAST and the Columbia Art Gallery to call home.

In just two years, community members pitched in $1.6 million to purchase and renovate the building. Eventually opening its doors in 2005, CCA became a permanent spot for theater, visual arts and arts education in the heart of Hood River.

Ever since, CCA has hosted hundreds of performances, gallery exhibitions and classes, inviting artists and audiences from the Gorge and beyond to nurture creativity, foster connection and ensure that the arts continue to thrive in the region — a mission rooted in the ideals that inspired its founders.

“Theater creates community, and I have been surrounded by that support since I was very young,” Hanel said. “It’s a safe, collaborative space for people of all ages and skill levels. I love the theater community, not only the actors who become friends for life, but also the backstage crew who are there every night. It takes so many people to make the magic happen. We are truly blessed by the Gorge community and their support of live theater.”

“Columbia Arts was built by the people of this community — artists, volunteers, and supporters who believed in the power of creativity to bring people together,” said Executive Director Tim Harkins. “As we celebrate 20 years in this building, we’re celebrating everyone who has been part of its story, past, present, and future.”

Tickets and more information about the 20th Anniversary Theatre Revue are available at www.columbiaarts.org. CCA is located at 215 Cascade Avenue, Hood River.