Thanks to a generous gift from the Kathleen C. Cailloux family, the Cailloux Theater (pronounced “CAL-low”) operates under the management of Playhouse 2000 and houses events of Playhouse 2000, Symphony of the Hills, Hill Country Youth Orchestra, as well as Kerrville city and school functions. The facility is also available for private rental. This exciting new project has brought great recognition to Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country.
History of Playhouse 2000
For over a decade, Playhouse 2000 has proudly presented “professional quality amateur theatre” to the Texas Hill Country. Founded in 1998 with the goal of educating the community in all aspects of the performing arts, Playhouse 2000 produces six shows a year ranging from classic Broadway musicals to homegrown comedies, all chosen with the local audience and local talent in mind.
Playhouse 2000 lives and works locally. In addition to managing the Cailloux Theater for renters and partners in the arts, we produce at least 6 of our own shows annually. With so much local talent, Playhouse is committed to professional quality amateur theater.
Playhouse was founded by Susan Neely Balentine and the late Douglas Balentine as a travelling troupe dedicated to performances for children. Through two interim theaters, and into the management of the Cailloux Theater, we have continued to stress the importance of community theater and our mission to minister to the children of the Kerr Area.
In addition to the productions produced by Playhouse, the company manages the beautiful Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater and plays host to many area organizations that use the Facility as their home. We also have ties to Schreiner University, local public & private schools, and many local businesses in the area. Playhouse was honored to host the 2009 Region 6 AACT Festival - a competition of community theatres from around the a five state area.
Mission of Playhouse 2000
To operate a year round performing arts school and community theater for the purpose of teaching and practicing all the disciplines of the performing arts including acting, singing, stage movement, dance, mime, set, costume and lighting design, playwriting, directing, and other related skills. This will be achieved through ongoing classes in all of these areas with classes formed based on age and experience and/or education. Students will be welcome in all age groups and scholarships for underprivileged and at-risk children will be made available. No interested students will be denied involvement due to lack of funds. In addition to classroom experience, regular theater productions will be presented to the public, allowing students to practice their acquired skills in front of an audience. These productions will also provide an opportunity to others in the community to perform in shows overseen by a professional staff. Performances will also provide area residents the opportunity to view live theater in an indoor setting, enhancing their appreciation of the fine arts. The facility will also serve as a venue for selected outside performing groups in all the performing arts be it dance, music, or theater.
What do children gain from drama?
First of all…enjoyment. Then comes a wide range of benefits: it provides an outlet for self-expression and helps the development of imagination and artistic awareness, it increases social awareness (particularly through role-play), mental awareness, fluency of speech, self-knowledge, self-respect, self-discipline, and self-confidence. It gives children the opportunity to cooperate with others and helps develop orderly thinking and ability to organize. It improves physical coordination and physical fitness. It also may have a therapeutic effect, through helping children to deal with their real-life problems, or a cathartic effect, by enabling them to act out violence or frustration. It provides social and moral training and helps young people to mature emotionally, preparing them for adult life.
Drama is a marvelous vehicle for general knowledge, and in schools there are many ways in which it can be linked with English, History, Music, Art etc. It also provides a good outlet for the ability of bright but non-academically minded children on whom society may tend to force low expectations, for racial or other reasons.
The benefits do not only accrue through children participating actively in drama; they can also learn from others, particularly if they are encouraged to watch positively and critically by being asked to comment and give praise afterwards and learning to be good audience members.
