Creative Arts Theatre and School (CATS) Arlington

Summary: From 1978 to 2016, the Creative Arts Theatre and School (CATS) of Arlington, Texas, offered year-round classes in creative dramatics and acting to children and teens. In 2012, the CATS building was destroyed by a fire leading the board of directors to a decision to place the surviving historical materials with the Tarrant County Archives. CATS continued its programs and classes until the summer of 2016 when it closed its doors for good. The documents in this collection consist of artifacts, media, photographs and posters, programs and scrapbooks.

Artifacts

• Original art on art board
• Original artwork by J. C. Hussey donated loose filed in artist’s pad (yellow)
• Two bronze plaques; Plaque One: “The Creative Arts and Theatre School – In 1978 CATS held its first class. Today, May 21, 1984, CATS is a major school and theatre of the arts. The friends and supporters of CATS pay special tribute to: Zac and Kathey Ward, Kit and Jane Hussey; Jack and JoAnne Harris who have given their time, energy, and enthusiasm to make CATS possible”; Plaque Two: “The Creative Arts and Theatre School Building dedicated May 21, 1984. Without the support of the following… (lists contributors)”
• One brick from old CATS building. Tag on brick reads: “Creative Arts and Theatre School (CATS) 1100 Randol Mill Road Arlington, Texas ‘All for one and one for all and all for the love of the stage!’” July, 1983 – July 2012”. A color image of the building is on the tag as well. Brick is numbered.
  
• Quilt made from production tee shirts from varying time frames, well made and in good condition

Media

• Videotapes and DVD’s, other media of programs and recitals, in order of date, 1979-2015
• Two side carousels, cassette tapes of CATS productions undated, 1976–present
  
• Tapes and CD-ROMs of recitals, 1980–2008

Photographs

• Three golden framed images of founders, 1970s
• Photographs (snapshots) of productions
• Photographs in notebooks from CATS productions undated, 1976–present
• Photographs (snapshots) of productions, 1985-1989
• Photographs (snapshots) of productions, 1990-1999
• Photographs (snapshots) of productions, 2000-2015
• Recitals, 1990-1991
• Alice in Wonderland, July 1991
• Bye-Bye Birdie, July 1991
• Hagar the Horrible, 1991
• The Prince and the Pauper, February 1992
• Rapunzel and the Witch, March 1992
• The Legend of the Texas Easter Rabbit, April 1992
• Dragonsong, May 1992
• Recitals, 1992 (two notebooks)
• Summer in the City, 1992
• Magic Fishbone, 1992
• Reynard the Fox, 1992
• Hello Dolly, August, 1992
• Lucky Dollar, September 1992
• Pooh Corner, October 1992
• Rip Van Winkle, November 1992
• Frosty the Snowman, December 1992
• Curious George, January 1993
• Heidi, April 1993
• Ozma of Oz, May 1993
• Recitals, 1993
• Puss in Boots, October 1993
• Cinderella, November 1993
• Harpists
• Frontier Santa, December 1993
• Summer, 1993
• Of Dragons and, 1993
• June Recitals, 1993
• My Emperor’s New Clothes
• July Recitals, 1993
• Lil Abner, 1993
• Blue Horses, 1993
• The Ant and the Grasshopper, 1994
• Butterflies are Free, January 1994
• Peter Cottontail, April 1994
• The Battle of Fort Petticoat, May 1994
• Legend of the Bluebonnets, February 1995
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, April 1995
• Babes in Arms, July 1995
• Yankee Doodle Dandies, 2001-2002
• Hansel and Gretel, 2001-2002
• Rumpelstiltskin, 2001-2002
• Cinderella, 2001-2002
• CATS Haunted Theater, 2001-2002
• The Unsinkable Molly Brown, 2001-2002
• Alice in Wonderland, March 29–April 2, 2002
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 2001-2002
• Free to be You and Me, 2002-2008
• Junie B. Jones, 2002-2008
• School House Rock Live, 2002-2008
• Frosty the Snowman, 2002-2008
• A Year with Frog and Toad, 2002-2008
• The Ant and the Grasshopper, 2002-2008
• Pocahontas, 2002-2008
• Haunted Theater, 2002-2008
• Jungle Book, 2002-2008
• Breakfast Club, 2002-2008
• Sound of Music, 2002-2008
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears, 2002-2008
• Raggedy Ann and Andy, 2002-2008
• Treasure Island, 2002-2008
• Cattitudes Christmas, 2002-2008
• CATS Summer Stars Funny Girl, July 23, 2005
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf? August 5-7, 2008
• CATS Fundraiser Footloose, May 6-15, 2005
• The Littlest Angel, December 2-18, 2005
• Miss Nelson is Missing, June 28-30, 2005
• Cheaper by the Dozen, February 4-13, 2004
• Various headshots, 2002-2008
• 25th Silver Anniversary Gala, 2002-2008
• Wizard of Oz, 2002-2008
• Seussical the Musical, 2002-2008
• Alexander and the Terrible Horrible Very Bad Day, 2002-2008
• Yankee Doodle Dandies, 2002-2008
• Fiddler on the Roof, April 30–May 9, 2004
• Little Women, February 27–March 7, 2004
• 42nd Street, Summer 2002-2008
• Little Red Riding Hood, 2002-2008

Posters

• Autographed production posters from various years

Programs

• Programs, 1980–2008

Scrapbooks

• Scrapbook: Newspaper clippings, 50 plus productions, grants received auctions, summer classes, board actions and artistic directors. Some snapshot photographs, letters of appreciation or commendation, November 7, 1986–December 18, 1997.
• Scrapbook: Cheshire Guild scrapbook covering September 11, 1983–April 26, 1990, programs, newspaper clippings, Chinese auction, “CATS Meow” monthly publication, snapshots, meeting minutes.
• Scrapbook: Covering May 25, 1978 – April 7, 1983, documents the opening of CATS, first summer session, building new facility, newspaper clippings, some photographs, letters of commendation.
• Scrapbook: Covers from February 2, 1983 – November 6, 1986 – includes newspaper articles and a few snapshots
  

Subject Files

Theaters - - Creative Arts Theatre and School (CATS) Arlington
Theaters - - Creative Arts Theatre and School - - Documents and Directories

• Newspaper clippings and other articles
• Printed material relevant to CATS history, 1976–2015
• Proposal for the Arlington Creative Arts Theater and School, 1978
• Price-Waterhouse report, 1985
• List of Officers, 1986 “to present”
• Letter of Application for Technical Director by Thomas A. Hussey, 1983
• CATS Meow newsletters Volume One, Issue Two (December/ January 1999) and Volume 17, Issue two (October 1995)
• Mailgram from Zachary Ward to Ruta Lee at Casa Manana Theater, June 12, 1978
• Press Release regarding CATS summer schedule, “for May issue” Arts in Arlington Magazine
• Arts in Arlington Magazine, February 1981
• Arts in Arlington Magazine, March 1981
• Fine Arts Directory, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 19, 1979
• CATS Summer stars 1982 brochure and schedule
• CATS Information Booklet Produced by the Cheshire Guild, undated
• CATS Information Booklet, color cover, undated, CATS brochure, color cover with dancer and clown, undated
• Black and white photographs and artwork