Pullman Civic Theatre

The mission of Pullman Civic Theatre is to provide affordable, live entertainment for the community, and creative outlets and educational opportunities for theatre participants of all ages.

Community theatre in Pullman has a long and colorful history dating back to the building of the Pullman Auditorium in the 1890s.  The Auditorium burned to the ground in 1909.

Although there is evidence of community theatre activity in the 1930s, it wasn't until the 1950's that a renaissance occurred under the twenty year leadership of Cal Watson. Ruth Vanderwall took over operations in the early 1970's, focusing primarily on dinner theatre performances for almost thirty years.  In 2000, Pullman Civic Theatre expanded its offerings with children's theatre and musicals.

In 2005 PCT moved one step closer to having our own dedicated space with a generous gift from long-time PCT supporters, Mid and Del Rowland. The Nye Street Theatre was established and has become our venue for the more intimate performances we have become known for.

Pullman Civic Theatre continues our tradition of affordable live theatre with two-act plays, radio plays, classic musicals, and in 2007 we reintroduced dinner theatre back to the Palouse.

Pullman Civic Theatre has memberships with the American Association of Community Theatre, the Washington State Community Theatre Association, the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce.

Board of Directors


Gary Thoren - President


Gary Thoren has been a board member of PCT for almost 3 years now but his theatre experience goes back farther than that. His call started in his Sophomore year of high school when as a shy child he was forced to take a speech and drama class because the driver's ed class filled up. Since then there has been no looking back. After attending college at EWU he decided it was time to become a professional actor. This led to a stellar career in food service, in which, he still practices today. Gary is now a manager of Northside Dining at WSU. His other interests, besides PCT, are raising his daughter Lily with his partner Dean and trying every new diet fad that comes out. Gary is proud of all the things that have been accomplished at PCT over the past several years. From helping get PCT into the black to bringing in a new air conditioning system. He can't wait to see what happens next. The future of PCT is very bright.

 

Mike Long - Vice President

Mike first stepped onto the stage as an actor in first grade, as a musician in second grade, and bought his first stage make-up book in fifth grade.  He has been actively involved in theatre in the Palouse region since 1984 and joined Pullman Civic Theatre in the fall of 2006.  In addition to PCT, Mike is actively involved with Living Faith Fellowship, square and round dancing, Pullman Junior Miss, and he and his wife Jo host a weekly board and card game group.  By day, Mike is an office manager for Washington State University's Pre-Nursing Advising Office.

 

Tom Harris - Business Manager

Tom Harris moved to Pullman from the San Francisco area in 2007, after a 25 year career with Chevron, and he and his family immediately joined PCT.  Tom assumed the role of Business Manager in 2007, became a member of the Board of Directors and Box Office Manager in 2008, and joined the Technology Committee in 2009.  He has absolutely no aspirations to set foot on the stage, leaving that to his daughter, Jessica.  He supports the development of costumes for each play by allowing his dining room to become the costume shop, where the costume designer, wife Jeri, creates the costumes and yells at the cat to "Put that back!".  Tom also is a board member and Treasurer of the Whitman County Humane Society and heads up the Building Committee working on the new shelter.  He says he is still looking for more volunteer opportunities, and dearly loves retirement.

 

Kami Cornwall - Member at Large
 

A resident of Pullman for more than 10 years, Kami first joined the PCT as Lucy in a radio production of Dracula. She has always enjoyed acting through High School and recently joined the Board of Directors as their Web-Mistress. Kami is currently the stage manager for Charlotte's Web and looks forward to remaining involved in various capacities with the PCT for years to come.

 

Courtney Smith - Member at Large

Courtney is glad to have found such an artistic, collaborative and fun group of people here at PCT where he is a proud member. A graduate of Washington State University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Drama, he was bit by the theater bug at the tender age of seven. A recent transplant from Los Angeles, directing credits include: Three Days of Rain (O.C. Register’s Top Ten of 2004 and Best Directors of 2004), Bash, Lee Miller: The Angel and The Fiend (commissioned by the Getty Museum), Goodnight Children Everywhere (Nominated for 6 O.C. Weekly Awards, including Best Production and Best Director), Tape, Closer Than Ever (L.A. Times Critic’s Choice),Porcelain (2006 GLAAD Media Award Nomination - Outstanding L.A. Production, Back StageCritic’s Pick, O.C. Register’s Top Ten of 2005, Nominated for 3 O.C. Weekly Awards, including Best Production and Best Director), The Laramie Project, Jesus Hates Me, Inventing Van Gogh, Frozen, The Last Five Years, Sunday in the Park with George, Assassins, and Rabbit Hole (Back Stage Critic’s Pick). Courtney made his PCT directorial debut this summer with the Children's Wing production of Charlotte's Web.

 

K.T. Cherf - Member at Large

Sherri Densemore - Member at Large

Sherri first got her feet wet with theater as an on-stage foley artist in the 2008 PCT production of War of the Worlds.  Since then, she has opted to stay off the stage, and instead help with front of house, publicity and public relations.  As a Board Member since August, 2009, Sherri continues to find innovative and fun ways to promote PCT, including a 5th Anniversary Celebration of the Nye Street Theater, coming in 2010.  Sherri is also the Online Chair for the Pullman Relay for Life, and leads PCT's relay team.

 

 

 

 



Board meetings are held at our Nye Street Theatre, 1220 NW Nye St., Pullman, Washington at 7:00 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.

Changes to the Board meeting times will be posted on our website calendar.

PCT Bylaws

IRS Form 990