Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra

About CATS

The Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS) serves to meet the area's need for cultural and artistic enrichment. Statistically, Nevada County is California's "whitest" county. In addition to Nevada County, CATS serves Sacramento, Yuba, Sutter, and Placer counties as well.

Established in 1994, and incorporated as a community-based, nonprofit (public benefit) organization in 1998 and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, CATS has become an icon for cultural diversity and enrichment, illuminating our communities with the Asian culture and heritage, which once were part of our rich historical past. In the 1800's, Nevada County was a flurry of Chinese immigrant activity - first during the California Gold Rush - and then during the building of the Central Pacific Railroad. However, in the early 1900's, economic hardship and discrimination forced many to flee, as they resettled in major metropolitan areas, such as the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, Nevada County has basically been void of any sustained ethnic cultural enrichment.

CATS uses the medium of multicultural theater, events, and workshops to achieve our objectives. Through these avenues, CATS has enriched the area's cultural and artistic climate with works on Asian themes. (See Past Productions for a listing of our theatre productions and Awards for a listing of our achievements.) Our mission is educational, as well as artistic. CATS has, through the years, partnered with local schools to expand the study of multiculturalism by providing affordable student matinees to our annual productions and to be a resource on Asian culture and history. CATS has filled a much-needed void in this predominately White community.

In addition to our annual multicultural productions in January and February, CATS has developed a repertoire of cultural activities and events during the summer and fall. In the summer of 2006, CATS, along with our sponsors, presented the world-renowned Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir from Taiwan, introducing the community to the celestial sounds of that small island from Asia. We also presented mahjong workshops, CATS Can Cook! Asian cooking classes, and an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony. In the summer and fall of 2007, new to CATS' cultural repertoire is a sushi-making, sake tour & tasting bus trip to a sake brewery; an overnight bus trip to Manzanar National Historic site, exploring this former Japanese Relocation Camp during World War II; presenting Japanese Classical Comedy by the Theatre of Yugen; collaborating with KVMR in bringing an award-winning radio documentary, "Crossing East" to our local airwaves; traveling to China for two weeks; and reprising our ever-popular Japanese Tea Ceremony.

CATS is always seeking volunteers in all aspects of our work. Tell us what your interests are and we will find the perfect job for you! For our theatre productions, we are always seeking actors, directors, designers, ushers, carpenters, and crew members. Please contact us or send us your resume. We invite any and all to join us in our mission to build a quality multicultural theatre and arts scene in Nevada County.

For a copy of the CATS logo as a 300 dpi image file, for print publication, please click here, or right click to Save As.

Join our mailing list for our biannual newsletters and theatre announcements. Send us an e-mail at info @ catsweb.org with your name, address, phone, and we'll stay in touch with you.