Center Stage Theatre, previously Comstock Community Theatre, is a self-supporting, nonprofit community theatre organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of community members in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area through participation in the arts.

At Center Stage Theatre, we believe that talent comes in all shapes, sizes and abilities. And just like each star in the night sky, every participant in our productions shines brightly through his or her contributions. Whether they're on stage or backstage, our participants become more skilled with every new show, and their new talents help them shine even more brightly.

By encouraging people of all ages and talent levels to be a part of its shows, and by presenting live family theatre at reasonable prices, Center Stage Theatre has provided opportunities for full family participation and learning in theatre arts since 1972.

With your support, we will continue developing emerging talent through our productions and fostering the self-confidence and camaraderie that each new show brings. Please join us as a participant or an audience member. Together, we can watch as each new star appears.

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History:



Center Stage Theatre (CST) began as Comstock Community Theatre in 1972 at the Comstock Northeast Middle School. The organization was created by Comstock residents who recognized the need for families to participate in and experience live theatre in their area. Within the first three years of operation, many people from all over the Greater Kalamazoo area began to participate and attend CSTs productions. CST remains focused on the family, and encourages cast and crew members to get their families involved with each production. 
 
In 1992 CST moved into the newly opened Comstock Community Auditorium as a resident company and decided a name change was in order. CST is the only community theatre in the Kalamazoo area that invites everyone who auditions and is willing to make the time commitment into its large summer shows. It is common for each summers musical to have more than 100 cast and crew members. CST produces smaller shows in the spring and fall each year, one performed by youth for children, and the other performed by adults for adults. Our organization has also had the privilege of partnering with Second Star from the Right Productions recently to produce musicals with local high school students whose schools do not have theatre programs of their own.

Over the years, CST has had more than 3,500 participants either on stage, backstage or working as volunteers. In its 35-year history, approximately 48,000 patrons of various ages and backgrounds have attended CST productions. CST to this day is an all-volunteer organization that attracts some of the areas most talented artists to its programming.

Center Stage Theatre is a resident company at Comstock Community Auditorium.

Board of Directors

The Center Stage Theatre board members are volunteers who make administrative decisions associated with the advancement of theatrical experiences in the Kalamazoo area through activities with Center Stage Theatre. CST operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with the board as its governing body. Potential board members are presented to the current board at an annual August meeting and voted upon at that meeting for a term of one to two years. Board members are expected to miss no more than three of the monthly meetings in any calendar year. A board member may stay on the board for any length of time, but administrative positions must be elected, and officers serve terms of at least one year and no more than four years, unless there is no other candidate for the position.