Media Mentions
Chicago Tribune
May 19, 2022
CAST alum and director Monty Cole’s production of Fences makes Chris Jones’ top 10 theater picks for this summer.
Read more here
Northwest Herald
March 21, 2022
Jake Hartge, CAST Multi-Media Director, is described as remarkable with “his flawless piano playing” in Always . . . Patsy Cline.”
Read more here
People.com
January 5, 2022
Carla Stickler, CAST alum, returned to New York City to headline a Broadway performance of Wicked when the show needed a fill in for Elphaba.
Read more here
Chicago Tribune
October 14, 2019
Chris Jones recommends seeing “The Brothers Size,” directed by CAST alum Monty Cole for the Steppenwolf Young Adults program.
Read more here
Chicago Tribune
June 7, 2022
Chris Jones reviews CAST alum Monty Cole’s fascinating and masterful version of Hamlet at the Gift Theatre.
Read more here
Wednesday Journal
June 22, 2021
Dan Haley talks about the impact Michael Poehlman, co-founder of CAST, had on the children of Oak Park.
Read More Here
Wednesday Journal
June 16, 2021
Michael Poehlman, co-founder of CAST, has died at the age of 60.
Read more Here
Wednesday JournaL
June 15, 2021
Henry Alloway, CAST Alum, talks about their EP release of New Territory and the role CAST played in their creative journey.
Read More Here
Wednesday Journal
February 24, 2021
Bill McGlynn, CAST Program Director, discusses CAST’s new production “CAST Tells the Story” and how it came to be.
Read More Here
Wednesday Journal
August 5, 2020
Oak Park schools’ performing arts directors—including Bill McGlynn, CAST Program Director—talk about the challenges and plans for school arts programs during the COVID pandemic.
Read more Here
Wednesday Journal
February 19, 2019
CAST’s musical revue Reverie made Oak Park’s Big Week! “Hear a musical revue performed by CAST middle school students demonstrating what it was like to live through World War II, when life was difficult, but music was a sweet escape.”
Read more here
Chicago Tribune
October 3, 2019
Check out this interview with CAST alum Justine Turner, who has gone on to perform on the stage and screen!
Read more here
ABC News “STart Here”
October 2019
ABC News video journalist Evan Simon is a CAST alum and former CASTSummer video and writing mentor who’s reporting now appears on ABC News “Start Here.” We are sure to keep up with all of Evan’s great reporting thanks to his mom, CAST’s Program Manager, Kathy Simon!
Check out all his reporting here
Chicago Tribune
December 5, 2018
Check out this interview with CASTSummer’s Artistic Associate Sarah Goeden, who talks about working at CAST and being married to Mac Boyle, also a CAST Artistic Associate and Julian teacher.
Read more here
Wednesday Journal
February 18, 2018
Article about The Watson’s Go to Birmingham 1963, part of CAST’s 2017-18 Black and White season.
Read More here
Wednesday Journal
January 30, 2018
District 97 wants BRAVO and CAST to explore nonprofit status
Read THE ARTICLE here
wednesday Journal
January 30, 2018
Editorial about “The Future of CAST and BRAVO.”
READ THE ARTICLE HERE
Indie Wire
January 22, 2018
CAST alum Grant Lee—who appeared in CAST’s Freedom Summer in 2015—appears in Steve James’ award-winning documentary “America to Me.”
Read the article here
Wednesday Journal
March 8, 2016
Long-time supporter of the CAST program and founder of the Reid Scholarship program, Sherlynn Reid, talks about the impact and importance of CAST.
Read the Article here
Wednesday Journal
March 8, 2016
On Sunday, March 8, two Oak Park institutions—Sherlynn Reid and CAST—will celebrate birthdays and, with fortunes co-mingled over several decades, the former will help raise funds for the latter.
Read the article here
Chicago Tribune
March 22, 2016
On March 13, 2016, more than 100 people gathered to honor Sherlynn Reid, a long-time Oak Park community leader, and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the CAST theater program at Julian Middle School.
Read the article here
Wednesday Journal
January 2, 2015
Jill Poehlman, who with her husband Michael Poehlman founded the CAST program, has died at 71.
Read the article here
Chicago Tribune
October 8, 2014
Review of Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Sweeney Todd” that mentions Miles Blim (CAST 2010). Another alum, Jeffrey Kmiec (CAST 2002), designed the set.
Read the article here
Chicago TribuneMarch 6, 2013
For the third consecutive year, District 97 took first place at the West 40 Speech and Drama Festival, which was held at Elmwood Park High School on Saturday, March 2.
Read the Article Here
Wednesday Journal
July 6, 2011
CAST is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Program Manager, Kathy Simon, gives Wednesday Journal a peek into the operations of CAST.
Read the article here
Alum stars in Wicked
Carla Stickler (CAST 1996) moved on to play Broadway’s Elphaba in Wicked. She is currently on faculty at Marymount Manhattan College.
Check out her website and portfolio here
Wednesday Journal
September 8, 2011
A CAST original film is premiering at the Lake Theatre.