Who we are
COLLECTIVE ARTS OF STUDENTS AND THESPIANS
Company Profile
The Collective Arts of Students & Thespians (C.A.S.T.)is a cultural organization based at the University of Makati where collective interaction of student - artists and thespians is encouraged.
The groupwas founded in March 2005 with the purpose makingtheater and cultural work relevant to the community.
ARTISTS includes visual artists, dance artists, literary artists, musicians and singers, film enthusiasts and designers while
THESPIANS are actors / performers coming from the various colleges and centers of the University of Makati. Their mentors are teacher - artists, cultural workers, practitioners and supporters of culture and arts aiming to promote and popularize theater as a transformative tool for people empowerment. C.A.S.T. Inc. seeks to develop a humane society by using art and culture as tools for people empowerment and participation in community building. It aims to mold student-artists-leaders-teachers (S.A.L.T.) through its involvement in various theater networks in the National Capital Region; namely: the National Committee on Dramatic Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, AlyansangmgaManggagawangPangkulturasaKamaynilaan at Karatig-pook Inc. ( Alyansa. Inc. ), the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Philippine Educational Theater Association ( P.E.T.A. ), they are also able to provide a venue for training and sharing among its members and network groups. These training are geared towards evolving and creating a form of expression uniquely Makateno and deeply rooted to the experiences of the community. Since, C.A.S.T. Inc. believes that all aspect of art is part and parcel of cultural work, members are trained to work collaboratively in various fields of specialization with their commitment to utilize their talents in the service of others. With this in mind, the organization vows to advocate community awareness through art and cultural work. Their presentations are not only focused on the creative and entertainment aspect but also on its being socially relevant and close to the experiences of the youth. These transformative theater experiences provide a perfect venue for a meaningful interaction and participation of the artists and their audience who are mostly young people.Aside from seasonal productions, one major and one minor productions a year, they are also regular participants and implementers of University - wide programs and activities. Their in-house training and workshops (S.T.E.P.) and their linkages with other artists, cultural workers and NCR network groups make it possible for them to participate in NCR - wide cultural festivals, competitions and conferences. A lot of their members are academic scholars who are also recognized in various fields of art - acting, directing, writing, designing etc. Since they belong to a public institution with limited or no budget allocation for culture and arts, they had become self-reliant and resourceful in seeking funds and resources elsewhere just to continue their commitment to produce highly artistic and socially relevant stage presentation. Their slogan "Keep surging. Realize your dreams!" has been their source of strength and inspiration in making their productions always better than the last one with the hope of helping to make a difference and realizing their dream of a "better" world.
The C.A.S.T. upholds Truth (Katotohanan), Botherhood (Kapatiran), Excellence(Kahusayan) and Service (Paglilingkod)
as their Four Core Values.
THE VISION
Isangteatro para sa S.A.L.T (Student-Artist-Leader-Trainer)
A theatre for S.A.L.T.
THE MISSION
The CAST seeks to develop a humane society using theatre arts and culture as tools for Filipino youth empowerment and participation in community building.
OBJECTIVES
• Train the youth in all aspects of theater work so that they can perform relevant plays that can enlighten them and make them catalysts of change in their community;
• Mold the youth as leaders with community organizing capabilities;
• Create a family of cultural workers aiming to popularize and give importance to culture and arts as a venue in attaining their dreams for themselves, their community and their country.
• Establish a network of artists from different institutions and organizations outside the university in the attainment of its Vision and Mission (NCCA, CCP, PETA, ALYANSA INC., NYC, Y4R, ATD 4th world etc.)
• Raise funds that will support the projects and activities of the organization.
THE LOGO
The yellow part of the logo is an image of a personthat is formed when you make the two theatre masks in red face each other. The shape of the person symbolizes the student-artist-leader being guided by the organization to become effective cultural workers and theatre artists. CAST believes that all art emanated from the people and it is but proper to give it back to them. The two red masks are symbols of theatre which represents the energy and vibrancy of the youth. This color symbolizes life, just like in an organization, without life it is meaningless. The shape of the person is colored yellow because it symbolizes liveliness of the individual being directed by the group. These individuals will be the forerunners of creative leadership using theatre as a platform for personal and social change. The circle represents the circle of members with equal rights and responsibilities and upholding the CAST four core values of Truth, Brotherhood, Excellence and Service.