CAIS Theater Club wrapped up its 2026 season last weekend with two performances of The Gum San Trilogy. This was the culmination of almost a year’s worth of work, starting last spring with the selection of the student leadership team, and continuing through to the late evening rehearsals the week of the shows. As always, this year’s group was ambitious, optimistic, and determined, and, led by Ilya, they started with a serious idea that morphed into something else, but kept its big message. There were some ups and downs and some times of panic, but in true CAIS fashion, the group persevered, and the end result was something that everyone was proud of.
It has been my pleasure to be the CAIS Theater Club faculty advisor for the past two years, overseeing last year’s The Proxima Paradox and this year’s The Gum San Trilogy. With the hiring of the new Performing Arts Teacher, this will also be my last year. As I reflect on the experience, the one thing that stands out to me is just how different and wonderful the program is. I’ve been to a lot of school plays and musicals, and CAIS is the only program that gives the students so much agency. Our students do everything—sets, props, costumes, tech, advertising, scheduling, and, of course, acting, singing, and dancing. The adults are there, but it is for guidance, not to run things, and when the final show is billed as a student-led production, it truly is.
I could keep going, but keeping true to the student-led nature of the club and production, I will share some of the students’ thoughts about being in the CAIS Theater Club.
If you didn’t get a chance to see the show, you can watch it here: The Gum San Trilogy
—Ron Morris, CAIS Theater Advisor, 2024–2026
Some thoughts from this year’s CAIS Theater Club Student Leadership Team
“To me, CAIS Theater isn’t just a club program or an afterschool event, it’s a community. CAIS Theater connects people, regardless of their grade. I would sometimes hang out in the tech booth with the 6th graders and chat. Most of the time, I didn’t mind staying until 8 PM because I was having a good time hanging out with my friends. I know I’ll always remember the closing night bows, with my friends next to me and my family in the audience, feeling an insurmountable amount of pride and excitement. When I graduate, I’ll miss my friends and teachers, but I’ll miss the close-knit community of CAIS Theater most of all.”
Elise C., Cast Leader (Class of 2026)
“I am so grateful to be in CAIS Theater. The experience I had was like nothing I’d ever had before. To make a whole production with my friends is truly amazing. I am so thankful for the new friends I made backstage, the jokes we had, and the show we made. I will miss (everyone) sooo much!!!! “
Mason W., Stagecraft Team Lead (Class of 2026)
“Theater is an experience like no other. In the span of a couple of fleeting months, you will meet and bond with dozens of people you would have never interacted with before. You win with these people, you will lose with them, you cry with them, and bear through the many hours of rehearsal. There will be times when you (think that you) hate these people, but in the end, if the show goes well or not, you’re better for the experience.”
Nathaniel H., Cast Leader (Class of 2026)
“CAIS theater was truly a remarkable experience; it helped me connect with people I already knew as well as people I didn’t. Being the stage manager and being on the leadership team helped me gain new leadership skills and gave me many memories that I will carry for many years to come. Theater is something I will truly miss when I leave CAIS, and I hope it can keep being successful in the future.”
Riley M., Stage Manager (Class of 2026)
“I know most people don’t get to see backstage, but the process of making the sets and props, along with all the challenges we faced along the way, was truly an unforgettable experience.”
Kainoa P. (Stagecraft Team Lead (Class of 2026)
“Something that makes CAIS Theater special is that it is entirely student-led (with the supervision of a couple of adults and faculty members). So many students put so many hours into creating something beautiful for the community to see, and everyone contributed in some way to this year’s wonderful performance.”
Bryce W., Assistant Director and Tech. Team Leader (Class of 2027)
