Directing with Purpose, Cat Thomas

Step behind the curtain of CFCC’s spring production of Tartuffe , and you’ll find Cat Thomas, a passionate director, educator, and theatre powerhouse. Since joining CFCC’s Fine and Performing Arts department almost two years ago, Cat has brought fresh energy to the stage and guided students through every step of the production process.

After earning her master’s in directing from the University of South Carolina and teaching theatre at North Brunswick High School, Cat now balances her time at CFCC by teaching theatre courses, directing student plays, and working behind the scenes at the Wilson Center with Broadway touring productions.

A Student-Driven Production

For Cat, directing at CFCC is more than putting on a show. It’s about encouraging students to take ownership of the creative process.

“This is a unique experience. There are only three or four faculty members involved. Everyone else is a student,” said Cat. “I have student designers, stage managers, choreographers, fight coordinators, and even a student marketing manager.”

That kind of trust and mentorship makes CFCC’s theatre program stand out. “Letting students take the lead and being able to steer them in the right direction as opposed to just dictating what the choice should be has been really rewarding,” said Cat.

“Our sound designer from last year wanted to learn about lighting, so now he’s the assistant lighting designer. That kind of curiosity is what we want to encourage.”

A Well-Rounded Theatre Education

CFCC’s theatre department focuses on providing students with a well-rounded experience. That’s why spring productions are often on classic works, while fall productions tend to be contemporary.

“By the time you graduate, you’ll have the opportunity to have four unique plays under your belt,” said Cat. “We want to make sure students feel prepared, whether transferring to a university or heading into the industry.”

“I’ve kind of become the director here that takes on the classics. It’s important for students transferring to four-year programs to have Molière or Shakespeare on their resumes. I want students to learn the science and the technique behind performing verse.”

Why Tartuffe? A Timeless Satire

“It’s a big name in the theatre world. Maybe not one that non-theatre people would immediately recognize, but for us, it’s iconic,” said Cat.

Written by 17th-century French playwright Molière, Tartuffe is a timeless satire about an upper-class family. Their father falls for a con man posing as a pious religious figure, but the rest of the family sees through the deception. The play follows their increasingly wild attempts to make their father see the truth.

“It’s all about hypocrisy,” Cat said. “The family is just trying to get their dad to open his eyes, and how they go about it is completely ridiculous. That’s where the comedy comes in.”

A Stage for Growth

Cat has taught at high school and college levels and sees CFCC as a pivotal place for students. “I can talk to them as adults in a way they understand. They’re not so stuck in their ways. I don’t want actors who are just clones or puppets. Directors want performers who bring ideas to the table, and that’s what I try to do.”

A Must-See Production

After months of collaboration and hard work, Tartuffe is almost ready for the stage, and Cat hopes the CFCC community will come to experience it.

“It’s a semester-long labor of love involving students not only on stage but in every production area,” said Cat. “It’s a full-scale production, and these students have poured everything into it.”

Tartuffe will run from April 3 to 4 and April 9 to 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Studio Theater at the Wilson Center. Tickets for Tartuffe are available for purchase at WilsonCenterTickets.com . They are also available by contacting the box office at 910-362-7999, Monday through Friday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., or in person during the same hours.