off its latest signs, which were hung Friday, Aug. 14. The new display
provides a fresh way to showcase information and happenings
at the CAM (photo submitted by the CAM).
If you’ve ever wondered what happens at The CAM when there isn’t an audience in the seats, the answer is simple – a little bit of everything.
A typical week at The CAM is a mixture of rehearsals, meetings, maintenance, planning, problem-solving and, occasionally, ceiling tiles unexpectedly landing on the floor. This past week managed to include all of the above.
Monday began with Property Manager Wade Vance preparing the building for that evening’s Board of Directors meeting while tackling regular maintenance and continuing the ongoing organization of the dressing rooms and prop room. Outside, there was mowing and weed-eating to be done, too. That evening, the Board gathered at The CAM to begin the exciting work of shaping our 2027 season, reviewing show possibilities and working toward a schedule for another full year of community theatre.
Then came Tuesday.
Wade arrived to discover several ceiling tiles on the floor, the result of an apparent leak from upstairs. After cleaning up the mess, he contacted our HVAC contractors to track down the problem. Then it was back to work organizing the dressing and prop rooms in preparation for our upcoming production of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Tuesday also brought progress on another improvement to our stage. Wade prepped the existing front and ordered design materials for a brand-new stage front that will include built-in lighting and electrical outlets. It’s one of those improvements audiences may not immediately recognize, but one that will give us more flexibility and possibilities for productions and performances for years to come.
That evening, the cast of The Beverly Hillbillies arrived for rehearsal, filling the building with an entirely different kind of activity.
By Wednesday, our friends at Appalachian Air had come to the rescue. The culprit behind Tuesday’s ceiling-tile surprise was a clogged drain line. They quickly took care of the problem; Wade replaced the damaged ceiling tiles, and just like that, the latest CAM adventure was over. Easy peasy.
Thursday brought another Beverly Hillbillies rehearsal while, behind the scenes, members of the Executive Committee were busy preparing for an exciting new chapter at The CAM. Paperwork, office preparations and logistics are underway as we get ready to welcome our new Executive Director.
And on Friday, something new appeared outside. Fresh signage was installed near the road by our bridge, creating another way for us to let the community know what’s happening at The CAM. Keep an eye on those signs because the messages will change as new productions, concerts, classes and special events hit the calendar.
That was one week. No opening night. No packed house. No curtain call. But it is these typical weeks that make all of those things possible.
The CAM is a stage, but it is also a building that needs constant care, a nonprofit that requires planning, a gathering place that is always evolving and a home for the arts that rarely sits still.
Behind every production and event are countless hours spent mowing grass, fixing leaks, organizing props, improving the facility, attending meetings, completing paperwork and rehearsing for the next show. Behind every production and event are countless hours spent mowing grass, fixing leaks, organizing props, improving the facility, attending meetings, completing paperwork and rehearsing for the next show.
Sometimes the best way to understand The CAM is to simply spend a week inside its walls. There’s always something happening, even when the curtain is closed.
Our next event is our fourth Third Thursday in our 2026 Summer Concert Series featuring Thomas Taylor on Thursday, August 20. Dave’s Dawgs food trailer will be on-site serving up All-American favorites. See you at The CAM.
