Today we’d like to introduce you to Aprille Meek.
Aprille, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
One of my earliest memories is my father reading Shakespeare to me. I still love the sound of the Bard’s language. I studied theatre in high school. My BA degree from the University of Iowa is in theatre arts. My Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin is in Dramatic television production. From there I drifted into local television as a career, never losing my love and appreciation for live theatre. When my son was 10 he attended a summer theatre camp at Clear Creek Community Theatre. I, of course began volunteering, then directing, became a board member and eventually elected President of the Board a role I proudly hold having been re-elected several times.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Clear Creek Community Theatre has been entertaining the Houston/Galveston Bay area for more than 60 years. Founded in 1965 in League City by community members and NASA astronaut wives, the organization continues to be an all volunteer nonprofit organization. CCCT’s home was a remodeled movie theatre (The Old Rose Theater) until Hurricane Alicia arrived in 1983. The organization continued to perform in various venues throughout the area- VFW Hall in Dickinson, League City recreation Center, Red Barn Dinner Theatre in Kemah, the Days Inn Motel in Nassau Bay to name a few. In 1999 we moved into an old Five and Dime store in Nassau Bay, that stage was home until the Methodist Hospital expansion occurred in 2020 and the Clear Creek Community Players found themselves “on the road again” We have been performing at the Seabrook Community House, Webster Presbyterian Church, The Bayou Theatre at UH-Clear Lake for the past 5 years. Every performance finds our volunteers loading a rented truck with lights and sound equipment, set, platforms, flats, furniture, costumes, props everything you see on stage from our storage units- drive to the venue- unload- build the set- rehears a few days on stage- perform 4 shows and then tear it all down, put it back into the truck and then pack it back into the storage units. It’s a lot of work and it’s all done by volunteers for the love of the theatre and the organization. Community is more than just part of our name, every show adds someone new to our organization and every performance leads someone new into our audience. it’s a great win-win
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Clear Creek Community Theatre performs dramas, comedies, musicals and mysteries. Over the years a few traditions have been developed including Agatha Christie mysteries every January, Shakespeare in the Summer (in air-conditioning) and a rotating cycle of beloved holiday favorites each December. Despite our varied venues CCCT has kept performing these favorites.
While I have performed on stage a few times my strength and focus is in directing. I have directed more than 20 Agatha Christie plays as well as several comedies and some of our Shakespearian productions. I truly love the Agatha Christie mysteries and being able to use her red herrings to challenge the audience to figure out just whodunit! I frequently visit the audience during intermission listening to their theories and then report back to the actors, who often add a look or a turn, a sigh, a hesitation in their step, to see if they can get the audience to believe their character is the murderer.
All of Clear Creek Community Theatre’s auditions are open to the public, so as a director you never know who you will be casting until auditions. It’s so much fun to watch a group of people become a team and present a story that touches the audience.
What are your plans for the future?
Clear Creek Community Theatre is currently seeking a new home. We have identified a rental property that fulfills our needs and we are actively pursuing funding at all levels in order to build out our next stage. As you can imagine it is an expensive undertaking, but we believe that the opportunities for those on stage and off to experience live theatre is worth all the effort.
According to the American Association of Community Theatre, hometown theatres involve more participants, present more performances of more productions, and play to more people than any other performing art in the country.
Community theatre nurtures creativity, offering options to aspiring young artists just starting their creative journey, providing an artistic outlet for professionals in technical fields like engineering, chemistry, and aerospace and allowing retired seniors to share their skills, knowledge and talent.
Community theatre isn’t just about art; it’s also an economic driver. Productions attract audiences who often dine out, shop, or stay in the area, boosting local businesses.
Clear Creek Community Theatre has a lot of great plans for the use of our next stage and we look forward to continuing our community connections. We encourage anyone who is able to donate to these efforts to do so, every dollar is needed and gratefully accepted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clearcreekcommunitytheatre.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccctheatre
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clearcreekcommunitytheatre
- Twitter: https://x.com/CCCT
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Clearcreekcommunitytheatre
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ccctheatre
