CAST is the performing arts program at Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park, IL.

For over 30 years, CAST has taught, mentored and empowered children in a safe environment. CAST offers your child a place to learn new skills, meet new people and have fun!

         Under the guidance of professional artists, performance art is used to teach, mentor and empower students. CAST serves as a kind of laboratory for the arts. Apprentices are not passive recipients of information. They learn by doing. Apprentices make their own decisions. And, with the assistance of professional mentors, they learn all that they need to do excellent work.

         CAST offers curricular and co-curricular opportunities during the school year and two performing arts camps for 3rd through 8th grade students during the summer. CAST provides a range of arts and humanities activities that give student apprentices a chance to discover their own talents, to stretch their imaginations, and to work responsibly together. The CAST program includes full scale theatrical productions, a speech team, performing arts related after school activities, a communication curriculum, and a resource for faculty and other educational opportunities.

         For those students who want to perform onstage, CAST has two auditions each year, one in September and one in January. For those students who want to be involved with the “behind the scene” activities, we have CREW, which is open to all students with no audition. Working in our professional quality theatre has allowed many of our students to have a real hands on experience that they thoroughly enjoy.