Schools

Pickwick Players Community Theatre Has Santee Ties

Carlton Oaks teachers by day, thespians by night.

By Rebecca J. Williamson

Founded in 2006, the Pickwick Players Community Theater has some Santee ties, namely Cameron and Alisa Williams, who are also teachers at in Santee.

Cameron is teacher by day and artistic director by night, and Alisa is the choreographer for the group, and you can throw in weekends and summer breaks as well to those nights.

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Their artistic choices have included some plays who's titles evoke chuckles- “Martinis ‘N’ Mistletoe” to “A Taffeta Christmas.”  But they are not just going for the laughs-- they have also staged “Oliver,” “The Crucible” and others.

They teach kids about the art of learning theater. Add in stage terminology, historical relevance, and personal responsibility and Pickwick is educating future thespians-- a mix of kids and some adults.

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Not much of a stretch to see why Cameron has also taught an elective class on Shakespeare at the K-8th grade school.  Theatre is one of his loves.

Co-worker and wife, Alisa, has also acted in Pickwick Productions whose home is typically the Moxie Theatre in East San Diego. 

Mr. Williams’ next production will be “Once On This Island,” to run October 4-13 at the C3 Performing Arts Complex in Mission Valley.  East County kids will be performing in this song and dance number.

Education, either the 3R’s or theatre, must be in the Williams’ family genetic code.  As they say in the theatre for good luck– may they “break a leg.”

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