EVERYTHING WOMAN: Woman finds fulfilling job at Topeka Civic Theatre

TOPEKA (KSNT) -Topeka native was a kid in the local theatre and now is giving back as an adult.

During those times as a summer camp counselor for the theatre program, kids used to joke when she would become the “boss”, now she is.

“Working with kids is extremely fulfilling, because they are always happy to be here,” Cassie Hermes, Education Director for the Topeka Civic Theatre said. “I don’t know how it is at school, or at other places, but here. The kids will never get sad or never get upset. They just love being in their favorite place.”

Hermes likes how many kids discover that the theatre is a place they were always meant to be.

“For theater, it’s kind of you can be yourself,” she said. “You can come out, and you don’t have to be part of some thing that you don’t feel where you belong here. You belong no matter who you are.” A lot of kids go through other things, and then they come here, and like oh, this is what I’m really good at.”

One challenge is helping a child find their passion with so many moving parts.

“We’ve got a lot of strong personalities who know they’re really good at acting or really good at singing but we also make them try different things,” Hermes said. “Most of our kids have done at least one backstage element, and it just helps build character.”

Another issue can be handling parental concerns about what their child is doing, but she says that’s very rare.

“When it comes to finding age appropriate plays, most of the time if something is not good, I just cut it out,” Hermes said. “I’ve never had any big issues with parents not being into what we’re doing.”

When asked what she is most proud of, this is what Hermes said.

“I am proud of how every kid comes in here and feels like they belong, and feels like they have a family,” she said.

And what about mentors or sources of inspiration?

“My professor Jo Byrnes, she’s retired now, but she was actually my dance professor and she was the first teacher, mentor, director that ever told me that you can just direct plays for a living.” “I would also say my sister, and my nephews. I have two little nephews; one is three and one is six months old. They come to all my shows, support my shows, and it’s great having two little ones in my life.”

Cassie has been in her current role at Topeka Civic Theatre for almost eight years and the biggest difference since the beginning is her growing confidence in making decisions.

“I have gotten a lot better at putting the kids first versus thinking about what others want. And making changes, so that they feel more safe, so that I feel more safe.”

She isn’t resting on her laurels, because she has big hopes of making her classes and camps more inclusive in the coming years, with kids from different communities and different schools.

“I really want us to be an inclusive environment, and an open environment for everyone to learn, so everyone can love theater cause I think it’s up there there’s something in here for everybody.”

There are already some programs, initiatives and collaborations to bring that to fruition.

“I’m really working on getting our scholarships more public. We do have scholarships for all of our classes and camps, because there is a class fee to help support supplies and stuff like that. I think people don’t realize that we have the ability to help pay for that.” “We’re also looking for more full ride scholarships for the camp so that kids can get our three-week camps in the summer.”

Cassie is confident, but also very appreciative of the support she receives.

“It feels really good when parents come up to me and let me know that like their kid maybe doesn’t like school, or doesn’t have any friends at school, but then like they’re like I know you have rehearsal tonight and they get all excited coming here… For other adults who think I’m cool… I respect them too, so it’s nice to know that it’s a mutual appreciation I guess.”

Her thoughts for being chosen as this month’s “Everything woman”?

“It feels really special, not only because of the nomination process, and also knowing that they took the time to say Cassie is doing a good job, but the important part to me that I’m really excited about is the feminist aspect and the feminine empowering women in the workplace is really important to me as well. I’m glad someone knows that it’s important to me, and important to Topeka, so let’s keep it going.”

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