ARLINGTON -- As fire investigators combed through the damage at Creative Arts Theatre and School after a three-alarm blaze Wednesday night, school leaders scrambled Thursday to find temporary quarters.
With the annual Summer Stars Musical Theatre Camp scheduled to start Saturday, CATS officials signed a short-term lease for rehearsal space at 602 E. South St., near the school's original location in downtown Arlington, Producing Director Merri Brewer said. The end-of-camp production will be staged at nearby First United Methodist Church of Arlington, with the help of Theatre Arlington. Brewer, a CATS alumna, said the 33-year-old nonprofit school is prepared for the next two weeks."After that, we'll see what happens," she said.Lt. Kevin Seeton, a spokesman for the Arlington Fire Department, said Thursday afternoon that the investigation could take "a day or two."Firefighters worked for hours to extinguish the fire at the multistory former church building at 1100 W. Randol Mill Road. At one point, they were ordered to evacuate the structure so two ladder trucks could be used to attack the fire from above.The school was closed for July Fourth and nobody was inside when the fire began, Battalion 1 Chief Brian Cudaback said. A passer-by saw smoke at about 9 p.m. and called 911, he said.The backstage area of the auditorium sustained heavy damage, and basement classrooms and storage areas were flooded. Firefighters also had to cut holes in the roof.Word spreads quicklyCATS leaders put the nearly 50-year-old building, which the school has occupied since 1983, up for sale March 1. Brewer and Executive Director Heather Simmons cited upkeep costs that threatened to sink the school, which teaches children about acting, dancing, singing and stage production.They said Wednesday night that before the fire they had a prospective buyer lined up and a possible closing date about 10 days away. Insurance coverage on the building was "minimal," Brewer said.Word of the fire spread quickly on social media, where the overwhelming reaction was one of sadness."It's been about 13 years since I was involved in C.A.T.S. but hearing about the fire hit so hard," read a Facebook post by Stephanie Carroll of Mesquite. "I am a theatre major and I owe it to my experiences at C.A.T.S. I know that this place will move on and rebuild from the ashes like a phoenix."On Twitter, Scott Hoying, a CATS alumnus who is now a member of the popular a cappella group Pentatonix, tweeted: "So incredibly sad. That theatre brought joy to so many kids and families. :( I pray it can be rebuilt."Struggling with costsAlthough CATS was incorporated in 1977, its founders considered 1979 to be its first year because that's when programs were offered full time. Among its thousands of alumni are stage and screen performers, directors and producers from New York to Los Angeles.In more recent years, the school has struggled with financial hardship.Brewer and Simmons took the helm in 2010 and led an effort to spruce up the interior and expand the auditorium. Auditions were opened up to the community rather than being restricted to enrolled students. Those moves seemed to be paying off.But last year, five of the building's seven air-conditioning units went out during the record-breaking summer heat. One required immediate replacement. The drought also ruptured water pipes, leading to an $800 water bill.The Tarrant Appraisal District values the school's land and building at $1,109,102. On CATS' most recent IRS Form 990, the organization listed the total value of the property as $850,000.In 2010, CATS listed revenue of $357,688 and expenses of $379,464, for a difference of $21,776. The gap widened to $26,460 in 2011, when revenue was $300,399 and expenses were $326,859, the filings show.To prepare for a move, CATS held a fundraiser in late April, with alumni joining students for a look back at favorite shows and songs.Staff writer Darren Barbee contributed to this report, which includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Patrick M. Walker,817-390-7423Twitter: @patrickmwalker1