Central Texas Theatre Academy continues to inspire students
April 19, 2023 - By Megan Navarro
WIMBERLEY — Watching stories unfold and students’ dreams come true from the stage is not new for Bridget Gates.
Contributed Photo
Students of Central Texas Theatre Academy participate in Shakespeare on the River at Blue Hole Regional Park, performing “The Tempest.”[/caption]
In 2020, she started Central Texas Theatre Academy in Wimberley with the mission to provide every child with the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of being on stage and participating, while also instilling a lifelong appreciation of the arts.
“Before CTA, I ran all of the theater in the theater education programs at the EmilyAnn Theatre for 12 years,” Gates said. “They just made some changes during COVID and they don’t do the theater education programs anymore, so I opened Central Texas Theatre Academy with the help of my current students and parents … I had students that had been with me since they were five, and they were now graduating high school, and I didn't want them to not have a place to go that next year, especially since the world had been just turned upside down.”
Gates also holds bachelor’s in fine arts degrees in acting and directing from Texas State University. She has worked professionally with ZACH Theatre, Austin Shakespeare, City Theatre, Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre, Gaslight Baker Theatre, Theatre Synesthesia, The Baron’s Men, Poor Shadows of Elysium, Last Act, Different Stages and San Marcos Spotlight Theatre. She’s directed over 75 full mainstage productions for various companies and has studied with the Royal Shakespeare Company three times. She was the Shakespeare for Youth instructor at the Texas A&M Folio Event and teaches theatre workshops all over Central Texas.
Central Texas Theatre Academy is after school theatre education program that has classes for ages five through seven, eight through 11 and 12 through 18. The older classes do full productions while the other classes have smaller, shorter performances.
“The classes are focused more on theater history, improvisation and just learning to come out of your shells and get comfortable on stage,” Gates said. “Then, the older classes are just big, full productions that we charge tickets for audiences to come see.”
She added that they have different summer camps and a Shakespeare on the River Program, which is a six-week Shakespeare intensive for students ages 12 through 18.
“We are partnered with Blue Hole Regional Park and the performances are actually free for the Wimberley community and there we perform at the river at Blue Hole. So, it's really magical and really cool,” Gates said. “Last year, we had I think, 43 high school students involved and they all become so close. It's a special program.”
The academy offers a hub of students from all over the county.
“We have homeschooled students. We have students from San Marcos High School, we have students from Wimberley High School and we have students that come in from Kyle and Buda. It’s just a gathering of like-minded people but people that if they didn't have those classes, they wouldn't know those people otherwise,” she said. “I feel like it creates it a really special family and a special bond because it's not the people that they go to school with every day, and I guess some of them are in classes with the people they also go to school with, but for the most part, these are all people from different walks of life that they're getting to connect with and become friends with and become family with.”
Gates concluded that she hopes to teach students more than portraying a character on stage at the academy.
“I think it sharpens their communication skills so they're able to do better with professional interviews when interviewing for colleges, if that's the path they decide to go on, or for jobs, and just human interaction and their social skills overall,” she said. “ I try really hard to make it a goal for our teachers, academy and students that what's amazing about art but theatre, especially, is that it teaches empathy because you have to walk in other people's shoes to portray other people on stage. I hope and I feel like they do leave with a more open mind about other people's experiences and being willing to understand what other people are going through and just a greater sense of empathy.”
Central Texas Theatre Academy is located at 12111 Ranch Rd 12 Suite 111 in Wimberley but is also expanding to San Marcos to offer after school drama classes for ages 5-12 at the Price Center & Garden. For more information about the programs and camps that the academy offers, visit
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Dripping Springs launches eclipse site
July 19, 2023 - By Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS – After experiencing an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, residents will also see a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. To help residents, businesses and visitors prepare, the city has launched a new eclipse website at www.drippingeclipse.com.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun’s light in some areas, according to NASA. This only happens occasionally, because the moon doesn't orbit in the exact same plane as the sun and Earth do.
Total solar eclipses happen somewhere in the world every 18 months and only happen in the same place approximately every 375 years. Dripping Springs will be in the totality of the April 8, 2024, eclipse for 3 minutes, making this a once-in-a-lifetime event.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The city of Dripping Springs staff test out eclipse gear ahead of the total solar eclipse, which is set to occur on April 8, 2024.[/caption]
The city of Dripping Springs is expecting a significant number of visitors to experience the total solar eclipse. Because of this, a community Eclipse Task Force has been meeting monthly to prepare for the big event to ensure that all areas of the city are as prepared as possible.
Lisa Sullivan, the people and communications director for the city of Dripping Springs, is co-chairing the Eclipse Task Force with Roman Baligad, the city’s emergency management coordinator.
“We are excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city,” said Sullivan. “Communication and education are keys to making this event a great experience for all, and this newly launched website will help tremendously with that. While the city is hosting the website, it’s really an informational tool to help the entire Eclipse Task Force get critical information out to our residents, businesses, and visitors.”
The new website includes:
• Information for residents, businesses and visitors to help them prepare and plan for the excitement with information that will continually be updated
• An event form, so any business can have their eclipse-related event added to the website
• A way to sign up for a periodic eclipse newsletter.
• Eclipse commemorative items for sale, including T-shirts and stickers, along with approved safe eclipse-viewing sunglasses
• Information on an Eclipse Ambassador program that organizations can utilize if they wish an eclipse representative to speak to their group
The Eclipse Task Force includes representatives from the city of Dripping Springs, Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau, Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce, Dripping Springs ISD, North Hays County Fire & Rescue Department, North Hays EMS and more.
For more information on the website or eclipse planning, email [email protected] or call the city of Dripping Springs at 512- 858-4725.
To learn about safety precautions for the total solar eclipse, visit
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