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JENNIE, the JAUNTY JOSTLER

Jennie Hamilton is the sweetest person in the world. As such, you don’t notice the iron fist in the velvet glove that grabs your arm and jauntily jostles you to think or do something positive with regard to her beloved “Community Actors Theatre” (CAT), of which she has been the lifetime director.

More than twenty-six years ago, when Jennie Hamilton was an active educator in the San Diego Unified School District, she and others with the same interest acted upon their awareness of the absence of a local theater dedicated to theatrical works penned by Black playwrights, or those with themes relating to the African American experience. Jennie took the helm of that embryonic idea and has never relinquished it. After several years of operating from sponsored venues, CAT finally found its own home, where it remains today.

Jennie Hamilton currently is struggling to increase CAT’s normal fundraising to a level that will, in stages, defray the cost of a complete renovation of the facility. In that regard, she has arranged with Carnival Cruise Line to book fundraising groups under the CAT imprimatur. I have just returned from one such venture on the Carnival Elation, which cruised the Baja California peninsula, with stops at Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Ensenada. I should mention a delightful young couple among the CAT party, Shon Brook and Habeeba. I learned that Shon heads a television program called “SOB,” which has a youth-advancement theme, and airs during Monday Night Football. Jennie Hamilton is already in the process of planning for next year’s cruise.

I am associated with RosArt Multimedia, Inc., which is dedicated to specialized Web design, construction and service. Several years ago, after attending a performance at CAT, José Rose, the CEO of RosArt, was so taken with Jennie Hamilton and her efforts at keeping CAT afloat that he offered to have RosArt design and build a website for the theater. As one of the RosArt founders, as well as being the staff translator/writer, I offered to edit CAT’s copious historical archives for inclusion in the site.

The post-renovation opening is scheduled for early next year. For further specifics with regard to location, performances, fundraising activities and such, please go to to: http://www.communityactorstheatre.com/about_history.htm

If you don’t mind being jauntily jostled, the deceptively gentle Jennie will be awaiting you at CAT’s new-jewel, jazzy joint, San Diego’s ever-evolving Community Actors Theatre.

Thanks for writing this about me Curtis. I like it. (smile)

Jennie