Christine Mehner
Chris earned her BA and Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre with a specialization in Motion Picture Production from the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating summa cum laude. She is an award-winning independent filmmaker (Gold, Silver, & Bronze Medals Houston Int’l Fest; Amblin Entertainment Focus Award, Cine Golden Eagle, to name a few) and her films have screened at film festivals all over the world, art galleries, including the Smithsonian Institute Renwick Art Gallery, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and the Columbus Museum of Art. One film was chosen to screen at the Director’s Guild of America to honor Bernardo Bertolucci in his Retrospective Film Event.
Chris taught both graduate and undergraduate students in all areas of directing and producing for 10 years and held teaching positions at Loyola-Marymount University UCLA, California State University, and was a visiting artist at the University of Santa Cruz.
After directing A Philadelphia Story in 2019 for Cascades Theatrical Company, Chris joined the CTC Board of Governors. Heading the membership committee, the theatre saw an increase in members by over 30% the first year. Chris and the Executive Director also created CTC’s 5-Year Plan to restore the 101-year-old theater building, (called the “Restoration-Preservation-Renovation Plan”) and along with the Board’s approval, implemented new Theatre policies, programs, and procedures. During the first year of Covid-19, she and the Executive Director wrote and applied for many grants to sustain the theatre and today, the grant writing team has brought in over $600,000. She is extremely grateful for all the support CTC has received from all the strategic partners, community, and patrons.
Chris’s priority now is to grow the Cascades Teen Theatre program and create a curriculum for the performing arts classes. The first film in the CTC teen program she produced was a short film, “To Out Scheme A Sister,” written by Harper Rich as part of the new Teen program. “I’m so proud of the all the creative work our teens are doing.”
Chris loves spending time with her son, family and friends. “I’m now in my Third Act,” Chris says, “And Cascades Theatrical Company has given me a new purpose and opportunity to give back to the community doing what I love to do. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful organization.”
