About Cathy

Catherine “Cathy” Hooten was a woman of remarkable creativity, leadership, and heart. A military brat who moved frequently, she was the daughter of a Navy Captain and a piano teacher. Though she didn’t grow up deeply immersed in the arts, she carried forward her mother’s musical spirit and was especially inspired by her Aunt Kay — a bold, charismatic, and theatrical woman who lit up every room she entered. Many believe Cathy saw a reflection of herself in Aunt Kay. She was also deeply inspired by her son Tom Hooten, a professional trumpet player with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Cathy took great pride in watching Tom’s talent, his many professional projects, and his success, which further fueled her own passion for the performing arts.

Cathy’s own creative spark shone brightly throughout her life. As a young mother, she served as Band Parent President and orchestrated elaborate fundraising events — including a memorable runway designed like a ship for students to model clothing. She had a gift for turning big ideas into successful realities.

Her deep love for theatre began in 1999 when her daughter Erin auditioned for the musical Pippin with MAD Theatre. Initially, Cathy got involved to ensure the environment was right for her child. What started as cautious curiosity quickly blossomed into a passionate commitment. A natural leader and incredibly hard worker, Cathy thrived behind the scenes. Even after rising to President of MAD Theatre, she was never above the gritty, hands-on work — taking out the trash, building sets, and fixing costumes. She made MAD Theatre a true family affair, often enlisting her talented husband Thomas to help build sets, paint, design, and engineer elaborate set pieces. Together, Cathy and Thomas would spend hours working side by side, turning creative ideas into reality. She especially loved the electric energy of a first full run, where you could always find her smiling, laughing, and joking with the cast and crew.

Cathy treated everyone with genuine respect and kindness, from the President of the Straz Centre to the custodians, ushers, ticket managers, and security staff. You might find her boldly scheduling high-level meetings with upper management one day, and baking brownies for the ticketing staff the next. She understood the power of relationships and was widely regarded as one of the best at building them. This talent helped forge a transformative partnership with the Straz Centre for the Performing Arts in Tampa Bay, elevating MAD Theatre’s visibility and drawing audiences from across the tri-county area who were often amazed that the productions were community theatre, not professional.

Under her leadership, MAD Theatre flourished — producing dozens of successful shows while maintaining strong finances and a positive, uplifting environment. Cathy’s greatest joy came from watching audiences laugh and cry, and from mentoring young actors, directors, and musicians. She gave countless performers their first big break, believing deeply in their potential and encouraging them every step of the way.

Even after retiring from theatre and in the final chapter of her life when she was no longer able to work or volunteer, Cathy found her deepest joy in watching the next generation shine. All four of her grandchildren — along with their cousins — are talented musicians and dancers. Her grandson Tommy is a very talented young trumpet player, following in his father’s footsteps. Granddaughter Alex is an exceptional hip hop dancer, while Piper and Ruby are incredible dancers specializing in lyrical, tap, ballet, and acro. Their cousin Landon is a gifted guitar player. Seeing her family carry forward the artistic spirit she loved so much brought her immense happiness.

Cathy’s Spotlight Scholarship Fund was created to honor her legacy and the many young people who bravely took that first step onto the stage. By providing scholarships for theatre and dance classes to children who cannot otherwise afford them, the fund continues Cathy’s mission of removing barriers so every child can experience the confidence, creativity, and magic of the performing arts.

Fund Administrators

• Erin Coalson
• Tom Hooten
• Thomas Hooten

Donations

By Mail:
Cathy’s Spotlight
CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation
13100 Filly Lane | Truckee, CA | 96161

Use credit card by clicking the link below.