SPRINGFIELD – On Sept. 1, Wildish Theater welcomed a new theater director.
Upon meeting the new director, Camron Purdum, it is obvious why he got the job.
Despite being only 27-years-old, Purdum brings the passion, enthusiasm, and energy of youth into his new position.
“He is super contagious – personality wise – and so is his art. It makes you want more of it,” says Cydney Linch, Purdum’s former theater teacher in high school.
Linch first met Purdum eleven years ago while he was a student at Marsh Valley High School in Arimo, Idaho. It was her first year teaching at the school.
“Not only did he take on a struggling theater program with a new teacher, he found a way to make it work in a way that breathed new life into it,” Linch said. “He helped establish a techie program that is still running today. This gave students an opportunity to learn all aspects of running a show from sound, set construction, costumes, and his favorite lighting.”
Purdum established a program to pay high school students for this work. Purdum and Linch have stayed in touch over the years, and Purdum hopes to continue to collaborate with Linch on future endeavors.
Purdum has a background in high school and college theater. His partner is a musician, and Purdum previously performed as a drag queen in Idaho.
But for the past seven years, he was working as a district auditor at Fred Meyer. Being the director at a theater is an opportunity for him to work in the area he is passionate about. And it is obvious that the theater and community will benefit by having him onboard.
“I knew nothing about the Wildish until applying for the job,” he said, adding that he had never heard of the theater, despite living in the area for the last five years. He has lots of plans to help the public hear about the theater, for the Wildish to “be a place of exposure, to grow the performing arts, and provide value to the community.” As someone who is a blogger, social engagement is already one of his strengths—and the Wildish obviously saw that when they hired him.
“Camron brings energy, optimism and inspiration to the Wildish Theater to benefit Downtown Springfield. He has reached out to our arts community through social media, a new website, and personal introductions that have already resulted in new, exciting, and special events in the coming year, including the Miss Oregon Volunteer Pageant on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025,” said According to Jon Davis, the Board President of the Wildish Community Theater. “Purdum has also highlighted our hearing loop system that will help all hearing impaired audience members improve their enjoyment of our programing.”
One of Purdum’s visions is to provide an interpreter for the hearing at a deaf-focused event that will make the theater accessible. It is a chance to give the average viewer the experience of what it is like to need an interpreter at the theater.
While reaching out to artists and talking to the community, one of Purdum’s takeaways was that people thought the Wildish is for a “higher class,” and community events wouldn’t be welcome there – which isn’t true. Purdum wants to change that messaging and work with nonprofits and small groups to make sure their visions happen. He wants to provide a place for people to be heard and give them space to express themselves. As someone LGBTQ from a small town in a religious community, Purdum values freedom of expression. Providing a place for the community to have creative expression is a vision that aligns with the Wildish’s visions as well.
Community, culture, and communication are the main goals the Wildish’s board wants to focus on, and Purdum brings in those skills to the theater already. He wants the theater to be a place of exposure – and more. “Not all artists are paid fairly for their work. I want to grow the performing arts.” He expresses that it is good value for the community and the artists – and good value for the theater to help artists get started. He is committed to making sure costs stay low and feasible for the community.
According to his former teacher, Linch, “He wouldn’t settle for anything, and he would put in the work to make sure he didn’t have to. Even at a young age as a high school student, he was very motivated. I wish I had a hundred of him!”
That is a glowing review that promises we will be seeing more of Purdum – and the Wildish in the near future.
