ABOUT SUMMER STOCK AUSTIN
Each summer, students from across Texas meet to mount several productions with professionals from Austin and around the country in a one-of-a-kind experience. They work as a traditional stock company; each member performs, designs, builds and assists on the various aspects of theatrical productions. Similar programs charge tuition, but Summer Stock Austin offers this experience to all participants virtually free of charge.

The company is led by a host of professionals with experience ranging from Austin to Broadway. Through this work college students begin making invaluable connections as they embark on their professional careers. High school students will have a similarly unique experience as they gain first-hand knowledge of working in a collegiate setting. Moreover, each student leaves the stock season with pride, knowing that he/she has played an integral part of a professional production.

Summer Stock Austin’s philosophy is to create an environment of shared learning by incorporating high school students, college students and professionals in a fast-paced production series where everyone involved shares in the responsibility of creating high-quality theatre.

Summer Stock Austin is a joint program of St. Edward’s University (http://www.stedwards.edu/) and Zilker Theatre Productions (www.zilker.org).

THE BEGINNING
In August of 2005, St Edward’s Mary Moody Northen Theatre hosted the inaugural season of Summer Stock Austin (SSA). Joining forces with Zilker Theatre Productions and Austin Shakespeare Festival, SSA brought together 15 of St. Edwards’s theater and music students and 30 high school students from the greater Austin area to produce two remarkable productions; Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and Footloose, the musical. Presented in back to back repertory style, Austin audiences flocked to these performances; many of which were sold out.

VISION FOR THE FUTURE
The greater vision for Summer Stock Austin is continued growth. Our dreams are as big as those of the young performers we serve. We would like to continue to expand artistically and in the number of students participating at no cost. One day we hope to become a summer residential program with paid positions for all participating college students. Finally, we would like to increase the number of professional artists and staff to further expand this challenging and rewarding opportunity for all students.

FOUNDERS
With more than 15 years combined experience working with Jr. High, high school and college students, two of Austin’s leading theatre professionals, Dr. Michael McKelvey and Ms. Ginger Morris, founded Summer Stock Austin. SSA provides an opportunity for Central Texas high school students to work alongside college students and theatre professionals to mount a summer stock season where each participant involved.

Dr. Michael McKelvey, coordinator of Music at St. Edward’s University, received his Doctorate of Music Arts from the University of Texas. Performance credits include work with Austin Lyric Opera, The State/Live Oak Theatre, Austin Musical Theatre, Austin Shakespeare Festival, and Mary Moody Northen Theatre. He has been a musical and vocal director for Austin Musical Theatre, The State Theatre Company, Austin Playhouse and Zilker Theatre Productions. Michael won an Austin Critics Table Award for Best Musical Director for Crazy for You. He has served on the faculties of Concordia University, St. Stephen’s School, Broadway Texas/AMT Academy, and The Zilker Academy @ Footworks.

Ginger Morris graduated from the University of Texas, Austin. She ran the performing arts academy for Austin Musical Theatre, where she produced the Annual All-Youth Summer Musical, which garnered B. Iden Payne Awards for “Best Play for Youth” for two consecutive years. Ginger has also directed productions for St. Edward’s University, Zilker Theatre Productions, Austin Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre, Arts On Real and Austin ScriptWorks. Ginger created and facilitated programs for NYOS charter school and the Zilker Academy @Footworks. Most recently, she has been collaborating on a new musical and is scheduled to co-direct the Zilker Summer Musical, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. She directs productions for Dripping Springs School District and Trinity Episcopal School and holds the position of Artistic Director for Texas Arts Project at St. Stephen’s School.