The Austin Independent School District Summer Theatre Series (STS) celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer, bringing together talent from over 30 campuses across the Austin area. The free, six-week program allows students to participate in productions as actors, musicians and technicians. Held at the AISD Performing Arts Center, students rehearse and perform a full scale musical and play. This year’s production was “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.”
Junior Finley McBride, four-time STS student, said that the musical audition process is a rigorous one. Auditions begin as early as February and conclude with callbacks in the AISD Performing Arts Center.
“We audition virtually through a video and then we get callbacks,” McBride said. “Sometimes it’s for a specific character, otherwise it’s just in general, and we sing that and get casting usually around May 1.”
After receiving the placement list, the cast and crew will not begin rehearsals until June, with performances slotted for late July. According to McBride, rehearsing in a professional theater setting prepares them for real-world experiences.
“It gives us a taste of what we would actually be dealing with, if we were ever to do this professionally,” McBride said. “It helps get connections, because a lot of our directors do other things in the theatre world, so I get to have them under my belt. If I need anything in the future, I could go to them.”
This year, McBride played the role of Mrs. Bucket in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” McBride said that the role confused her at first, but she ended up having a great time.
“I didn’t exactly know who [Mrs. Bucket] was, because there’s a lot of different adaptations of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory,” McBride said. “There are some times Mrs. Bucket is deceased, others where she’s alive, so I didn’t know what I was getting into, but it was a really fun role to play in the end.”
Backstage, student technicians run lights and sound, while student musicians perform in the live orchestra pit. For the past three years, sophomore Jasmine Munroe has spent her summers onstage, but this year, Munroe switched gears.
“This summer, I joined the orchestra because I just wanted more time to do what I wanted during the summer since the orchestra doesn’t meet for the first few weeks, ” Munroe said.
In addition to performing as an actress, Munroe has played the cello since fifth grade. Munroe said that she appreciated experiencing the makings of a show both onstage and offstage.
“I think it’s really cool that you see how it all goes together,” Munroe said. “Especially now that I have a different perspective. “You see how the actors need their cues, or if they need extra time, you can keep playing, things like that.”
Natalie Uehara, a McCallum dance director, has choreographed for the AISD Summer Theatre Series since 2020. Shortly after moving to Austin in 2016, Uehara was introduced to the program for the first time.
“I learned about STS when Josh Denning was the theatre teacher here at McCallum,” Uehara said. “He did the very first STS show of ‘Little Mermaid’. That was the summer that I moved to Austin, and right from the airport, I met him at a rehearsal for ‘The Little Mermaid’, and that’s how I found out about STS.”
Uehara said that one of the most important things about the STS program is for students to have the opportunity to learn from professionals.
“I think just having that experience of working in such a professional theatre space with adults that do this as a career is something that’s really special,” Uehara said.
The AISD Summer Theatre Series offers an open audition, meaning students from all over the city are invited to participate in the program. Uehara said that the best part of STS is forming connections with people from other campuses.
“The main important thing is getting to work with students from other schools, and just the collaboration that goes into it,” Uehara said. “It’s really cool to meet people and form those friendships that you keep, and then each group goes to see the other school’s shows and supports each other.”
Junior Elodie Bollich first heard about STS in sixth grade through Uehara, her dance director at the time. Bollich said that the program has been an important part of her growth as a performer.
“I’ve been doing STS for five years now,” Bollich said. “One of my favorite shows that I’ve ever done was Mary Poppins. It was my first time tap dancing in a musical and I wasn’t very good at it, but now it’s one of my favorite styles of dance.”
Bollich said that STS also has helped her to step out of her comfort zone when performing.
“I think the most important skill I’ve gained from STS is the willingness to try new things and persevere through new challenges in theatre.”
After celebrating a decade of growth, the AISD Summer Theatre Series plans to continue fostering growth in performing arts as they prepare to open auditions for an 11th summer.
