Impact Arts Announces Streamline Launch

After more than 15 years creating and growing theatre education programs in Central Texas, steward Ginger Morris along with Victor Villalobos and Donelvan Thigpen have created non-profit Impact Arts designed to ensure education is at the forefront of art experiences.

Current programs, Summer Stock Austin (SSA) and Texas Arts Project (TAP) will now be housed under the umbrella of Impact Arts, offering arts training and experiences that empower young artists through education, performance and celebration along with sponsorship.

"This new non-profit will combine the talents and passion of local artists and educators who share common values: educational experiences should be challenging, inspiring, and affirming and artistic experiences should be surprising, entertaining, and uniting,” said Impact Arts Co-Founder and Artistic Director Ginger Morris. “Summer Stock Austin and Texas Arts Project are key programs of the new non-profit, and with this shift to one overarching organization, we look forward to bringing the Austin community even more diverse programming, untold stories, and unmatched training opportunities.”

Going into its 17th season, SSA is uniquely a production company and educational training program in one. It offers high school and college students an opportunity to train, perform and engage in all aspects of theatre and film production in a fast-paced professional atmosphere, culminating with full-staged musical productions and original musicals for family audiences – all tuition-free.

SSA will return for the 2022 season with three offerings; an original movie musical, How to Musical Theatre created and co-written by Emmy Award-winners Allen Robertson and Damon Brown, the regional premiere of a new musical for family audiences Alice's Wonderland co-written and directed by Hamilton star and SSA mentoring alumni, J. Quinton Johnson, and Lin-Manuel-Miranda’s In The Heights co-directed by Ginger Morris and Michael Avila.

“The 17th Season is one like never before: an original movie musical, a regional premiere, and a fan favorite mainstage production,” said Morris on the upcoming Summer Stock Austin season. “We are producing our second annual movie musical: How To Musical Theatre with creative geniuses Allen Robertson and Damon Brown. We get to welcome back Hamilton Broadway star J. Quinton Johnson to direct a new musical, Alice's Wonderland. Co-written by Quinton himself, this new musical for all ages is a modern take on the Lewis Carrol classic, featuring out-of-this-world characters and an original score inspired by Hip-Hop, Pop, Gospel, and contemporary musical theatre. I am looking forward to co-directing In The Heights, by Lin Manuel-Miranda, with the incomparable Micheal Ávila. From the creator of Broadway phenomenon Hamilton and last year’s offering, Bring It On, we look forward to bringing Washington Heights to life on stage. You definitely won't want to miss this season!"

In Partnership with Texas Performing Arts, Summer Stock Austin 2022 will present live performances on the McCullough stage July 22 – August 8, 2022. Tickets are on sale now and are available at impactarts.org/summer-stock-austin.