GUYS & DOLLS, INTO THE WOODS and TORTOISE & HARE Set for Summer Stock Austin's 11th Season

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway... turns out, they're just as bright in the Rollins Studio Theatre, where Summer Stock Austin will play its 11th summer season with Great White Way favorites Into the Woods and Guys & Dolls, in addition to the world premiere of Allen Robertson and Damon Brown's newest family musical, Tortoise & Hare. Tickets are now on sale and start at $25, with a special $17 ticket for students.

Guys & Dolls: Get ready to rock, shake and roll, because Broadway's "perfect musical comedy" is coming to Summer Stock Austin! The Tony-winning Guys and Dolls is rocking the boat in Austin this summer. Guys and Dolls follows fly-by-night gambler Sky Masterson as he attempts to woo a Salvation Army missioner for a $1,000 bet. Meanwhile, Nathan Detroit, founder of "the oldest, established, permanent, floating crap game in New York tries to avoid being hooked by his fiancée of 14 years, beleaguered showgirl Adelaide. Guys and Dolls introduces audiences to a cast of characters who have become icons in the musical theatre world.

Into the Woods: What happens after the "happily ever after?" Take that question, a slew of our favorite fairytale characters, and Stephen Sondheim's unparalleled score and you have Into the Woods. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical follows Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel in this fractured (musical!) fairytale.

Tortoise & Hare: Opening performance SOLD OUT! Theatre-for-All, the Summer Stock Austin "family audience" production, will be following up last year's hit, Stone Soup, with the world premiere of Allen Robertson and Damon Brown's Tortoise & Hare. Ancient vs. modern. Brain vs. brawn. Peace vs. war. Sacred vs. secular. Poor vs. rich. Reptile vs. mammal. The ultimate culture clash between two tribes and a fantastical race to decide the fate of them all. Musical styles collide in this energetic new re-imagining of the ancient fable, Tortoise & Hare. Watch the trailer HERE.

Summer Stock Austin returns this year with its Theatre for All Day Camp! This special day of theatre will include a performance of Tortoise & Hare, the World Premiere of the musical by the Biscuit Brothers' Allen Robertson and Damon Brown, a Backstage Tour & a meet and greet with the cast. Learn a song and dance from the show to perform for parents at the end of the day.

Tickets are available at TheLongCenter.org or by calling (512) 474.LONG (5664). Also available at the Long Center's 3M Box Office located at 701 West Riverside Drive at South First Street. For groups of 10 and more, please call 512-457-5161 or groupsales@thelongcenter.org.

Since July 2005, college and high school 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 assist on the various aspects of theatrical productions. Similar programs charge high school students tuition, but Summer Stock Austin not only offers the experience to all participants free of charge, many of the college students work as mentors throughout the process.

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 firsthand knowledge of working in a professional setting.

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 the Long Center for the Performing Arts, in conjunction with Austin Playhouse and Zilker Theatre Productions.

Past Summer Stock Austin Productions: Footloose, Much Ado About Nothing, West Side Story, Rumors, The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Stoopid Tales, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Assassins, Oklahoma, Bat Boy, Jack and the Beanstalk, Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Producers, Urinetown, Legally Blonde, Chess, Pippin, Swing!, The Bremen Town Musicians, Chicago, and Stone Soup.

The Long Center is Austin's Creative Home, built "by the community, for the community." The organization is primarily funded by private citizens and corporations and by nature understands the importance of giving. As a non-profit, the Long Center collaborates with community partners to sponsor educational programs, host free events on the City Terrace, subsidize rental costs for emerging art groups, and gift tickets to charitable and community-minded organizations. The Long Center also provides the best overall live entertainment experience of any venue in Austin. It is home to the Symphony, Opera and Ballet and boasts additional eclectic programming spanning diverse audiences. A commitment to acoustic excellence combined with exceptional theater site lines and an unparalleled outdoor view of Austin creates a magical experience and lasting memories. Austinites of all ages and interests are invited to explore the Long Center to expand their cultural perspective and appreciation of the arts. For more information, visit TheLongCenter.org or call (512) 474-LONG (5664) for ticket information.

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