Summerstock Conservatory

Summerstock Conservatory is a theatre company based out of Westmount Charter School in Calgary, Alberta. Every August, between the 1st to the 14th, high school (and occasionally university) students from across Alberta perform a play in Olympic Plaza.

History of Summerstock

Summerstock Conservatory, formally MainStage, was founded in 2002 by Jim Senft who directed Summerstocks first show Guys and Dolls. The reviews were great, and the following year Fiddler on the Roof was performed with great zeal to an extremely appreciate audience. Annie Get Your Gun was next to be performed, with a great deal of support, due to Calgary's western enthusiasts. In 2006, West Side Story was performed. Calgarians have continued to show their support for the program, with the highest attendance rate being for the show Annie Get Your Gun. In July and August 2007, Footloose was performed by the company, with support mainly from the performer's friends and family members. Announced for the current 2007-2008 year, Summerstock is due to perform the classic Broadway hit Grease in August.

Directors and Producers

While Jim Senft is the original director of Summerstock, he took a year long break from the Calgary show to branch out to Toronto to create another Summerstock Conservatory where they showed another production of Guys and Dolls in 2005 during Calgary's production of Annie Get Your Gun. During that time, Jim Senft was replaced with Josh Collins, who retained both positions for that year. The following year, Jim Senft returned to Calgary. Since the beginning of the program the head Producer was Brandi Sedore who was also the secretary of Westmount Charter School where Summerstock rehearsed. However, in 2007 Brandi officially step down from her position and was replaced for Footloose. Nonetheless, she returned for the 2007-2008 year.

Advancement in Education

Summerstock also has found a way to provide it's members with high school credits. The theater company provides it's students with the ability to take different courses which are facilitated through rehearsals. Cast members can receive up to 25 credits per summer with this program, making it very worthwhile, particularly for those who lack credits, or need a fine arts requirement to get into a university program of their choice. The company also provides a scholarship program to cast members who fulfill certain requirements, while they are in the 12th grade or once they have a high school diploma. The company also offers financial compensation to certain university members each year, who do Summerstock instead of working during the summer. Further, each year contributing high schools receive grants to help run their respective drama departments offered through The Summerstock Foundation, the charitable arm of Summerstock.

ummerstock Theater Festival

The Summerstock Theater Festival is an annual outdoor performance of a musical held in the Arts District in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Based on the premise of the traditional Summer Stock Theatre, this program presents Broadway-style theatre outdoors at Olympic Plaza. Performers are Calgary high school and university students who come home from all across Canada to perform Broadway musicals.

External links

* [http://www.summerstock.ca Official site of Summerstock Conservatory]