Theatre student gives back to hometown with youth summer program
BATTLE CREEK, Mich.—College student juggles course work, auditions, a recording career and running a youth theatre program—it's a tale as old as time, right? Not quite, but it's reality for Western Michigan University music theatre performance student Jack Austin, who just wrapped a successful production of "Beauty and the Beast" with dozens of burgeoning performing artists.
Austin is entering his third year at Western and just wrapped up his second summer steering the ship at Unity Theatre Company, coaching 40 kids to learn a full-length Broadway production from scratch in just two weeks.
"In those two weeks, they learn choreography, acting and their songs, and we put together costumes, a set and everything that it takes to put our entire show together," Austin says. "It's a lot of work, but it's a ton of fun."
While his ultimate aspirations involve performing, Austin sees a future as a theatre educator, as well, and he's enjoyed putting some of the education he's gleaned at Western into practice with Unity Theatre Company.
"WMU Theatre is a really tight knit community, and I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and a performer. And being in classes, my skill level has improved, and now my goal is to be able to pass that along to these kids," he says. "The professors at Western are amazing and supportive and encouraging—everything that I want to be as a theatre educator as well."
Full circle moments
Austin partners with Kellogg Community College's Lifelong Learning Program for the camp, which sold out this year with 40 performers ranging from 10 to 18 years old as well as six campers focused on honing their skills backstage.
"My favorite part of camp is spending time with kids and watching them grow," Austin says. "Last year we had kids hiding under tables during audition day, and by the end of camp they were performing in front of 300 people in a sold-out theater with full-on confidence. That is just so rewarding to me, because I can see myself in these kids."
Founding Unity Theatre Company also allowed Austin to give back to the town that's given him so much.
"Doing this in Battle Creek means everything to me. This is my home, and having this here is like a home within a home," Austin says. "It's just awesome to be surrounded by people that I know and that I love. And to be supported by the community means so much as well."
And he's grateful to be creating an impactful program alongside two other Broncos: Logan Robertson, a current music education student, works as the company's music director, and Tsea Lynn, B.A.'16, the company's choreographer.
"It's been great. This is my dream team," Austin says.
"It's absolutely amazing," adds Lynn, who currently lives in Chicago and performs with an improv group at the Second City. "I got my start in community youth theatre and turned out wanting to go into a performing profession, so I think it's a wonderful thing to help kids realize they have somewhere that they can belong."
Singing praises
The camp's success is being recognized on the national stage, with Unity Theatre nominated for Music Theatre Business of the Year in the Josie Music Awards.
"Music theatre contributes so much to the music industry, and to be acknowledged for that at a community level is very rewarding—especially after just a year of doing this," Austin says.
Austin himself is up for three Josie awards as well, including Rising Star of the Year, Male Vocalist of the year (Pop/Adult Contemporary) and Rock Song of the Year for "GET AWAY." Winners will be announced during a ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry House on Sunday, Oct. 27. But he doesn't have time to bask in the glow of accolades; he's busy preparing for his next role: He'll star as Warner in WMU Theatre's production of "Legally Blonde" this fall. Shows begin Friday, Nov. 8, and tickets are available online.
"I'm moving from one thing to the next, but I love it," he says. "I'm doing what I love, so no complaints from me!"
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.