As a director and choreographer, Ginger has crafted a portfolio of award-winning productions, spanning the realms of university, professional, community, and youth theatres from Texas to NYC. Beyond her creative endeavors, Ginger is a Co-Founder and the Executive Artistic Director of Impact Arts, an organization dedicated to fostering artistic talent and community engagement. Her leadership extends to the positions of Artistic Director and Producer of the acclaimed Summer Stock Austin and Texas Arts Project, where she continues to shape the future of performing arts education. For the past decade, Ginger has served as the Producing Director for the prestigious Heller Awards for Young Artists, a high school musical theatre awards program that produced a 2023 Jimmy Awards national champion.

Coy Branscum (Musical Theatre, BFA - Millikin University '15) has never been satisfied chasing just one passion, instead choosing to embrace a career as a multi-hyphenate. Coy has spent his career in a multitude of roles, previously serving as a producer, director, choreographer, educator, performer, and more. His passion for the arts has proven strong as Coy finds joy filling any role, but he feels most at home as a director/choreographer and actor. When he isn’t working, Coy enjoys spending time outdoors with his dog, Billie.

Peyton is an Austin Native. She attended Shenandoah Conservatory in 2017-2018 before moving to New York City. Shortly after that, she became a soloist dancer in the Las Vegas Production of “Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show” alongside her fiancé, Donelvan Thigpen, who headlines as the role of Prince. In November 2020, they welcomed their baby girl, Aliyah! Peyton has always had a love for children and taught dance and musical theater classes since she was in high school. She currently works at Summer Stock Austin as an Associate Producer and Head Marketing Manager. She is also an Alumni of Summer Stock Austin. She is an instructor/director with The Adderley School and formally served as the Artistic Director for Balance Dance Studio’s Elevate program. Peyton Calhoon has a deep love for the arts and takes pride in helping to spread the power of creativity and share the impact that the arts have had on her life.

Marita is an Assistant Professor of Music (Contemporary Voice and Musical Theatre) at St. Olaf College, PAVA-recognized Vocologist, and yoga instructor. After a long and varied career on the stage, her teaching brings together a passion for contemporary singing styles, accessible functional voice science, and the mind-body connection that keeps the artist balanced, aware, and receptive. Prior to coming to St. Olaf, Marita was the founding voice teacher for the Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneur Development program at Shenandoah Conservatory. She has also held positions at Oklahoma City University and Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo, Japan, where she still serves as Visiting Professor. She is the Vocal Director for Texas Arts Project, and has presented papers and workshops at the The Voice Foundation Symposium, NATS, Texas Thespian State Festival, and for the Visceral Voice. Her research interests include: strategies for combating music performance anxiety in the voice studio and the effects of chronic illnesses (such as HSD, hEDS, and POTS) on the singing voice.

As an award-winning performer, credits include the national tour of John Doyle’s Sweeney Todd, where she was a swing for Johanna, the Beggar Woman, and Pirelli (playing cello and flute), and other favorite roles including Chess (Florence), The Last Five Years (Cathy), Crazy for You (Polly), Evita (Peron’s Mistress), The Who’s Tommy (Gypsy/Acid Queen), Charlie Brown (Lucy), Oklahoma (Laurey), Oliver (playing Bet to Stephanie J. Block’s Nancy). She has had the pleasure of performing with Music Theatre Wichita, Zach Theatre, Austin Playhouse, Austin Musical Theatre, Zilker Theatre Productions, and The State Theatre, and spent many years traveling the world as a Lead Singer on Celebrity and Holland America Cruise Lines.  

Marita holds degrees from Oklahoma City University (BM and MM), where she studied with the legendary Florence Birdwell, and is a DMA Candidate in Voice Pedagogy (Voice Science Concentration) at Shenandoah University. She is an active member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS Intern 2022), Music Theatre Educators Alliance, Pan-American Vocology Association, The Voice Foundation, and Actors Equity Association. In addition to her collegiate studio, she maintains a small private voice studio with working artists in New York City, Austin, LA, and Tokyo. www.bodymindvoice.studio

Originally from Austin, Texas, Stone is a creative force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s performing, writing or directing, he brings intellect and collaboration to any project he is apart of. He has participated in Summer Stock Austin, Texas Arts Project, & The Heller Awards for Young Artists. He recently made his off-Broadway Debut in “A Musical About Star Wars”. Some of his credits include Burrs in The Wild Party (CCM), Kodaly in She Loves Me (CCM), Alex in 35MM: A Musical Exhibition (CCM), George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Liberty Exhibition Hall) and Harry in Kinky Boots (Music Theatre Wichita).

Adam Roberts is equal-parts creative producer, artistic director, and vocologist. He is Director of Music at Austin’s St. Luke United Methodist Church, cofounder of Resolution Creative, Entr’acte, and the former TILT Performance Group, a faculty member at The Actor's School, Carol Hickey Acting Studio, Impact Arts, Ballet Austin's Butler Center, and guest faculty at the Voice Study Centre, a former contributing writer for Backstage and American Theatre Magazine, musical director and conductor of the Heller Awards for Young Artists, and past conductor of the Texas Cultural Trust’s Texas Medal of Arts Awards.

Adam’s students have performed in principal roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theatre, been nominated for the Tony Award, and appeared in film, national tours, and on network television. As a pianist and conductor, he has performed alongside Ben Platt, Jennifer Holliday, Mela Sarajane Dailey, Rachel Joselson, and more.

In addition to his role as Musical Director of Music Theatre Online and Libretto with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Adam is a past contributor to the Austin Chronicle. He holds a master's degree in music from Florida State University, an Executive Certificate in Arts and Culture Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania, and undergraduate degrees from Kent State University and Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music.

A Pan American Vocology Association Recognized Vocologist (PAVA-RV) with a Certificate in Vocology from Lamar University, his online course “Teaching Voice for Musical Theatre” is available from Forward Motion.

Lena Owens (she/they) was born and raised in Austin, TX. She has participarted in nearly every Impact Arts Program including: Summer Stock Austin, Texas Arts Project, and the Heller Awards for Young Artists (formally GAHSMTA) She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in May 2019 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. After living in New York City for almost two years, she is currently based in ATX and ready for the next gig!

They started off hot post-grad; signed with Clear Talent Group during their senior class showcase in NYC, made their MUNY debut in the ensemble of Footloose directed by Christian Borle while also participating in their third summer at Music Theatre Wichita. After moving to the big city, they were cast as Wendy Jo in the John F. Kennedy Center production of Footloose and swung on as a Perfect Princess in Bliss: the Musical at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA, two very stacked companies! They've been slowly getting back to submitting/auditioning, and is often performing on the MTWichita stage in Kansas.

Lena is a true triple threat. You can spot her dancing from a mile away with a unique, rich mezzo-soprano voice. She has great comedic timing, natural sex appeal and an intriguing charisma, in person and on the stage. She loves to travel and is looking forward to performing at more regional theaters across the country and eventually join a national tour. Down the road, she wants to get her masters in Musical Theatre Directing/Choreographing and teach at the collegiate level, but for now is loving the thrill of performing!

Donelvan Thigpen is a multi-talented individual with a diverse background as an Actor, Musician, and Digital Marketer. His journey led him to earn a BFA in Musical Theatre from the esteemed Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. A career highlight for Donelvan was headlining on the renowned Las Vegas Strip, where he portrayed Prince in the acclaimed "Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show."

Beyond his captivating performances, Donelvan has extended his talents to the world of advertising, appearing in commercials for prestigious brands like Facebook, Rayban, and Subway. Fueled by his unwavering passion for the arts, he dedicates himself to spreading the transformative power of creativity and sharing the profound impact that the arts have had on his own life.

Matthew Kennedy began classical training in ballet at the age of 14 but swiftly grew attached to Hip Hop by the end of high school. He’s inspired by the work of many renowned hip hop styles throughout generations, including locking, dancehall, jazz funk, house dance, and many others. His essential goal as a teacher and choreographer is to bring together moves and routines in all these different styles and add a groove that will unlock the dancers ability to move to the music truthfully.

He’s trained at Ballet Austin and ZACH Pre-Professional Company and has worked as a performer and dancer at Zilker Hillside Theater, Summer Stock Austin, and ZACH Theatre where he got to perform alongside LA, Broadway, and Tony nominated performers.

Sara Burke (she/her) is a choreographer, performer and ingenious story teller. Burke recently choreographed 'Matilda The Musical' for Zilker Theatre Productions 64th annual summer musical! She also wrapped on her third short film in 3 years; Dance Hall, How To Musical Theatre and SCOUT An Original Movie Musical (Accepted into 9 film festivals and winner of 5 awards!). She was honored to be awarded The Austin Chronicles ‘Best of Austin’ Dancer/Choreographer in 2022.

As a performer, Sara most recently celebrated the release of HBO's Love and Death, was a featured voice over in Where’d You Go, Bernadette (dir. Richard Linklater), and voiced Wonder Woman for DC Dual Force (set to release in late 2023). Some notable theatre credits include; Matilda (Mrs. Wormwood), Shrek (Princess Fiona), Legally Blonde (Brooke Whyndam), Peter and the Starcatcher (Molly), Xanadu (Kira), Last 5 Years (Cathy) and Spring Awakening (Wendla). She is also an Alumni of Summer Stock Austin.

Her voice can also be heard on many new works recordings by the ever-talented Emmy Award-Winning Allen Robertson.

Jessica was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where she trained and performed in musical theatre all around the city. She grew up in Round Rock, Texas, and is an alumnus of Cedar Ridge High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy, where she trained under award-winning director and choreographer Kristie Copeland. Her love for her family and friends has kept her close and her deep roots in the theatre community here in Austin. Her passion for singing, acting, and dancing has cultivated a love for instilling it into the next generation and watching them grow in their bent for the Arts. She has worked with many arts education organizations in teaching and administrative roles here in Austin and in New Orleans, such as NOLA Microschools, The Paramount Theatre, TexArts, and much more! In 2019, Jessica was also The Female Residential Director for Texas Arts Project, a 3-week sleepaway summer intensive for students training in Musical Theatre. She most recently was a Chaperone for Ballet Austin’s 2022 Summer Intensive, where she fell in love with the atmosphere Ballet Austin provides for the community at large and within. Jessica hopes to provide a warm and nurturing experience for both the students and their families, as they grow here at Ballet Austin.

Christy Kennedy has gratefully been a volunteer and employee for Summer Stock Austin, Texas Arts Project and the Heller Awards for Young Artists, working under the leadership of Ginger Morris. She is also a proud Impact Arts parent, having a current student and an alumni of these programs.