ABOUT SUMMER STAGE

Summer Stage is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt organization (non profit) serving the young  people and families of southwest Virginia and northwestern North Carolina. These rising stars gather each summer to make lifelong friends, develop their talents, and perform for their community.

Mission Statement   To develop the creativity and leadership skills of youth through outstanding theater performances for the community.

Practice
Summer Stage introduces young people (ages 9-18) to the infectious joy of the performing arts! Young actors have the opportunity to study with seasoned theater professionals in a nurturing environment as they develop skills through theater games and hands-on activities. At Summer Stage the young people do it all–from designing and painting sets, props, and costumes to running the box office and lights. Young Actors will find their artistic voice and develop self-confidence as they sing, dance, act, create hilarious improvisations, tell stories, and perform for friends, family, and the community.

Leadership and Board

Vicky Town (Executive Director) is a storyteller, director, choreographer, and playwright with over 40 years of arts education experience. She is the winner of three Parents’ Choice Awards
Amber Watkins—Music Specialist has performed as a vocalist and musician on the national and international stages. She is a member of the North Carolina Music Educators Association with over 35 years of teaching, coaching, directing, and mentoring young vocalists and musicians in the south east. Amber is currently the Music Education Director at Graham County Schools in Robbinsville, North Carolina and a founding member of Summer Stage.
Angie Fleming—Music Director has been creating wonderful music with children, teens, tweens, and adults in the North Carolina and Virginia area for over 25 years. She has been the music director at Cliff View Church for over 5 years and has enjoyed watching her singers grow in skill and confidence! Other favorite music projects include directing summer music camps, creating music for Vacation Bible Schools, coaching youth music bands, and everything else in between! “I know that music has the ability to lift the spirit of all who listen, sing, and/ or play. It draws people together and creates an atmosphere of joy for the young and old alike,” she said recently.
Clint McCain—Sound Designer has been fascinated by all things electronic since he was a young man.  For many years he could be found hauling sound equipment from place to place for his work as a professional DJ. He is currently the guidance counselor at Independence Middle School in Independence, Virginia. With over 30 years of experience, Clint has worked as a sound designer with the choir department at Grayson County High School, local churches, youth programs, community theatre troupes and more! Clint has been producing the Summer Stage sound since 2018 and looks forward to designing a system for our new space this season!

Young Directors Series

Donovan Thompson is a Summer Stage alumnus who has a passion for theatre. In addition to performing with Summer Stage, he has been active in Grayson High School’s music and theatre departments for six years. This year Donovan was elected Choir President and has been assisting in producing Grayson’s spring musical Aladdan Jr. Donovan credits Summer Stage with helping him develop his theatre skills which he uses at his high school. “Being a part of this year’s Summer Stage as an intern is very exciting for me. One of the many dreams I have had is to direct and work on my own shows,” he said recently. “If you’re looking for new friends and have a passion for acting and being who you truly are, I recommend joining this year’s Summer Stage!!!!”

Ryan Kennedy Ryan Kennedy was an actor with Summer Stage in Music Man Kids during their 2019 season and an intern in 2021. He recently graduated from Wytheville Community College with an education degree and looks forward to helping this season’s actors reach their full potential on stage and off. He believes that theatre is key to enlightenment and joy.

Hayden Walters is a member of the Senior class of 2023 at Grayson County High School. He got the theatre bug in sixth grade when he performed in his first musical: Disney’s High School Musical Jr. Since then, he has been very involved with Grayson High School’s music and theatre departments taking many leading roles. Hayden has a very strong love for the performing arts whether it is playing the guitar, piano, singing, dancing, or acting. He was a founding member of Summer Stage in 2018 when he played the Candy Man in Wonka Kids. The following summer he played Professor Harold Hill in Music Man Kids. Hayden plans to study music at Virginia Tech University in the fall. “ I am very excited to be working with the actors and aiding the production of the performances put on by Summer Stage this year,” he said recently.
Lacey Griffith Lacy Griffith is a senior honors student at Carroll County High School. She will attend Radford University in the fall to pursue a degree in the business of music and the arts. Recently Lacy received the four- year merit scholarship from the Highlander Foundation!
Her interest in theatre, playwriting, and music started at an early age. Most recently, Lacy played Gabriella in Summer Stage’s production of High School Musical Jr. and was a dancer and Pick- A- Little- Lady in The Music Man Kids. She enjoyed creating multiple roles in the Cherry Orchard Theatre and the Courthouse Productions of Thunder in the Hills in April 2019 and has participated in two Twin County Arts Council’s productions.
This year, Lacy continues to study private voice and piano and can be heard singing with the Carroll County High School Chorus and the Hillsville Presbyterian Church’s adult choir.
In 2016 she joined “Maui” (Mt. Airy Ukulele Invasion) and has been sharing her passion for the instrument in venues around the community.
Lacy has composed several songs, performed at the Carroll County Fair, and in 2022 created the soundscape for Summer Stage’s children’s comedy East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
Lacy will be teaching our make- up and wig workshops this season and we look forward to having her with us in 2023!

Rorie Bond Rorie Bond joined Summer Stage in 2019 when she appeared in Music Man Kids as Zaneeta and again in 2022 as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, Tams Witmark Youth Edition. She not only enjoys the performing arts but also painting and drawing as well. “Summer Stage is an amazing place to be! You make close friends, discover new skills, and it can even open up new pathways for you in the future. Summer Stage is an amazing experience for me and others I know. I hope people who are new can experience it too!” she said recently.

Jacob Roberts Jacob Roberts is a rising junior from Carroll County High School who recently worked as the assistant stage manager for their spring production Alice In Wonderland. Summer Stage is excited to welcome him as an intern and looks forward to collaborating with him for our 2023 season! “I love theatre because it can really transport the audience into another world,” Jacob said recently.

Our Board of Directors and Friends of Summer Stage are visionaries who understand non-profit governance and raise funds to drive the organization and help offer programs free-of-charge or at low cost for the community

Board Members

Julie Tucker
Debra Martin
Stacie Tate
Vicky Town

Friends &Volunteers

Shelby Meenach
Francis Meenach
Shawn Martin
Penny Duvall
Tina Wilcox
Chandra Harmon
Penny Moseley
Julie Bowers
Stephen Pottorff
David Tucker
Doug Martin
Erin Cox
Nancy Deady

Brian Spencer
Mandy Archer
Teresa Nale
Margie Quesenberry
Myra Leonard
Clint McCain
Glenna Myers
Janet Brown
Betty Town
Rose Leonard
Steve Turner
Donald Trausneck
Pat Sexton