Summer Stock: A Vibe Check - Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University

How is this long-standing American theatre tradition faring in an age of social media, raised expectations, and post-Covid recovery?

Summer stock—the time-honored tradition of professional theatres that primarily operate from early through late summer, with repertory companies that rehearse and perform simultaneously—is still very much a thing. As someone who worked as a music copyist at a summer theatre (the O’Neill) just last summer, I understand its importance for theatre workers, from emerging performers on their first professional contracts to seasoned artists enjoying the challenge of multiple shows and creating new works.

But how is summer stock doing, really? I wanted to take a vibe check on this venerable tradition, which like the rest of the theatre field has emerged from Covid lockdowns and other challenges with some things the same, some things different. What I found is that, on the talent side, the competition feels stiffer (perhaps oversaturated), though artists searching for opportunities during the audition season—typically winter through spring—are finding community through research and collective commiseration. Meanwhile, on the institutional side, theatres continue to recover while facing new challenges…