CULTURE Ar s PEACH STATE SUMMERTheatre

The Peach State Summer Theatre (PSST) is a statewide program housed in the College of Fine Arts Department at Valdosta State University. Peach State started in 1990 as an amphitheater in Jekyll Island before its relocation to Valdosta State University. In 2006, PSST was named the Official Theatre of Georgia, with this being their 34th year of performances.

PSST held local auditions at the end of January for their upcoming musicals, Mahalia A Gospel Musical, The SpongeBob Musical, and Monty Python’s Spamalot to fill over

60 positions for the summer performances. Auditionees included locals and VSU students, as well as performers from all over the U.S. PSST has welcomed performers from California, New York, Miami, and Atlanta, with even some from Las Vegas coming out to the 2022 auditions. Hank Rion, Artistic Director for PSST, noted that the auditions and rehearsals are “a fast process, and the actors and technical staff participate in all three shows.” He also commented that after auditions, the casting of roles is the longest process. The Box Office opens when rehearsals start around mid-May. Peach State’s first shows of the summer generally premiere in June, and the company usually sees up to 6000 attendees per season.

The audition process is a fun and entertaining experience for the actors and casting directors. The type of talent required depends on which shows Peach State is casting for. In the summer of 2022, PSST casting crew looked for more contemporary dancers and waltz styles due to the musicals of that season (Cinderella and Ain’t Misbehavin’). At the auditions held in January, they looked for tap dancers to contribute to the tap routines for the upcoming musicals. Rion wanted to expand the company's existing dance styles with the inclusion of tap-dancing, which had not been featured in recent Peach State shows. Overall, the casting crew looks for professionality, good company, originality, creative style, and performers with good energy.

Director Hank Rion completed his undergrad at Valdosta State University and participated in the 2nd acting company of the Peach State

Summer Theatre in Jekyll Island, 1991. Rion went on to direct professionally and took over his mentor’s spot as the director of the PSST. Hank Rion’s overall goal is to “reach different generations to encourage more people to come out to the Theatre.”

Rion works hard to reach all generations of the audience, and so far, he has been successful. The plans for the upcoming musical Mahalia include having a chorus, congregation, choirs, etc. come out and sing for the finale.

“The best thing about Peach State Summer Theatre is that you can come to Valdosta and see all three shows in two days because we perform in rotating repertory,” Rion stated. “A lot of the people PSST work with continue to come back because it is fun and a great experience.”

Follow PSST for news & upcoming performances

@psstga

Peach State Summer Theatre

For more information visit: Valdosta.edu/psst

UPCOMING Performances

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL is adapted from the iconic Nickelodeon series with music featuring Cyndi Lauper and David Bowie.

• MAHALIA is a joyous celebration of the life and music of the world’s greatest gospel singer: a humble, deeply religious woman whose expressive, full-throated voice carried her from a three-room shanty in New Orleans to appearances before presidents and royalty, Mahalia Jackson.

• From the classic film comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show people, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people.

PSST Performances begin June 2. Get your tickets at the Box O ce as early as mid-May! Individual tickets to the shows of the season go on sale on May 20, 2023, at 10 a.m.