Zilker Theatre Productions is excited to celebrate 50 years of the Zilker Summer Musical!

Originally created as a project of the Austin's Parks and Recreation Department in 1959, the Zilker Summer Musical continues to provide high-quality musical theater entertainment to Central Texans and visitors from around the world.

Zilker Theatre Productions (formerly known as "Friends of the Summer Musical") has been dedicated since its inception in 1987 to preserving this special gift to Austin audiences by producing the Zilker Summer Musical as well as sponsoring a variety of other community outreach and youth training programs.

Zilker Theatre Productions, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides award-winning, pay-what-you-wish entertainment, boasts an audience of 40,000+ annually and has a budget of over $150,000. We are dedicated to the celebration and preservation of that unique American art form, the Broadway musical, by mounting large-scale musical productions at the Beverly S. Sheffield Hillside Theater in Austin's beautiful Zilker Park.

Approximately 50% of our revenue comes from the contributions of individuals and audience members. In addition, Zilker Theatre Productions depends on the generosity of both financial and in-kind sponsors including the Junior League of Austin, City of Austin - Arts Commission, Altria, Applied Materials, Wells Fargo, HEB, Austin Community Foundation, Temple Inland Matching Grants, Coca-Cola, and the City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department, to name a few.

It is only through the generosity of individuals like you and corporations that this tradition continues. Please be generous when considering your donation here online, by mail or during one of our show's intermission.

We hope you will return year after year to share with us the excitement and magic of live theatre under the stars!

Our Mission

We produce outstanding, affordable theatre that educates, engages, and enriches our community.

Our Goals and Strategies

Goal 1- To provide an opportunity for community access and community participation in the performing arts.

Goal 2 - To provide an opportunity for public education about the performing arts

Goal 3 - Xperience Youth at Zilker (XYZ), performance and technical training for youth via summer camps as well as year-round classes and placement through collaboration with other local theaters.

Goal 4 - Zilker Second Stage, additional indoor productions and performance events utilizing and expanding upon our resources including collaborative productions with other organizations.

What We Do

• The Zilker Summer Musical, the longest running outdoor Broadway-caliber production with pay-what-you-wish admission in the United States today.
• Summer Stock Austin, a professional summer stock performance experience bringing together high school and college students as a joint project with St. Edward's University.

Who We Serve

• Indigent
• Under-served
• Hearing-Impaired
• Visually-Impaired
• At-Opportunity Youth
• Families unable to afford $40.00 ticket prices
• 15% individuals who are over 65 years of age
• 25% individuals who are from non-Austin Central Texas Zip Codes
• 35% individuals who are non-Anglo Americans
• 55% individuals who are educated females

With Whom We Partner

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
• Altria Corporate Services, Inc.
• Austin Community Foundation
• Austin Arts Commission
• City of Austin
• Coca-Cola
• Guaranty Bank
• H.E.B.
• LCRA Employees' Charitable Fund
• Lola Wright Foundation
• Still Water Foundation
• Texas Commission on the Arts
• Texas Gas Service
• The Junior League of Austin
• and many others

Zilker Theatre Productions Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy

It is the policy of Zilker Theatre Productions (ZTP) that there shall be no discrimination against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of age, gender, race, physical disability, religion, ethnic background, or any other grounds impermissible under state or federal laws and regulations. Further it is the policy of ZTP that there shall be no sexual harassment against any individual or group of individuals and that activities that might create a hostile work environment for any individual or group of individuals are strictly prohibited. All activities conducted by or on behalf of ZTP shall be in compliance with applicable state and federal laws regarding discrimination and harassment. This policy will be strictly adhered to by all Board members, volunteers, and contractors, and any violation of this policy shall be cause for involuntary termination of the party from further association with ZTP. This policy shall be posted on the ZTP website and a copy kept with the corporate records.