Kalamazoo Times

Jack Austin, front and center, directs his youth campers during a dress rehearsal of Unity Theatre Company's "Beauty and the Beast." BATTLE CREEK, Mich.—College student juggles coursework, auditions, a recording career, and running a youth theatre program. This is the reality for Western Michigan University music theatre performance student Jack Austin, who recently completed a successful production of "Beauty and the Beast" with dozens of young performing artists.

Austin is entering his third year at Western Michigan University and has just concluded his second summer leading Unity Theatre Company. He coached 40 children to learn a full-length Broadway production from scratch in just two weeks.

"I'm doing what I love," says Austin, who balances the workload of Unity Theatre Company as a full-time student and performer. "In those two weeks, they learn choreography, acting and their songs, and we put together costumes, a set and everything that it takes to put our entire show together," Austin says. "It's a lot of work, but it's a ton of fun."

While his ultimate aspirations involve performing, Austin sees a future as a theatre educator as well. He has enjoyed applying some of the education he has received at Western Michigan University with Unity Theatre Company.

"WMU Theatre is a really tight-knit community, and I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and performer. And being in classes, my skill level has improved, and now my goal is to be able to pass that along to these kids," he says. "The professors at Western are amazing and supportive and encouraging—everything that I want to be as a theatre educator as well."

Austin partners with Kellogg Community College's Lifelong Learning Program for the camp. The program sold out this year with 40 performers ranging from 10 to 18 years old as well as six campers focused on honing their skills backstage.

"My favorite part of camp is spending time with kids and watching them grow," Austin says. "Last year we had kids hiding under tables during audition day, and by the end of camp they were performing in front of 300 people in a sold-out theater with full-on confidence. That is just so rewarding to me because I can see myself in these kids."

Founding Unity Theatre Company also allowed Austin to give back to his hometown.

"Doing this in Battle Creek means everything to me. This is my home, and having this here is like a home within a home," Austin says. "It's just awesome to be surrounded by people that I know and that I love. And to be supported by the community means so much as well."

He collaborates with Logan Robertson, currently studying music education at WMU as the company's music director; Tsea Lynn (B.A.'16), serves as choreographer.

"It's been great. This is my dream team," Austin says.

"It's absolutely amazing," adds Lynn who currently lives in Chicago performing with an improv group at Second City. "I got my start in community youth theatre and turned out wanting to go into a performing profession so I think it's wonderful helping kids realize they have somewhere they can belong."

The camp's success has garnered national recognition; Unity Theatre was nominated for Music Theatre Business of the Year at the Josie Music Awards.

"Music theatre contributes so much to the music industry, and being acknowledged for that at a community level is very rewarding—especially after just one year," Austin says.

Austin himself is up for three Josie awards: Rising Star of the Year; Male Vocalist of the Year (Pop/Adult Contemporary); Rock Song of the Year for "GET AWAY." Winners will be announced during an October 27 ceremony at Grand Ole Opry House.

Despite these accolades he remains busy preparing for his next role: Warner in WMU Theatre's production of "Legally Blonde" this fall starting November 8th.

"I'm moving from one thing to another but loving it," he says."I'm doing what I love so no complaints from me!"

For more WMU news arts events visit WMU News online.