5 questions with Austin director Damon Brown
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Director Damon Brown returns to Zilker Hillside Theater after performing there over two decades ago. Photo: Courtesy of Damon Brown
Director Damon Brown is preparing to bring "Singin' in the Rain" to Zilker Hillside Theatre this month, marking his return to the iconic Austin stage more than two decades after performing there.
Why it matters: The Zilker Summer Musical has been an Austin tradition since 1959, drawing tens of thousands of attendees each summer.
Driving the news: This summer's free production opens July 10 and runs Thursdays through Sundays 8-10:30pm. The final performance is Aug. 15.
- "We are bringing so much of what you see on the screen to the stage," Brown tells Axios.
- "You're going to get some surprises in this production as well. I hope people will be delighted by it."
We talked with Brown about directing the musical, the challenges of outdoor theater and why the production is ultimately about building community.
This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
1. What's the biggest challenge and reward of directing a show at Zilker Hillside Theatre?
"It's a challenge because it's an outdoor venue. It's the middle of the summer, and it's hot, but there's really nothing like it. The rewards so outweigh all of the challenges."
2. You're returning to Zilker after performing there in 2002. What's it like coming back as the director? Any nerves?
"This will be a homecoming of sorts. ... It's not the first time I've directed a show, or even one necessarily of this scale. I don't really feel nerves, but the excitement of coming at something from this different angle."
3. How does directing an outdoor summer production differ from a traditional theater?
"You lean into the young people who still have it in them to go out and perform in the heat. They're still super excited to go out there, just like I was 20-something years ago."
4. Anything new or exciting that audiences can expect from this year's production?
"Obviously the show is different every year, and so there's going to be a different experience coming to a different artistic endeavor.
- Every group of artists is going to bring their own unique style and their own unique take to a show. ... The immediacy of theater will always make it new and always make it exciting no matter what."
5. What makes the Zilker Summer Musical so special for Austin audiences?
- "This is one we've had for almost 60 years, and it's still here. You can still come back with the grandparents who used to go there, and then you can hopefully bring your kids, your grandkids. ... You're surrounded by your neighbors. It is Austin."