Zachary Scott Theatre Center (ZACH) is one of Austin's most vibrant and innovative arts organizations and Central Texas oldest professional theatre. ZACH's mission is to engage Central Texas in a dialogue by producing professional theatre of the highest artistic quality, inspired by a unique artistic vision and to offer a diverse theatre experience which is accessible to the community as a whole. In addition, ZACH fosters artistic education, expression, and development in children, teens and adults through a variety of outreach opportunities.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Ann Ciccolella, ZACH's critically acclaimed productions draw annual audiences of over 150,000 persons. From The Rocky Horror Show to Angels In America, from The Who's Tommy to The Gospel At Colonus, and from Dreamgirls to The Santaland Diaries innovation defines ZACH's Mainstage. At ZACH we seek in our work to not only reflect Austin, but to inspire, encourage, motivate, and engage Austinites in vital dialogues which have resonance in our community on topics like race, gender, sexuality, freedom, responsibility, and compassion among many others. We produce plays and musicals with a unique theatrical vision that breaks the fourth wall with the audience, that re-interprets a familiar work in a way which makes sense for Austin, that embraces Austins vibrant live music scene, that engages viewers as participants in large scale works in our very intimate theatres, and that lifts the human spirit.

Our audiences tell us the number one thing they enjoy about ZACH is the intimacy. We have come to understand that for our audience this refers not only to the close physical proximity of our audience to the actors on-stage, but also to the powerful states of emotional and spiritual intimacy which are work promotes. Transformation is a primary characteristic of the theatre we create, and as characters often transform on-stage before our audiences eyes, hopefully the audience has been engaged in an experience that also carries the tools for personal change on some level.

Because we desire a dialogue which is inclusive, ZACH is committed to diversity and is a leader in the state at providing opportunities for artists of all races to participate fully in the artistic process. And because we are committed to building an audience for this art form in the future, we are engaging young Austinites in a variety of programs that are designed to build self esteem and self awareness, and ignite within them the fire of self-transformation that is accessed in meaningful theatrical experiences that carry the tools for change.

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