The Roeper Summer Stock Theatre has been created to develop and showcase the skills of students who are interested in theatre training.  Students work with a variety of professional theatre instructors specializing in various techniques and areas of skill development.  All students participate in core training sessions in acting, singing and dancing.  The sessions are customized to meet the needs of both the beginning theatre student as well as the more experienced actor.

Summer Stock Theatre Junior is designed for students entering grades 3-5.  Students will have fun learning basics of theatre, specifically in the areas of character development, improvisation, movement, dance and music.  At the end of the two-week session, students will give a performance for family, friends and other members of the community.  Enrollment is limited to 30 participants per session to ensure plenty of individual instruction.

Summer Stock Theatre, for students entering grades 6-12, provides a solid theatre basis as well as challenge seasoned theatre students.  At the end of three weeks, a performance is given for family, friends and other members of the community.  Though we work toward the final performance, much of the instructional time is spent on developing skills in each discipline.  Developing talent into skill is our focus as we work daily on many aspects of the three disciplines and work hard to ensure that each student is provided the opportunity to enhance their skills in a guided and nurturing way.  Enrollment is limited to 38 participants per session to ensure plenty of individual instruction.

The Summer Stock Theatre is set in the state-of-the-art R. Dean Acheson Theatre on the Birmingham Campus of The Roeper School, conveniently located on Adams Road, two blocks north of Maple Road, in the City of Birmingham. The theatre is equipped with the newest in digital audio technology, computer-operated lighting control systems and video projection equipment that enhance the learning environment.  A dance studio for movement studies, choral arts rooms and additional rehearsal facilities are also utilized during each session.

Mitch Master has been the Summer Stock Theatre co-Director since 2002. He is the Director of the Performing and Fine Arts Department at the Jewish Academy Metropolitan Detroit. He has a B.S. in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Theatre from Grand Valley State University. Mitch has directed over 60 musical/drama youth theatre productions and performed in more than 35 stage productions. He studied at The New Actor’s Workshop in New York and spent two years gaining invaluable experience in film/TV in Los Angeles. Mitch has taught and directed youth theatre programs such as the Birmingham Community House, Cranbrook Theatre School, Detroit Country Day School, Seaholm High School, Birmingham Public Education, Kingswood Boys and Girls Middle School, UCLA’s “Bruin Kids” in Los Angeles, Marvin L. Winans Academy of the Performing Arts in Detroit, the Village Players and Deborah’s Stagedoor in Rochester.

Dan Greig has been the Summer Stock Theatre co- Director since 2003. He is currently the Director of Music at St. Mary of the Hills in Rochester Hills. He has been the music director for Roeper Summer Stock Theatre since 2002 and has music directed over 45 shows in the area — at Lamphere High School, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, Cranbrook Theatre School, Winans Academy of the Performing Arts, Hazel Park High School and the Birmingham Community House and others. Dan holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Wayne State University and has five years' experience teaching vocal technique privately and in group settings. He has accompanied at local schools and community theatres in the area, including Stagecrafters, Cranbrook Middle School and many others. A professional tenor soloist, Dan is often hired to sing at special occasions, including Priesthood Ordinations and other Masses for the Archbishop of Detroit.

Elaine (Hendriks) Smith has been the Summer Stock Theatre Junior Director since 2008.  Elaine has over 15 years experience teaching the performing arts to students from ages 5-18 in Metro Detroit at Mosaic Youth Theatre, The Summer Youth Arts Employment Program (City of Detroit), Livonia Children's Summer Camp, Matrix Theatre Company, as well as at the Minnesota Festival Theatre and Irish Fest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She was part of her first professional production at the age of 16 and still works today in the theatre as a Teacher, Producer, Lighting Designer and Stage Manager.  Elaine began working at Roeper in 2007 as the Technical Director/Lighting Designer for the Roeper Summer Camps and is a strong believer that art educates.

Core faculty members are working professionals in Michigan regional theatres or university-based training programs. Areas of focus for core faculty are fundamentals of acting, voice training, improvisation, dance and musical theatre.