In addition to our regular season, Salvage Vanguard Theater runs four programs to bridge gaps in our community and to generate greater awareness in Austin about the city's vibrant theater scene. Resident Company Membership is our first step towards paying artists a living wage. ArtReach is the company's high-school outreach program. Salvage Vanguard Press is our publishing arm. The company also runs an internship program with the University of Texas and St. Edward's University that provides course credit for college students.
[ Resident Company Membership ]
This is our flagship program, a profound next step forward for the entire arts community in Austin. Designed to counter the ongoing trend of talented young artists leaving Austin to go to cities where they can make a living wage, Resident Company Memberships pay artists a stipend to stay in Austin . Chosen from artists who have a longstanding relationship with Salvage Vanguard Theater, the Resident Company Members have two obligations: (1) to work with Salvage Vanguard on each of its shows in some capacity (whether as artists or as volunteers) and (2) to work regularly in Austin as artists with SVT or with other organizations. The Resident Company Members can be playwrights, actors, directors, designers, or composers. Currently, each Resident is paid $5,000 annually.
SVT's Resident Company Members are Dan Dietz, Graham Reynolds, Jenny Larson and Lee Eddy. Resident Company Member Dan Dietz in SVT's production of Terminal Hip.
[ SVT Reads!]
In 2006, Salvage Vanguard Theater began its new reading series for unproduced plays. SVT Reads! will workshop three apocalyptic plays in 2007: Moloch and Other Demons by Jason Grote, Phosphoresscense by Cory Hinkle, Shadowgrass by Dan Dietz. The playwright, a director, local actors and a dramaturge will treat each play to a two-week workshop. Their efforts result in a weekend performance free to the public with an opportunity for the playwright to obtain feed back from the audience to assist in further development of their work. For information about SVT Reads! please e-mail Literary Manager .
[ The National THE INTERGALACTIC NEMESIS tour! ]
We've taken our popular sci-fi melodramatic radio serial on the road! Molly, Ben, Timmy and Mysterion may be appearing in a town near you! Holy crap, it's so much fun. You should totally see it if you haven't yet. To learn more, visit our Tour page.
[ ArtReach ]
"ArtReach is founded on the principle that there is a natural empathetic connection between tradition-defying artwork and the rebellious nature of youth. ArtReach seeks to nurture the creative potential of adolescents by fostering a dynamic exchange between visionary artists and high school students, with a particular focus on under-served populations. Our goal is to help young people appreciate, support, and ultimately create theater that questions the world around them, knowing that these questions can lead to positive social change."
Through ArtReach, high school students attend free matinee performances of Salvage Vanguard's plays. Then, the artists who created those productions go to the classroom to hold discussions and workshops with the students. Past and present participating schools include Lanier High School, Johnston High School, McCallum High School, The Phoenix Academy, Garza High School, and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
To participate in ArtReach, just email !
Students from Lanier High School with SVT's Artistic Director Jason Neulander.
Students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired tour the set of Tilt Angel.
[ Sponsored Projects ]
In addition to it's regular programming, Salvage Vanguard Theater sponsors four kick-ass independent arts projects in Austin. Golden Hornet Project creates and presents contemporary classical music in rock club settings. Their work has ranged from unusual solo and chamber music pieces to full scale symphonies. Spank Dance Company creates some of Austin's most innovative movement work. Gnap! Theater Projects produces improv-based productions as well as the annual Out Of Bounds Festival, featuring up-and-coming improv artists from around the country. The Dionysium is a performance salon, presenting its shows the first Wednesday of every month. The Dionysium features lectures, performance of classical work, live music, and debates. The Trouble Puppet Company produces adapted historical works that reflect today's political landscape- all with puppets.
Each of the sponsored projects is umbrella-ed by SVT's nonprofit status, allowing them to fundraise for their work and receive funding from the City of Austin. In addition, the sponsored projects receive administrative and marketing support from Salvage Vanguard Theater.
[ Salvage Vanguard Press ]
Since 1994, Salvage Vanguard Press has published acting editions of every premiere the company has produced. The scripts are sold at the performances of the play and the playwright is given complimentary copies of the script to send nationwide with the goal of giving the play a life beyond its original production in Austin. Some of those scripts are available for sale on this website. Click HERE to see the list of plays.
In 2001, Salvage Vanguard began releasing "cast albums" of its productions on CD with The Cry Pitch Carrolls (an opera) and The Intergalactic Nemesis (an episodic radio serial). Nemesis aired on KUT for six consecutive weeks to a total listenership of 90,000 people. In 2002, Salvage Vanguard became a recipient of the prestigious New Generations Program, administered by TCG. The purpose of the grant is to expand the CD program. To date, the company has released CDs of The Intergalactic Nemesis, Return of the Intergalactic Nemesis, Tilt Angel, The Cry Pitch Carrolls, the operas MotherBone and Genghis Khan, and Americamisfit. Click HERE to buy a CD!
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[ Internships ]
In 2001, Salvage Vanguard Theater began partnerships with the University of Texas at Austin and St. Edward's University to offer internships for credit. In that time, the company has had four interns, working in all capacities from assistant director of a production to business intern in the office. The company also offers unpaid internships to interested parties. For information about how to become an intern, email .
[ Other Programs ]
Salvage Vanguard Theater often conducts open auditions for shows and is constantly in need of volunteers to help with productions. If you're interested in being a part of the team, click HERE and be part of the team! We also fly in guests for every performance to spread the word about our productions around the country. If you think you can have a national impact on an Austin theater artist's career and you want to get the red carpet treatment while you're here, email !