Across the street from Barton Springs in Austin, Zilker Theatre Production’s Annual Summer Musical invites families and friends to join them on the hillside for an evening filled with music, dancing and laughing.
On weekend nights, visitors can bring a picnic and blanket, enjoy the show and maybe even win some prizes during intermission.
This year, audiences will see a cast of mostly children take the stage and don British accents as they perform Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical.”
Avery Pitz and Madison Aikens share the title role.
“It’s definitely less stressful sometimes because, again, the heat – it’s hard,” Pitz said. “But it’s really fun because you get a break, but on the next night you get the spotlight. It’s a nice break – less worrying. It’s also really fun to share with Maddie.”
And sharing the role came with a built-in friend.
“I went into this knowing absolutely nobody and I like that because I was sharing the role, I could connect with Avery more,” Aikens said. “Because we were working with each other at all hours, trying to get this role together, and I think that really built our friendship.”
