Summer Stock Stage Announces New Managing Director
Mike Raunick will take the reins of the local theater company
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., December 20, 2023 – After an extensive search, Summer Stock Stage (SSS) and its Board of Directors is pleased to announce the company’s new managing director, Michael Berg Raunick. The managing director of SSS is responsible for maintaining the structure and overarching vision of the organization. Raunick will work directly with the artistic director, as well as the Board of Directors, to oversee operations of SSS and organize the financial, development and administrative elements of the company.
“Mike Raunick takes the work of the arts seriously. He believes in the impact the arts can have personally and in the way they can enrich and transform a community,” said Summer Stock Stage Artistic Director Emily Ristine Holloway. “Our shared vision of artistic excellence in an intentionally inclusive culture energizes our mission as we expand to serve Indianapolis artists and audiences.”
Previously, Raunick was the Director of Choirs at North Central High School since 2013. Under his leadership, the choir program at North Central continued a tradition of excellence that includes 10 choirs and over 300 students. At North Central Mike also regularly worked with the theater program and served as the music director and producer for the Indiana High School Premiere of Frozen in 2023. He also worked with Summer Stock Stage as a music director for both Mainstage and Eclipse since 2018. He conducted SSS performances at Park Tudor, IRT, and the Phoenix Theatre, coordinated the virtual intensive series in the summer of 2020, worked on two productions during the outdoor season in 2021, and served as music director and pianist for the 20th anniversary gala in 2023.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike co-founded Riverbend Production Company, a virtual performance company. During the 2020-2021 school year, the company created over 200 virtual performance videos for choirs, orchestras, bands, and theater companies across the United States and Canada, including producing all videos for Summer Stock’s virtual performance series.
“When I moved to Indianapolis, it didn’t take long for me to discover what an incredible organization Summer Stock Stage is,” said Raunick. “I couldn’t be more excited to be joining this team. I am anxious to begin my work with Emily (Ristine Holloway) to expand and continue to offer the highest quality arts opportunities to the young, emerging, and professional artists in our community.”
Raunick is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and holds a master’s degree from Butler University in Educational Leadership. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife Cara and daughter Ruth.
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About Summer Stock Stage
Summer Stock Stage is a theater organization that includes three companies, Academy, Mainstage and Eclipse, serving artists from elementary school through professionals. The mission of Summer Stock Stage is to enrich the community through theater. Now in its twenty-first year, the upcoming 2024 season plans include 200 performers in 30 performances reaching 7,000 audience members. For more information on SSS, please visit https://summerstockstage.com.