History  of Garland Summer Musicals

The GSM offers scholarships to students of all ages to receive college credit through a program with Richland College.  Since 1983 the GSM has given over 650 scholarships to students and teachers in the Dallas area in conjunction with the Dallas Community College District. In 1998, the GSM began a new educational partnership with Tarleton State University.  Tarleton State sends theatre interns all over the U.S. to work with professional theatre companies during the summer before their senior year. In 1999, Tarleton State selected the GSM to be a recipient of interns for the Summer Season. This partnership with Tarleton State continues today.

The GSM has participated in educational partnerships with the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and Collin County Community College.

The outstanding quality of the professional staff of the GSM is well known throughout the Metroplex area.  Buff Shurr has been the Director of the GSM since its inception in 1983 and was previously the Director of Casa Mañana Summer Musicals in addition to numerous Broadway and Dinner Theatre productions throughout the country.

Through the high standards set by the outstanding production team, the GSM continually strives to reach new heights in artistic and professional achievements. There are no other organizations producing musicals of this caliber in a major season anywhere in Dallas other than the Dallas Summer Musicals, which is all union affiliated. What better proof of these accomplishments of the GSM than through the generous financial support from the community and the incredible attendance at all GSM performances.

This unusual combination of professional and educational theatre makes the GSM a unique program not only to Garland but also throughout the Southwest. The pride of tradition and the critical success of the Garland Summer Musicals has increased dramatically over the years and today the GSM is considered a major theatrical event in the Metroplex by local agents, actors and audiences.

Long range goals are: to continue to increase corporate support in the community; to continue to build a diversified audience; to continue to enhance educational training through Richland College,  and to strive for new standards of excellence in musical theatre production.