About Us

In the summer of 2023, a group of high school graduates approached us about producing a show for them, a group of performers who somewhat fell between the cracks during these early adult and college years.  We produced a summer show, Pippin, but we were a little unsure of who we were.  So, we just called ourselves Columbia County Summer Troupe.  It fit.  That's what we were.  However, as the next year approached, there was much excitement about what would come next.  We did not want to limit our company to those who were graduates of Columbia County Schools, so we decided to expand (at least our name) and call what we are doing Greater Augusta Summer Troupe.

We are not a full-fledged production company.  We are, in our minds, just an extension of what is an already a theatre community filled with amazingly talented children, teens, and adults in the Augusta area.  All of us have been involved with other entities like The Augusta Broadway Singers, The Augusta Players, Musical Theatre Workshops, The Augusta Opera, and more.  We simply hope to fill a spot during the summer months when some of these larger and established programs take a little break. 

We seek to produce dynamic musical theatre with some of the most talented young, college-aged students in our area.  We are not affiliated with any one school, nor do we base our casting on any similar affiliations.  In our one summer show, we hope to fill the stage with actors from all over the Augusta area.  So, all in that age range are encouraged to audition.

Dan McGill (DIRECTOR) is the teacher for Dramatic Arts classes and is the Director of Grovetown High School's Warrior Theatre. He began performing on stage at the age of 15, in Gainesville, Georgia. He became a member of the International Thespian Society in 1985, and many of the friendships he developed then are colleagues now in the Georgia Thespians family of directors/teachers. After some minor work in the Atlanta market, he has more recently been active in the Augusta area with The Augusta Players (Christmas Carol, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Something Rotten), as well as with The Augusta Broadway Singers. He has previously served as both a musical director (Aladdin Jr. and Sleeping Beauty) and as the director (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) for The Augusta Junior Players. Before starting this summer troupe, he taught acting each summer as part of The Augusta Players summer musical theatre camps. Among his favorite plays is Ken Ludwig's LEND ME A TENOR, and among his favorite musicals are My Fair Lady, Billy Elliot, and The Color Purple! In addition to teaching and directing, Mr. McGill enjoys writing, performing, and cheering on his beloved Clemson Tigers. He and his wife have two children, a daughter, who attends Clemson University, and a son who is a musical theatre professional based in Chicago.  In addition to his teaching and directing, Mr. McGill is well-versed in the college audition process for those who wish to pursue acting/theatre beyond high school. For information on the college audition process and the information he can provide, please email him at dan.mcgill@ccboe.net. 

Elizabeth Drake Moore (CO-DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER) serves as an English Teacher at Evans Middle School. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, earned in 2020, and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with a concentration in Drama Pedagogy completed in 2024.  Elizabeth has directed numerous successful productions, including You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Mean Girls, Selfie, and Can't Buy Me Love.  Her passion for theatre extends beyond directing; she has also graced the stage with remarkable performances in notable roles such as Jovie in Elf the Musical, Julie Jordan in Carousel, Cherie in Bus Stop, Eve in Children of Eden, and Cinderella in Into the Woods.  Throughout her career, Elizabeth has garnered significant recognition.  She achieved second place at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition in Las Vegas, and secured first place at both the state and regional levels of the NATS competition.  Additionally, her exceptional talent has earned her four prestigious Irene Ryan Nominations.  

Jeremy Froebel (MUSIC DIRECTOR) has served as Music Director for various productions in the CSRA, and he is no stranger to the world of Musical Theatre. Previous Credits Include: Pippin (GAST), Once On This Island, Bright Star, Footloose: The Musical, Sister Act, All Shook Up, The Addams Family (GTHS), Nunsense (EHS), Urinetown, Assassins (Le Chat Noir), Alexander & The Terrible….. Musical, The Blustery Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Augusta Players). He has also served as a Pit Musician (Keyboard 2), for various productions: Joseph…. Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol, Songs For A New World, Little Shop of Horrors, Legally Blonde, Into the Woods, 25th Putnam, Ragtime, Rodger’s & Hammerstein’s: Cinderella. For his first few years in the world of theatre, he could be found performing onstage for various productions with The Augusta Players and Evans High School: Joseph…. Dreamcoat (Children’s Ensemble), A Christmas Carol (Cratchit Kid/Ensemble), The King & I (Prince Chulalongkorn), Seussical (Cat in the Hat) and most recently, he appeared onstage again for The Augusta Player’s Production of Something Rotten (Bard Boy/Ensemble). In addition to his work in the theatre world, Jeremy also serves as the Music Director/Organist of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Asst. Music Director of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, and Office Administrator of Woodlawn United Methodist Church. He can also be found playing keyboard, guitar, and drums with his band “The House Band” and his brother’s band, “The Diminished” on various gigs to include: Augusta’s Arts in the Heart and Columbia County’s Relay for Life.

Lori Van Lenten (VOCAL COACH) holds a B.A. in Choral Music Education from Florida State University. In 2001, she moved to the Augusta area and immediately began teaching in the community, where she has taught, as she says, from “birth to one foot in the grave” in church, public and private school, and community organizations. She is certified in Somatic Voicework™, a vocal training method for all non-classical style singing, and holds a Master in Vocal Pedagogy for Contemporary Commercial Music and Musical Theatre Singing from Westminster Choir College at Rider University. There, she wrote FitVoice: Training for the Athletic Singer, a program designed for CCM singers and inspired by her work with Broadway artists. Lori is the Founding Artistic Director of VOCE Studios, a music education and vocal/performance arts training program, where she and other skilled teachers offer private and group lessons and a College Prep program for aspiring arts students.