Sommer Austin

Teaches at Green Shirt Studio

Sommer was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts and Political Science from The University of Iowa, an MFA degree in Acting from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is an alum of the improv and comedy writing programs at iO Chicago (formerly Improv Olympic). She is also a certified Instructor of the Meisner Approach to Acting as trained by Larry Silverberg. In addition to co-founding Green Shirt Studio, Sommer is a founding member of two non-profit companies–Chicago Ladies in Comedy (aka CLiC) and The Agency Theater Collective, where she serves as Managing Director. When not teaching, Sommer can usually be found performing on various stages throughout Chicago as an actor, improviser, stand-up comic, and storyteller. She produces, emcees and does performance art at No Shame Theatre, every Saturday night via The Agency Theater Collective. As an actor she has performed regionally at Riverside Theatre and Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival, The Iowa Playwright’s Workshop, The Zachary Scott Theatre Center, and Esther’s Follies. Chicago theatres include Red Tape Theatre, Hubris Productions, Bailiwick Theatre and The Agency Theater Collective. Stand-up comedy appearances include The Chicago Ladies in Comedy Showcase, the kates, The GoGo Show, You Are My Favorite (But Don’t Tell Your Sisters), and the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival. Sommer performed regularly as an improviser with the team The CEO of Everything at The Playground Theater in Chicago for over 5 years. She co-wrote and continues to perform the full-length rock musical, “Out of Tune Confessional,” in its many permutations with Andrew Gallant and Ryan Brankin with The Agency Theater Collective. Sommer is also an adjunct professor at Triton College where she teaches acting and theatre history. Sommer finds joy in living a vegan lifestyle and is almost as passionate about health and nutrition as she is about theatre.