About.

Built in 2001, the Burdine Johnson Theatre holds approximately 250 audience members. 
OUR MISSION: To provide a safe space for all students to create art for our community.
 
We produce a FALL PLAY, FALL MUSICAL, ACTING SHOWCASE, BROADWAY IN BUDA REVUE, UIL ONE-ACT PLAY, STUDENT DIRECTED ONE-ACT PLAY COMPETITION, AND a SPRING CHILDREN'S MUSICAL. We also perform at local nursing and rehab centers for the elderly.
We're excited about our newest program: ADAPTIVE MUSICAL REVIEW starring our students with special needs and their supportive peers.

 In the summer we host a KIDS CAMP for 25-50 children from Buda, Kyle & Austin.
MEET THE DIRECTORS

Theatre Director - Lory "Stewy" Stewart

Mrs. Stewart has a BFA in Theatre Studies from UT Austin and has been directing and teaching since 1993 (Theatre, Speech, Debate and Interpretation/Competitive Acting). She joined Hays Legacy Players in 2018. An author and public speaker since 2010, she has spoken to over 5,000 teens, parents & counselors about Teen Dating Violence and has been directing musicals with Special Needs Adults since 2004. The director of Actors Anonymous Theatre of Company since its 1997 inception, AATC has donated over $25,000 to various charities (www.TheDramaQueens.com). She created our new HHS Theatre class, Adaptive Musical Theatre with Supportive Peers, for ALL Hays HS students with Special Needs. Stewy is a Double Diamond Coach in the National Speech and Debate Association and has coached many State Champions, as well as State and National finalists. Hays High School Fine Arts Department Chair, she has been a Teacher of the Year finalist multiple times. She received the Texas UIL Sponsor of Excellence in 2021. In 2023 she received the Texas Thespian Golden Apple Award, established to honor those adults who have 10 or more years of service by dedicating themselves to promoting Texas educational theatre. Married to her college sweetheart, she also has two talented jazz musician/composer/actor/singer sons, Trevor & Tristan, in Chicago.

Theatre Director - Zach DeSutter

Tech Director Zach DeSutter joined the team in 2022. He graduated from the University of West Georgia with a BA in Theatre. Since college, he has stayed very active in the world of theatre and performance. In his community, Mr. D performs, produces, writes, and directs original content for stage and film in Austin, Texas. He can often be found on stage performing improv comedy at Coldtowne theatre. The films he’s worked on have played in film festivals nationally, internationally, and locally at the Alamo Drafthouse and Austin Film Society. His official directorial debut as a short filmmaker will be premiering summer 2025 (he made a monster movie!) Zach is a published playwright with his plays performed in regional play festivals. He’s also a world record breaker (seriously, ask him about it). Mr D is so excited for the chance to teach his passion and to continue our after-school improv comedy troupe at Hays HS! He loves seeing every movie that is out in theaters, spending time with his wife, staying active, getting out in nature, and going to HEB.

2024-2025 Hays Legacy Players - Thespian Officers 3

  • ​President - Annie Mawson SENIOR
  • Vice-President - Hanna Bergmann JUNIOR
  • Secretary - Alegria Cole JUNIOR
  • Historian - Abbie Marcionetti SENIOR