How to see 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Legally Blonde,' 'Little Mermaid' and more in Austin

Just as summer seems the right time for action movies from Hollywood, the hot months are made for carefree Broadway comedies and musicals in the theater scene.

Caveat: One Austin exception to this seasonal rule, Zach Theatre's thought-provoking epic, "The Lehman Trilogy," continues through Sunday at the Topfer.

If you want buoyant singing, dancing and bantering, however, we've got the stage musicals for you. Many of the performers are past winners of the Heller Awards, which recognize outstanding artistry from area high school musicals.

As a reminder, back in April, more than 500 students from 37 schools were honored with prizes and scholarships. Jamias Hughes from Lockhart High School and Ava Moak from Round Rock High School were chosen to represent Austin at the Jimmy Awards on Broadway, which took place in June.

More:What to know about seeing summer musicals 'Grease,' 'Matilda,' 'Wizard of Oz' in Austin

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The award for best Central Texas show went to Round Rock's "Sweeney Todd." Along with Moak and Hughes, laureled individual performers included Chanse Solis (Vista Ridge), Autry Bushon (Rouse), Samuel Ferreira (Hutto) and Wyatt Gonzalez (Bastrop).

See if you can spot them onstage in these upcoming youth-centric shows.

Place your bets on 'Guys and Dolls'

For the 20th anniversary of Summer Stock Austin — produced by Impact Arts in partnership with Texas Performing Arts — team captain Ginger Morris chose a classic for her young performers, many of them alumni of the program. This 1950 musical was based on the humorous short stories of Damon Runyon, adapted by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, with immortal songs by Frank Loesser. Never were New York City's gamblers, street missionaries and show girls made more endearingly glamorous. Good news: The show is bulletproof. It has worked every single time I've seen it.

More:Summer Stock Austin takes on an updated ‘Annie Get Your Gun’

When: Various times Aug. 2-Aug. 11. Where: McCullough Theatre, UT campus. Tickets: Start at $45. Info:impactarts.org

Head back to law school with 'Legally Blonde'

Folks are celebrating the 65th anniversary of free Zilker Hillside Musicals, but the tradition of gathering to catch free-of-cost entertainment — or any cool breezes that pass through Zilker Park — goes back to the 1930s. Amanda Brown's novel about a seemingly typical sorority girl who surprises everybody with her legal achievements was turned into a priceless 2001 movie that starred Reese Witherspoon. The 2007 Broadway transfer, "Legally Blonde: The Musical," with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and dialogue by Heather Hach, earned a decent share of respect from critics, as well as seven Tony Award nods. Like its protagonist, the musical endures and has been delighting audiences ever since.

More:Everything you need to know about seeing 'Newsies' this summer at Zilker

When: July 12-Aug. 17. Where: Zilker Hillside Theater. Tickets: Free (donations requested at intermission). Info: zilker.org

Note: There are several stagings of "Legally Blonde" in the area this summer. Before press time, I was alerted to this one from the Wimberley Players.

When: July 12-Aug. 4. Where: 450 Old Kyle Road, Wimberley. Tickets: Start at $22. Info: wimberleyplayers.org

A trip to the bottom of the sea with 'The Little Mermaid'

One of Disney's animation comebacks, "The Little Mermaid" proved in 1989 that the studio still had some tricks up its sleeve. Due in large part to the magical music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, the movie was able to reinvent Christian Andersen's 1837 tale. Just as the story about a mermaid who falls for a human revived Disney's cartoon fortunes, the stage musical, which altered many of the film's features, helped its theatrical wing conquer the Great White Way in 2008. You can surmise a lot about my age — and my lack of offspring — by the fact that I've never seen the whole show, despite the periodic influence of 22 nieces and nephews. This Summer Stock Austin staging might change all that.

More:All rise for Austin high school musicals!

When: Various times July 27-Aug. 11. Where: McCullough Theatre, UT campus. Tickets: Start at $45. Info:impactarts.org

One singularly sensational night for Summer Stock Austin

When you turn 20, you get a party. That's the thought behind "20 Seasons Spectacular," a one-night-only show that blends current and alumni performers for songs, dances and anniversary tributes. Leading the event is Vincent Jamal Hooper, a Summer Stock alumnus who is currently playing Simba on Broadway in "The Lion King" and has toured extensively in "Hamilton." Returning stars include Matt Kennedy, Sara Burke, David Peña, Mariel Ardilla and more. My only question: With that much talent on the stage, how will their fans fit into the McCullough Theatre, which seats only 400 guests?

When: 6 p.m. July 20. Where: McCullough Theatre, UT campus. Tickets: Start at $75. Info:impactarts.org