LOVELY TO MEET YOU!
JILL KLOPP TURNER
Founder, Producing Artistic Director
Originally from Oklahoma City, Jill has worked professionally as an actor in both Los Angeles and Austin for over 15 years. Jill is a graduate of Upright Citizen’s Brigade Los Angeles, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma. Jill is so proud of the success of BAP’s first venture, Wonder of the World, and is honored to be part of Austin’s artistic landscape. TV: Raising Hope (FOX), Criminal Minds (CBS), My Boys (TBS), Saving Grace (TNT), Diagnosis X (TLC), Piranhas (HBO), Nikki! (Funny or Die), Buckle Up (iTunes). Film: Abducted In Plain Sight (Netflix), Teacher of the Year (Netflix), The Three Es (Amazon), Maternal Obsession (Lifetime), Something Blue (Curtis Crick Productions). Theatre: Wonder of the World (Beyond August Productions), August: Osage County (City Theatre), Chico’s Angels (Kurt Koehler Productions, LA), Laundry and Bourbon (Lost Hollywood Players, LA), Oklahoma! (Jewel Box Theatre, OKC), Lend Me a Tenor (Jewel Box Theatre, OKC).
SHANNON EMBRY
Founder, Associate Artistic Director
Shannon Embry’s stage work includes several productions with City Theatre: ANNA CATHERINE IFF as Anna Catherine, CRIMES OF THE HEART as Meg Magrath, LYSISTRATA as Kleonike, AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY as Karen Weston, FIVE LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE as Dale. With Paradox Players: LYING TO THE SEA WITCH, SAINTS SINNERS & THIEVES. FronteraFest: I AM NOT THE PERSON YOU HAVE MADE ME OUT TO BE. With Austin Musical Theatre: PETER PAN, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and GYPSY. Short film BATTLING BULLIES.
Shannon received a B. Iden Payne nomination in 2021-22 for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Comedy for WONDER OF THE WORLD. She has also been nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy and Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy by Broadway World Austin for prior work. Shannon previously served as artistic director with Austin Guerrilla Theatre as part of The Exchange Artists. She holds a business degree from UT Austin and lives in Austin with her husband and their twin teenage daughters who are also active in the Austin theatre community.
ROBYN CONNER
Founder, Associate Artistic Director
Robyn began performing in elementary school and continued through college earning her BFA in Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has been a theatre educator for 28 years and has directed over 40 school productions, as well as professionally in the Austin area. She’s also a powerhouse performer!
From Barbara in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY to Ma Joad in THE GRAPES OF WRATH, to the Neon Orange Starfish in Zilker Theatre’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, Robyn finds joy in every role.
In 2021-22, Robyn received a B. Iden Payne nomination for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Comedy for the role of Lois in WONDER OF THE WORLD. She is thrilled and honored to start this new adventure with Beyond August Productions. Robyn interprets theatre as art, passion, and family, and is grateful that Beyond August Productions warmly embodies all three.
PATRICK WHEELER
Executive Board Member, Fundraising Chair
Patrick hails from Wallingford, CT with a BFA-Acting from CCSU. Austin Shakespeare: AS YOU LIKE IT, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, THE SEAGULL. Other Austin credits include: Cyrano in CYRANO DE BERGERAC (Archive Theater), Macbeth in MACBETH (Rosedale Theatre), Hamlet in HAMLET (City Theatre), and Hunky Clueless Sleeveless Pizza Delivery Guy in the much renowned staged reading of LYSISTRATA (Austin Shakes). Patrick urges you all to Risk, Fail, Risk Again.