How The Summer University Theatre Experience Began And The Team Behind It!
In 2010, Susan started and registered her coaching business: College Audition Pro (CAP) which is the roots from which SUTE was created! In 2011, Susan began offering monthly Masterclasses for her Musical Theatre students. These MT Masterclasses were taught by the top faculty at Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan, Pace, and Texas State. After 4 years of monthly Masterclasses, Susan knew she needed to offer the same opportunities to her Acting students and in 2015 The Summer University Theatre Experience was created.
SUTE began in San Francisco as a means of introducing CAP’s West Coast students to the top Theatre Faculty across the US. As the reputation of the program rapidly grew, and more students wanted to be a part of it, SUTE began using the GetAccept'd platform in 2017 to audition students outside of their CAP program. More days were added and more top Faculty were invited to teach. During the pandemic, SUTE and CAP went virtual and national, and in 2022 SUTE moved to the LMU campus, to offer housing to many more talented out of state students.
Now, in 2025, we celebrate 15 years of coaching college bound theatre students on their college auditions and 10 years of our amazing summer program! We are so proud of the successes our students have had!
Susan Woodell-Mascall
Over the last 15 years Susan has worked with over 600 students on their College Auditions. Her students have been accepted to the top programs in the USA and abroad including Juilliard, Carnegie Mellon, University of Michigan, USC, UCLA, NYU, Pace, CCM, Syracuse Texas State, and many, many more. Her daughter, Keelin, and her son, Colin Woodell are both working actors in Los Angeles, graduating with their BFA’s in Acting from USC. Colin most currently is one of the lead roles, Xander Phillips, in The Pulse on Netflix. For over a decade Susan served on the Young Conservatory Council at The American Conservatory Theater. Susan has produced, directed and choreographed shows in the San Francisco Bay Area and has taught Audition Workshops at ACT, Young Actors Theatre Camp and High Schools throughout California. Susan began her theatre training at The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She continued her studies at UCSC and UCI and received her BA in Theatre Arts. She earned her 3-year post-graduate degree from Central School of Speech and Drama (formerly Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art) in London. Susan is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA.
Keelin Woodell-Thompson
Keelin is a working actress in Los Angeles and has been part of the CAP team since 2012. She graduated with her BFA in Acting from the University of Southern California. While Keelin attended USC, she received Academic Honors, the Jack Nicholson Outstanding Actress Award, and the Robert Redford Engaged Artist Award.
Keelin began her training at the American Conservatory Theatre at the age of 8 and was cast in the Geary Theater Main Stage production of A Christmas Carol in 2000 and 2001. She also appeared in many ACT Young Conservatory Theater productions over the 8 years she studied there, including two world premiers.
Keelin has appeared in commercials, television and film including The Bye Bye Man, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Criminal Minds, CSI Miami and XOXO. Keelin is a proud member of Actors Equity and SAG/AFTRA.
The Students Of The Summer University Theatre Experience
SUTE 2024
Our 9th Year And Our 3rd Year On The Beautiful LMU Campus In Los Angeles. 22 Faculty, 13 Days Long And 2 Groups of MT, 1 Group Of SUTE UP MT For Rising Sophomores and Juniors, And 3 Groups Acting.
SUTE 2015 - Our 1st Year At The Exit Theatre In San Francisco. 12 Faculty, 9 Days Long & 1 Group of MT And Acting.
SUTE 2016 Our Second Year At the Exit Theatre in San Francisco. 15 Faculty, 12 Days Long & 1 Group of MT and Acting.
SUTE 2017 Our Third Year At the Exit Theatre in San Francisco. 18 Faculty, 12 Days Long & 1 Group of MT and Acting.
SUTE 2018 Our 4th Year And We Move To The Piano Fight Theatre In San Francisco. 18 Faculty, 12 Days Long & 1 Group of MT and Acting.
SUTE 2021 Our 7th Year And We Remain Virtual. 18 Faculty, 12 Days Long & 2 Groups of MT and Acting.
SUTE 2019 Our 4th Year And We Continue In The Piano Fight Theatre In San Francisco. 18 Faculty, 12 Days Long & 1 Group of MT and Acting.
SUTE 2022 Our 7th Year. We Move To The LMU Campus In Los Angeles. 22 Faculty, 13 Days Long & 2 Groups of MT and Acting.
SUTE 2020 Our 6th Year. How To Handle The Pandemic! Virtual Faculty Meeting Discussing The Challenges And SUTE Goes Virtual!
SUTE 2023 Our 8th Year. LMU, 22 Faculty, 13 Days, 2 Groups of MT, 3 Groups Of Acting. SUTE UP MT Track For Rising Juniors is launched!