BroadwayWorld.com Austin Stories

Blue Lapis Light's HEAVEN~EARTH~ONE Plays Encore at Long Center, Now thru 5/26

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:30:00 PST

Heaven~Earth~One, a site-specific aerial dance work from Blue Lapis Light returns tonight, May 19th - 26th, 2013 at Long Center City Terrace.

Tonight, May 19th is Community Night with discounted ticket prices, and Tuesday, May 21st will feature Graham Reynolds and the Golden Arm Trio pre-show concert from 8:15- 8:45pm.

All performances run at the Long Center City Terrace, 701 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX, from 9 to 10 p.m. Tickets: $18 - $58; available through the Long Center Box Office: www.TheLongCenter.org or 512.474. LONG (5664). Or click HERE.

Since 2006, Blue Lapis Light has transformed prominent Austin buildings into uplifting works of beauty. Heaven-Earth-One, created specifically for the terrace at the Long Center overlooking downtown, carries the audience on a visual journey of transcendence.

Heaven-Earth-One features dancers on the outdoor terrace ring atop columns two stories high, singles and partners on aerial silks, and gifted ground dancers. Two months and a crew installing safety rigging and a zip line will allow dancers to appear descending delicately over the heads of the audience.

The beautiful Austin nighttime skyline serves as the backdrop for this mesmerizing show. Using aerial techniques informed by classical, interpretive and modern dance, Blue Lapis Light challenges physical limitations and inspires our audiences with a sense of wonder.

2012's nine-show run of Heaven~Earth~One was well-received by audiences and critics alike, selling out the weekend and final few nights. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance with your group to ensure you don't miss this unique and fleeting show.

Heaven~Earth~One follows the ongoing mission of Blue Lapis Light to create transcendent works of beauty that are offered, without religious denomination, as prayers for the planet. Heaven~Earth~One is presented in collaboration with The Long Center.

BroadwayWorld also reviewed the show recently.

For more information about Heaven~Earth~One and to view videos of past events, visit www.bluelapislight.org.

The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts (Long Center) is a world-class, sustainably built cultural centerpiece located along Lady Bird Lake with spectacular views of Austin's downtown skyline. The Long Center is Austin's iconic cultural hub and community gathering place, showcasing, inspiring and nurturing the best in professional creative expression. For more information, visit www.TheLongCenter.org.

BWW Reviews: Trouble Puppet's CRUEL CIRCUS is Cruelly Entertaining

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:38:58 PST

Hurry, hurry! Step right up! The circus has come to Austin, and it's not to be missed. Filled with imagination, whimsy, and charm, The Cruel Circus, now playing the Salvage Vanguard Theatre thru May 25th, is an absolute delight and a feast for the eyes.

The original play, written and directed by Connor Hopkins, follows a ragtag group of circus performers who were created by a mysterious tinkerer. Some of the tinkerer's creations are perfectly formed while others are oddities and inept. The newly created Bella is immediately rejected by the tinkerer and tossed to the floor below. Knowing only that she fell from the sky, Bella goes on a quest to find where she came from and to discover her purpose. Her quest eventually leads her to the tinkerer's finer creations, a group of circus performers who live for the stage.

Though Hopkins's script drips with metaphors and allegories about the creation of man, those thoughts remain in the subtext, allowing the personality of his characters to take center stage. The puppets, controlled by eight talented but "invisible" performers, are marvelously detailed and exquisitely made. Designed by Hopkins as well, each puppet has a unique look and a specific movement quality, though their blue tinted skin and a few other features make it clear that they're all part of the same family and story. From the cranky janitor to the arrogant lion tamer to the friendly and charismatic clowns, each character has personality to spare and is thoroughly engaging.

While the bizarre cast of characters sets the tone, the world they inhabit completes it. Stephen Pruitt's lighting is colorful and vibrant and the puppet costumes by Monica Gibson and Lucie Cunningham are wonderfully crafted and adorned with plenty of circus-like embellishments. The choice to use projections by Chris Owen and Annie Bradley McCall to occasionally turn Hopkins's puppet theater/circus tent set into a filthy workshop floor is a smart and interesting one, and Justin Sherburn's fantastic original score takes traditional circus oom-paa-paa and gives it a bit of Danny Elfman and Tom Waits flare.

As he serves as author, set designer, puppet designer, and director, the mind often goes back to Connor Hopkins and his numerous contributions to the work. While it's rare that an artist can wear so many hats with equal success, Hopkins does so with ease. As mentioned, his writing and design work is astonishing, and his direction is as well. Hopkins's direction has a twisted but humorous Tim Burton-esque quality to it which works in perfect synchronicity with his text and quirky characters. His decision to kick off the evening with a 20 minute pre-show featuring Cami Alys as a gritty, emotional, but darkly humorous singer who belts out songs as she plays the ukulele and a children's piano is an inspired one. As soon as Alys takes the stage, you know you're in for a strange but entertaining evening of theater.

With its peculiar characters and clear but unexpected and strange vision, The Cruel Circus is highly amusing and captivating from beginning to end. This circus is three rings of fun.

Running time: Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

THE CRUEL CIRCUS, produced by Trouble Puppet Theater Company, plays the Salvage Vanguard Theatre at 2803 East Manor Road, Austin 78722, now thru Saturday, May 25th. Performances are Thursday - Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 6pm. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 student/senior.

For tickets and information, visit http://troublepuppet.com.

Street Corner to Arts Opens GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES Tonight

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:30:00 PST

Street Corner Arts is delighted to announce for release the details of their upcoming production, GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES by Rajiv Joseph. This stunningly beautiful script will be brought to life by two of Austin's most talented actors - Benjamin Summers & Molly Karrasch. Featuring choreography by A. Skola Summers, costume design by Glenda Barnes, and video/audio design by Jim Hickcox.. Set and musical elements have been contributed by Austin's own creative community.

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES will run Thursday thru Saturday 7:30 PM tonight, May 17th - June 1st at the Museum of Human Achievement (www.themuseumofhumanachievement.org), starring MOLLY KARRASCH and BENJAMIN SUMMERS and directed by A. SKOLA SUMMERS and ROMMEL SULIT.

Over the course of 30 years, the lives of Kayleen and Doug intersect at the most bizarre intervals, leading the two childhood friends to compare scars and the physical calamities that keep drawing them together. Gruesome Playground Injuries tells a different kind of love story through sharp humor and even sharper insights into the human condition. They say love hurts, and that's what makes it worthwhile. Of course, they've never met Doug and Kayleen - some love stories are written in the scars...

Ticket pricing: Fridays and Saturdays - sliding scale $15-$25; Thursdays - sliding scale $10-$25. Students & Educators: $10. Tickets are available at www.streetcornerarts.org or by phone at (512) 298-9776.

Street Corner Arts exists to facilitate enjoyable, collaborative, and engaging stuff with our friends. Poetry or politics; trash or treasure. Open your guitar case or climb that soap box. This corner offers a collection of creative adventures.

BWW Reviews: Haves and Have Nots Square off in Last Act's HAPPY COUPLE

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:31:58 PST

No story is completely original. It's all been done before. Surely we've seen shows that involve a crumbling marriage or others that involve class struggle, but rarely are those themes seamlessly interwoven as they are in James Venhaus's daring play The Happy Couple, currently playing The White House Ranch in Austin thru May 25th. This remarkably bold production by Austin's Last Act Theater Company, while highly entertaining and at times laugh-out-loud funny, will leave you a bit uneasy, and that's precisely the point.

Venhaus's fast-paced work involves a wealthy married couple (Scot Friedman and Suzanne Balling) who visit their first home on the evening of their 10th anniversary. When they do, they discover that the home is now inhabited by a trio of squatters (Lindsay McKenna, Rob Novak, and Derek Vandi). Through their encounter with their old home and its new inhabitants, the happy couple of course realizes that their happiness may have run its course.

At the onset, it's tough to decide whether or not Venhaus intends to create a comedy or drama. Commentary on class distinction is peppered throughout, allowing one to consider the play a drama, but then there are as are some genuinely funny moments that veer the play into comedic territory (a line about how someone needs to invent "pot popcorn" to allow users to get stoned and cure their munchies at the same time is particularly memorable) followed by moments of intensity and violence that abruptly turn the show back into the dramatic realm. By the end, it's clear that Venhaus doesn't intent to create a drama or a comedy at all. He intends to create authentic, realistic characters. He wants us to consider that the best of us still have a dark side. The worst of us still have some vulnerability. Whether we're good or bad, most of us are discontented but refuse to make any choices to change our situation. The tiny silver lining to be found is that no matter how sorrowful our situation is, there's still something funny to be found, and Venhaus is able to show that complete picture in a way that never feels forced or muddled.

Needless to say, Venhaus's play is fairly complex, and the five person cast excels at dealing with Venhaus's challenging and nuanced text. Rob Novak plays it cool as Eddie, the musician among the squatters. Eddie is the only character who seems truly content with his lot in life, allowing Novak to set himself apart from the rest of the bunch. As Billy, the squatter whose moral compass is at odds with his occasional moments of explosive anger and violence, Derek Vandi effortlessly toys with us. He's tender and sweet but menacing and dangerous, constantly keeping us guessing as to what he'll do next. And as Michael, the stuffy and cowardly husband, Scot Friedman shines despite not having quite as much stage time as the rest. In his few moments in the show, Friedman creates a selfish character who equates money and professional success with happiness and fulfillment.

As strong as the men are, it's the two women who get the meat of the material to work with. Suzanne Balling shows tremendous range as Mary Elizabeth, the sweet and wholesome housewife who we quickly realize is fixated on her past and her unrealized dreams. Her performance is both hilarious and heartbreaking and is by far one of the strongest performances of the season. As her adversary, the mean-spirited squatter Angel, Lindsay McKenna is a force to be reckoned with. She's a despicable bully with no regard for the thoughts, feelings, or safety of others. Yet despite her toughness, we do see a couple brief glimpses of her vulnerability. It's clear that Angel is a wounded woman, but how she's become so calloused and evil is smartly left ambiguous by Venhaus. The fact that Angel feels entitled to money but has no desire to work for it makes her character even more interesting, especially as that's her hypocritical point of contention with housewife Mary Elizabeth. McKenna makes it clear that while Angel hates Mary Elizabeth's silver spoon syndrome, she also enviously yearns for it.

Angel seems to hate anyone who has anything that she desires. If Angel ever desired talent, she'd surely hate director Karen Alvarado. Anyone who saw Last Act's production of Doctor Faustus knows that Ms. Alvarado is a gifted actress, but she's an equally talented director as well. There's never a moment where you can see the hands of a director at work. Every moment and every character feels eerily accurate and real. Alvarado's decision to stage the play in an actual house-appropriately decorated with the squatter staples of beer, tattered found furniture, and doors made of discarded sheets-adds to the realism. Though I'm sure her direction, the fantastic cast, and Venhaus's insightful and well-developed text would succeed in a more traditional space, the choice of setting adds a bit of extra texture to the piece. The setting is dirty, raw, muggy, and intimate, thrusting the audience into this pressure cooker along with the characters.

While The Happy Couple may not be a happy, feel-good show, it's not to be missed. If all of us are as unhappy and self-serving as these characters, then the human race may be a hopeless case. Still, if work like this is any indication, there's plenty of hope for Venhaus and the Last Act Theatre Company.

NOTE: Recommended for mature audiences. Running time: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

THE HAPPY COUPLE, produced by Last Act Theatre Company, plays the White House Ranch at 3420 E Pennsylvania Ave, Austin, TX now thru May 25th. Performances are Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $12. For tickets and information, visit www.lastacttheater.com.

Pictured from left: Derek Vandi as Billy, Rob Novak as Eddie, and Lindsay McKenna as Angel. Photo by Eric Daugherty.

BWW TV Exclusive: On the Road with PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT- Episode 13!

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:08 PST

BWW is excited to spend a year on the road on the bus with the cast of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT! In Episode 13 of our On the Road series, Wade McCollum brings us along for his adventures in Austin, Texas. Check out this installment below and tune in later for more episodes as the cast journeys across the country!

Troika Entertainment and Nullarbor Productions Ltd present the international hit, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical. Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical launched its national tour on January 8 in Minneapolis, MN at the Orpheum Theatre. Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical stars Wade McCollum("Tick/Mitzi"), Scott Willis ("Bernadette") and B Ryan West ("Adam/Felicia") as the trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. Joe Hart stars as "Bob."

With over 500 dazzling 2011 Tony Award-winning costumes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical features a hit parade of over 20 dance-floor favorites including "It's Raining Men," "Finally" and "I Will Survive."

For tickets, visit: http://www.priscillaontour.com/

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Paper Chairs to Present MURDER BALLAD MURDER MYSTERY, 5/21-22

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:23:00 PST

For two nights only, paper chairs will haunt our neighborhood bar, the Long Branch Inn, with a workshop resurrection of Murder Ballad Murder Mystery on May 21 and 22, 2013.

Saddle up to the bar, sip yer whiskey and watch a host of legendary killers commit crimes riddled with ghoulish slapstick, frantic line dances, and tear-jerking ballads. This romp-through-the-swamp musical takes a stab at gutting the inner animal and spills its contents at close range.

The performances will begin at 8pm (so come early to buy a drink & grab a seat!) at Long Branch Inn, 1133 E 11th St. Austin, TX. Pay What You Can ($5 suggested). Tickets at the door. Cash only. More information at: https://www.facebook.com/events/360698917383705/362628523857411/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Murder Ballad Murder Mystery, written by Elizabeth Doss with music by Mark Stewart, will be directed by Keri Boyd and designed by Lisa Laratta.

Cast: Tom - Mark Stewart; Tom's Wife- Cami Alys; Felicity - April Perez-Moore; Sadie & the Harp- Emily Tindall Burke; Bea- Elizabeth Doss; Jay- Nigel O'Hearn; Stagger Lee- Noel Gaulin; and The Sheriff- Kelli Bland.

Martin Burke Stars in Pulitzer Prize-Winning HARVEY at Topfer Theatre Now thru 6/16

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:30:00 PST

In the first season on the Karen Kuykendall Stage in the new Topfer Theatre, ZACH Theatre presents Harvey. Previews are tonight, May 15-22, with opening set for May 23 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a reception with the stars of show. Performances continue through June 16, 2013 every Wednesday - Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Champagne Opening and Press Night is Thursday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m., and LGBT Wilde Party with pre-show mixer is Thursday, May 16.

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, Martin Burke stars as Elwood P. Dowd (played in the movie by Jimmy Stewart), a happy-go-lucky chap with a kind word for everyone he meets, especially his invisible best friend, a six-foot tall rabbit named "Harvey." When Elwood's social-climbing sister decides to have him committed, this delightful play embarks on a madcap discovery that is by turns hilarious and endearing. Maybe dreams are more important than we ever imagined.

ZACH's Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley says: "Martin Burke and the role of Elwood in HARVEY is a marriage made in heaven. Martin's charm, ability to make us see Harvey as a fully-realized 'pooka,' and gift for comedy will be a large amount of fun for all of us. Martin is joined by actress Lauren Lane, who is such a gifted interpreter of physical comedy, which makes her a natural for this project."

To order tickets call 512-476-0541 ext. 1 or visit www.zachtheatre.org. Tickets range from $25-$65. Student Rush Tickets: $18 one hour before show time (with valid ID). ZACH's full bar featuring signature cocktails and hors d'oeuvre boxes opens one hour prior to showtime and remains open for one hour post-show.

For real-time updates on ZACH Theatre news, events and happenings, visit http://www.zachtheatre.org/blog, be a fan of ZACH Theatre on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/zachtheatre, and follow ZACH on Twitter @zachtheatre http://www.twitter.com/zachtheatre.

Now Playing Onstage in Austin - Week of 5/12/2013

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

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HIT
Hyde Park Theatre (Produced by A Chick and A Dude Productions)
5/2-5/18/2013
A CHICK & A DUDE PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY REMOUNT OF AWARD-WINNING HIT AUSTIN, TEXAS-In celebration of its tenth anniversary, a chick & a dude productions is pleased to announce the remount of our very first show, HIT. by Co-Artistic Director Shanon Weaver. This award winning show will return to Hyde Park Theatre (511 W. 43rd Street,) Thursdays through Saturdays, May 2-18 at 8 PM. Tickets are sliding scale, $15-$25 ($10-$20 Thursdays.) Discount tickets are available for $10 to all Active Duty or retired Military, Fire Department, Police Department, and EMS employees, good for any night. For tickets/reservations, please visit www.achickandadude.com or email achickandadude@gmail.com. HIT. is a noir-crime family drama focused on the bonds between three hit men in a unique family unit. Contract killers Ervin and Wyatt rescue a young boy-Asher-from an abusive foster family. In Asher, the partners in crime see the heart of a killer, and decide to raise him together in their own image. Several years later, Asher strikes out on a solo career, Ervin meets an untimely end on the job, and Wyatt finds himself alone in the world. On a night that will determine their destinies, Asher and Wyatt separately accept a job to kill the same man at the same place on the same night-but the target doesn't show. As they piece together the situation, which could have dire consequences for them both, Asher and Wyatt recall the events of their lives that led them to this moment. Issues of loyalty, responsibility, violence, and alternative-family fatherhood take center stage in this award winning script. Melissa Livingston-Weaver returns to direct Tom Green (B. Iden Payne Award Nominee 2011- Best Actor, Paradise Key) as Wyatt, Garry Peters (B.I.P Award 2010-Featured Actor, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as Ervin, playwright Shanon Weaver as Asher, and Gary Livingston-Weaver (the son of the chick & the dude!) in his debut as Teen Asher. HIT. garnered three B. Iden Payne Awards for the 2002/2003 season, including Outstanding Director of a Drama (Melissa Livingston-Weaver,) Outstanding Cast Performance (Shanon Weaver, Ken Bradley, Joel Citty,) and Outstanding Original Script (Weaver.) In 2005, the show was produced as part of the prestigious New York International Fringe Festival where it was honored with an Overall Excellence Award-Cast Performance. Praise for HIT.: "... Melissa Livingston has done a fine job of creating tight and crisp scenes, and the dialogue crackles...There is very little empty space between cues and given the Mamet-esque dialogue, that's how it should be...the ending is a surprise that you don't see coming? more than worth your while to attend." -Alyssa Simon, NYTheatre.com "?Hit. hits the mark? the writing is smart and tight; the dialogue in several scenes is so much fun that it garners applause. Director Melissa Livingston shines as well, creating a great deal of suspense with a very spare set...a terrific and memorable production." -New York Times Free-lancer Hy Bender About A Chick & A Dude Productions Now in its tenth year, A Chick & A Dude Productions is an award-winning Austin theatre company. The 'chick' is Co-Artistic Director Melissa Livingston-Weaver; the 'dude' is Shanon Weaver, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Playwright. Company members include Technical Director Shawn Ferrell, Art & Media Director Dan Price, Production Manager Katy Billik and Artistic Associates T. Lynn Mikeska and Gary Livingston-Weaver. For more information, visit www.achickandadude.com. This production contains very mature themes and strong language.
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TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
Ramsey Park (Produced by Something for Nothing Theater)
5/2-5/18/2013
AUSTIN-- Shake out your picnic blanket for a night of Shakespeare under the stars. Something for Nothing Theater (S4N) brings William Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona to Ramsey Park, 4301 Rosedale Ave, Austin, TX 78756. Featuring a different adoptable guest from Austin Dog Rescue (ADR) each weekend as the incorrigible canine, Crab. Performances are Thursdays - Saturdays, May 2-4, 9-11, and 16-18, 2013 beginning at 8 p.m. All shows are free and open to the public. For information, contact Artistic Director Chelsea Bunn at s4ntheater@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/somethingfornothingtheater. Two Gentlemen of Verona deals with the somewhat foolish behavior of people in love and the challenges friends face when they fall for the same person. The play features one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedic duos, Launce and Crab the dog. To bring the role of Crab to life, S4N Theater teamed up with Austin Dog Rescue to feature a different, adoptable dog each weekend. "Something for Nothing Theater discovers its performances through the creative act of play," said Artistic Director Chelsea Bunn, "and Two Gentlemen of Verona gives us a lot to work with: two clowns, original music, disguised identity, outlaws, a dog. It's a real comic smorgasbord that is sure to delight the young and young-at-heart." ### Something for Nothing Theater was founded on the belief that Shakespeare's works, at their best, should be performed with a great deal of heart and a minimum amount of gimmick.
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PLUS MEETS MINUS
Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts
5/11-5/18/2013
Central Texas' most well-known children's theatre company, Pollyanna Theatre in Strategic Alliance with the Long Center, presents PLUS MEETS MINUS by Katherine Gee Perrone at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside, Austin, TX 78704. This delightful new play is best suited for children ages 4-7. It explores important themes and life lessons such as dealing with those who have opposite opinions and beliefs. Through engaging dialogue, visually captivating sets, costumes and professional actors, children will see characters discover the value of compromise, learning how to respect others and their feelings. Playwright Katherine Gee Perrone states, "Learning empathy and tolerance is one of the critical lessons of growing up. Intolerance is one of society's great big character flaws. So imagine if children learned this important lesson by watching others, such as characters in a play, fumble through the same challenges they face in childhood. This is the magic of theatre." The cast includes professional actors and designers including Production Designer Ia Enstera, Lighting Designer Don W. Day, Sound Design and Composer Breton Christopherson. The cast includes Gricelda Silva, Aaron Alexander, Bethany Harbaugh and Toby Minor. The production is directed by Judy Matetzschk-Campbell. In PLUS MEETS MINUS, children will follow the story of character Addy Plus, who loves to put things together into groups. The concept of 'more' for Addy, is always better. They will also meet 'Minus Takeaway' who loves nothing more than quiet, stillness, and empty space. In Minus' eyes, 'zero' is always best. Katherine Gee Perrone creates a world where these two very different characters collide. The action that naturally follows is an exploration of two very different ways of seeing the world and begs the question; how can these two very different people ever make peace? Ultimately, the play reveals much about math and human nature through the colorful world of counting. The play was originally commissioned by Pollyanna Theatre Company. "I believe that the best theatre tells a story of characters in conflict. In this respect, theatre reflects life," said Matetzschk-Campbell. "PLUS MEETS MINUS comes from two very different interests of mine. The first is putting characters on stage that have strong desires and strong impulses. The other is my desire to use theatre as a way to support the public school curriculum. PLUS MEETS MINUS is the result of these two personal interests coming together in the commissioning of one play." In addition to public performances, PLUS MEETS MINUS is also available for schools throughout Central Texas. As with all Pollyanna productions, accompanying multi-disciplinary curricula and professional development tools are also available free of charge for teachers and parents. ABOUT POLLYANNA THEATRE COMPANY: The founders of Pollyanna Theatre Company believe that theatre is a powerful teaching tool that speaks to people of all ages in a unique and powerful way through a variety of visual, aural, and emotional languages. Therefore, theatre should be a part of all general education from pre-kindergarten through adulthood. Toward that end, The Pollyanna Theatre Company strives to work alongside educators to inspire, motivate, and teach audiences of all ages. Although the company's primary focus is upon young audience members, the ensemble performs top quality theatrical productions that speak to and illuminate the human spirit and condition for all ages. www.pollyannatheatrecompany.org
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THE HAPPY COUPLE
The White House Ranch (Produced by Last Act Theatre)
5/8-5/25/2013
The Happy Couple: an original play by James Venhaus To celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, Michael and Mary Elizabeth visit the first house they lived in together. Their visit takes an unexpected turn when they discover a group of squatters living in the house. Last Act Theatre Company is proud to present this moving story about what happens when circumstances force people to face the reality of their situations. See what truths bubble to the surface when two different worlds collide!
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CRUEL CIRCUS
Salvage Vanguard Theater
5/9-5/25/2013
WHO: Trouble Puppet Theater Co. WHAT: The Cruel Circus: A Trouble Puppet Show WHEN: May 9-May 25, 2013 (8pm Thursdays - Saturdays, 6pm Sundays.) WHERE: Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78722 COST: $10-$20 at http:// www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/357100 or at the door MEDIA: For interviews, high-res publicity photos, press comps, and details, contact Producing Partner Kathryn Rogers: 512-573-2540;kathryn@troublepuppet.com PUBLISHABLE CONTACT INFO: kathryn@troublepuppet.com; 512-573-2540; www.troublepuppet.com. Trouble Puppet Theater Co. presents The Cruel Circus, an original play by Connor Hopkins. A mysterious tinkerer brings to life an entire world of strange circus performers - some polished and complete, some clumsy and misshapen - then disappears, leaving them to make sense of who they are and what they are made for. A new work of dark whimsy from the company who brought Austin award-winning productions of The Jungle, Frankenstein, Riddley Walker,and most recently, Toil & Trouble. Trouble Puppet deploys bunraku-style tabletop puppets to create graceful, lifelike, compelling drama for adults. Arrive early for preshow music by Cami Alys. Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/357100 Written and directed by Artistic Director Connor Hopkins (winner of B. Iden Payne Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Drama as well as Outstanding Original Script and The Austin Examiner's Best New Play Written by an Austinite), The Cruel Circus features music by Justin Sherburn, lighting by Stephen Pruitt, sound design by K. Eliot Haynes and Bernard Klinke, costume design by Monica Gibson, and imagery by Chris Owen. The show features performances by Zac Crofford, Travis Bedard, Seth White, Rob Jacques, Jose Villarreal, Gricelda Silva, Ellie McBride, Caroline Reck, and Brock England. Group sales welcome. Director/cast talkbacks available for groups of five or more. ASL interpretation available selected nights. Made for adults. Children 10 and up, accompanied by adults, are welcome. Trouble Puppet Theater Company: Founded in 2004, Trouble Puppet is dedicated to the creation of exceptional works of puppet theater, to the promotion of the art of puppetry, and to the support of its practitioners. We dig as deeply as we can into the possibilities that puppetry offers, in its many forms and styles, and seek to balance risk and exploration with a drive for excellent craft and technique. Our work is inspired not only by our artistic passion but by our social, political, and human convictions: that there can be no end to the struggle for knowledge and compassion, against injustice and intolerance. Trouble Puppet is a sponsored project of Salvage Vanguard Theater and is supported by The Jim Henson Foundation, the City of Austin, and individual donors. The Cruel Circus is underwritten in part by Joel and Dina Sherzer and Amy Miller. This project is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division, believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin's future. Visit Austin atNowPlayingAustin.com. Salvage Vanguard Theater is a hub for Austin artists, audiences, and arts organizations. SVT creates and presents transformative, high-quality artistic experiences that foster experimentation and conversation.
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NOISES OFF
Austin Playhouse at Highland Mall
4/26-5/26/2013
Austin Playhouse continues their 2012-2013 Season with Noises Off by Michael Frayn. AUSTIN, Texas-Enjoyed by millions of people worldwide since it premiered in 1982 and hailed as one of the greatest comedies ever written, this award-winning backstage farce serves up a riotous double bill - a play within a play. Hurtling along at breakneck speed it follows the backstage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through troubled rehearsals, a dreadful first night, and a disastrous final performance. In his plot for Noises Off, Frayn plays on the concept of a play within a play, in this case a dreadful sex-farce titled Nothing On. Each of the three acts of Noises Off contains a performance of the first act of Nothing On. Act One is set at the final dress rehearsal, with the cast still fumbling with entrances and exits, missed cues, misspoken lines, and bothersome props, most notably several plates of sardines. Act Two portrays a Wednesday matinee performance one month later. In this act, the play is seen from backstage, providing a view that reveals the deteriorating personal relationships among the cast. In Act Three, we see a performance near the end of the ten-week run, when personal friction has continued to increase. The actors attempt to cover up a series of mishaps but only compound the problems. Starring David Stahl as Lloyd, Bernadette Nason as Dotty, David Stokey* as Garry, Huck Huckaby as Frederick, Kimberly Barrow as Brooke, Hildreth England as Belinda, Tom Parker as Selsdon, Zach Thompson as Tim, and Jessica Hughes as Poppy. *Brian Coughlin will perform the role of Garry May 17 - 19. Noises Off will be produced in Austin Playhouse's temporary space at Highland Mall. The South Entrance (by the IBC bank) is closest to the theatre. Proceed down the escalator and turn right. Austin Playhouse will be on your right by the water feature. Detailed directions are available on our website: http://austinplayhouse.com/season/tempfac.html Production Team Direction by Don Toner, costume design by Diana Huckaby, set design by Patrick Crowley, lighting design by Don Day, and sound design by The Gunn Bros. Austin Playhouse Austin Playhouse is a professional theatre currently performing its 13th season. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Don Toner and Associate Artistic Director Lara Toner, Austin Playhouse has grown from a three-play season on the campus of Concordia University, to a year-round operation producing an average of eight plays a year. Austin Playhouse is currently building its own two-performance venue space in the heart of the new Mueller Redevelopment Town Center, adjacent to the new Austin Children's Museum.
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THE WINTER'S TALE
Zilker Hillside Theatre in Zilker Park (Produced by Austin Shakespeare)
5/2-5/26/2013
Culminating its 29th Season, Austin Shakespeare presents Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, May 2-26, 2013, FREE to the public at the Zilker Hillside Theatre in Zilker Park, 2201 Barton Springs Road. This dark romance, fueled by the contrast between jealousy and joy, will be set in Latin America, staged with tango (choreographed by Gustavo Semplis of Esquina Tango) and will culminate in a Brazilian Carnaval with dancers and drummers from Austin Samba. Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella says, "The Winter's Tale is Shakespeare's Romance: it's filled with wonder from beginning to end. I have long wanted to use tango and Argentinean music in our show and in Winter's Tale the spirit of passion and romance is strong. The delightful spirit of the second half of the play in spring festival calls for the joy of Brazilian Carnival." The Winter's Tale is a fairy tale story of King Leontes, who becomes insanely jealous of his wife and best friend. In part two, the tale transforms into a comic country carnival with clowns and tricksters. The production stars Michael Miller ("Mr. Darcy" in Pride & Prejudice) as the Argentinean King and Nancy Eyermann ("Princess of France" in Love's Labour's Lost) as "Hermione," his queen. Other Austin Shakespeare alumni appearances: Ben Wolfe as Polixenes ("Friar" in Romeo and Juliet); Keith Paxton as Florizel ("Mr. Bingley" in Pride & Prejudice); Sam Grimes as Camillo (Mr. Bennet in Pride & Prejudice); Nick Kier as Clown (Col. Fitzwilliam in Pride & Prejudice); Nathan Brockett as Cleomenes (Romeo and Juliet); Ben McLemore as Dion (Design for Living); Devin Finn as Shepherd (Mr. Wickham, Pride & Prejudice); Sue Breland as Dorcas (Lady Lucas, Pride & Prejudice); and Alison Stebbins as Mopsa (Player Queen, Hamlet). Three of the best actors in the Austin area make first time Austin Shakespeare appearances: Amy Downing (ZACH) as Paulina; Amanda Morish (UT/MFA grad) as Perdita; Nick Lawson (Alabama Shakespeare Company actor, now instructor at Texas State) as the comic, Autolycus. The Winter's Tale creative team has a similar mixture of Austin Shakes alums and newcomers: Jason Amato (resident light designer); Haydee Antunano (costumes Pride & Prejudice, Design for Living); and new to Austin Shakespeare, Christopher Sousa-Wynn (asst. prof. scenic design, Texas State). Austin dance companies Esquina Tango and Austin Samba, co-collaborators on the production will invite the audience to learn some dance moves before the show. The samba lessons will take place on Saturdays, May 4, 11, 18 & 25 with Rob Patterson and Kaitlyn Jolly of Austin Samba and tango lessons will be held with Gustavo Semplis of Esquina Tango on Fridays May 11 & 24 and Sundays May 12, 15, 19.
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MAD BEAT HIP & GONE
ZACH's Topfer Theatre
4/3-5/28/2013
Steven Dietz, the most-produced playwright in America who also calls Austin home, is creating this World Premiere specifically for ZACH's first season in the Topfer. In the late 40's and early 50's, Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady famously went "on the road." But what about Danny Fergus and Rich Rayburn -- the young guys in the car right behind Jack and Neal, the guys whose history never ended up in books? What were these kids searching for in those "mad days" of "gone kids" trying so hard to be hip? With live jazz and exuberant theatricality, this valentine to American wanderlust chronicles our rich and elusive dreams.
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THE SECRET GARDEN/YELLOW BOAT
Sam Bass Community Theatre
5/10-6/1/2013
The Yellow Boat is a glorious affirmation of a child's life and the strength and courage of all children. David and Sonja Saar's son, Benjamin, was a uniquely gifted visual artist. Benjamin's buoyant imagination transformed his physical and emotional pain into a blaze of colors and shapes in his fanciful drawings and paintings. An enchanting classic, The Secret Garden, is the story of 11 year old orphan Mary Lennox who returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate's wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children in this compelling tale of forgiveness.
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12 ANGRY MEN
The City Theatre
5/16-6/9/2013
One man will make a difference in Reginald Rose's classic courtroom drama TWELVE ANGRY MEN Coming to Austin's City Theatre May 16 - June 9 Just one vote stands between the guilt and innocence of a young man. That's the suspenseful puzzle of intrigue and courage at play in the City Theatre's summer season opener Twelve Angry Men, a riveting courtroom drama about the effect one voice can have on a jury. The show runs May 16 through June 9, 2013. "This man has been standing alone against us. It's not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of others. He gambled for support - and I gave it to him." - Juror 9 Audiences are getting fired about Twelve Angry Men, and the verdict is in: This is "one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made." The powerful play has been a celebrated TV drama, an Oscar-winning film, starring Henry Fonda, and most recently, a hit Broadway revival. It is the gripping examination of twelve jurors as they deliberate after hearing the arguments in a seemingly open-and-shut case. As prejudices are tested and evidence weighed, the entire jury is forced to look past the show of the courtroom to unearth the shocking truth. Faced with playing the hangmen, these dozen men must first face themselves. The production set in 1950s post-war American not only examines the principles of justice but also the courage in standing up for what you believe in and the belief in our modern society that a person is innocent until proven guilty. "It's always difficult to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this. And wherever you run into it, prejudice always obscures the truth." - Juror 8 "Twelve Angry Men invites the audience to take a hard-hitting look at the judicial process, and to do it with honesty, compassion and courage," mentions Artistic Director, Andy Berkovsky. "This timeless masterpiece with its incredible writing and the talented cast of actors we have assembled should culminate into a tremendous night of theatre that we are excited to share with audiences!" And the City Theatre has assembled an outstanding ensemble for the production including Rick Smith, Brian Miller, Rick Felkins, Jeff Patterson, Rob Mora, Michael Rains, Andy Brown, Jim Lindsay, John Meadows, Freddy Carnes, Kirk Miller, Johnny Stewart and Dave Westenbarger. The play is directed by guest director Karen Sneed who led the successful City Theatre productions The Imaginary Invalid and Medea. City Theatre Company is an Austin-based not for profit arts organization and is sponsored in part by the Austin Creative Alliance and the Austin Cultural Arts Division. Founded in 2006, the company has been recognized by the Austin Critics Table Awards, the B. Iden Payne Awards and is twice voted "Best Theatre Company" by Austin-American Statesman's Austin 360. CTC is dedicated in providing quality theatre experience and entertainment for Austin artist's and its community. SHOW INFORMATION AT A GLANCE TWELVE ANGRY MEN May 16 - June 9. Thursday - Saturday 8:00 p.m. Sunday 5:30 p.m. The City Theatre. 3823 Airport Blvd. 78757 - east corner of Airport Blvd. and 38 ½ Street. General Seating $15. Guaranteed Front/2nd Row Reserved $25. Students $12. Thursday all seats $10. Group discounts are available. Reservations 512-524-2870 or info@citytheatreaustin.org www.citytheatreaustin.org
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THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
The Palace Theater
5/17-6/16/2013
Filled with frisky flappers, dashing leading men, and a dragon-lady of a villainess, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a perfectly constructed evening of madcap merriment. It is New York City in 1922. Young Millie Dillmount has just moved to the city in search of a new life for herself. It's a New York full of intrigue and jazz - a time when women were entering the workforce and the rules of love and social behavior were changing forever. Based on the 1967 motion picture that starred Julie Andrews.
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HARVEY
ZACH's Topfer Theatre
5/15-6/16/2013
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy "Austin's favorite actor" (The Austin Chronicle), Martin Burke stars as Elwood P. Dowd, a happy-go-lucky chap with a kind word for everyone he meets, especially his invisible best friend, a six-foot tall rabbit named "Harvey." When Elwood's social-climbing sister decides to have him committed, this delightful play embarks on a madcap discovery that is by turns hilarious and endearing. Maybe our dreams are more important than we ever imagined.
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HARVEY
ZACH Theatre
5/15-6/16/2013
Karen Kuykendall Stage: - Mary Chase; dir: Dave Steakley.
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Street Corner to Arts to Open GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, 5/17

Fri, 10 May 2013 21:41:09 PST

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES will run Thursday thru Saturday 7:30 PM May 17th - June 1st at the Museum of Human Achievement (www.themuseumofhumanachievement.org), starring MOLLY KARRASCH and BENJAMIN SUMMERS and directed by A. SKOLA SUMMERS and ROMMEL SULIT.

BWW Reviews: PRISCILLA Is Anything But a Drag

Thu, 09 May 2013 17:14:29 PST

I never thought I'd see the day where a bus and truck company would actually put their bus on stage. The national tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert is here to delight Austin audiences through May 12th, and there must be a RuPaul's Drag Race contestant somewhere out there who is completely out of glitter and sequins. This is one production that does everything it can to entertain and please the audience. Though it may be light on plot (at times It makes Mamma Mia look like Les Miserables), the lavishly flamboyant look and feel more than make up for any shortcomings. Priscilla is a campy, overblown, over the top, jeweled showgirl of a musical. Even Cher might suggest that the show could tone it down a bit. She'd be wrong. The zanier the show gets, the more the audience eats it up.

The Aussie import with a book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and direction by Simon Philips (based upon the Broadway direction by David Hyslop) closely follows the plot of the cult classic film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The show is above all else a jukebox musical about three drag queen friends traversing the Australian outback in a pink bus dubbed Priscilla. Though Elliott and Scott's script is full of funny one-liners and sight gags, it's a bit light on character development. Though the film is equally amusing, it also succeeds at finding universal, relatable qualities in the three leads and therefore makes the point that gays and drag queens are no different than anyone else. The stage version rarely even makes such an attempt. Instead, the book focuses on what makes these characters different, unique, and dare I say fabulous as it simultaneously tries to squeeze in over 20 pop and disco hits. While there are moments where it would be nice to see a bit more thoughtful treatment of the characters, the choice to instead play up the camp and fun is an understandable one that pays off tremendously.

While the character development may be lacking, the three leads work wonders with what they've got, and the fact that all three possess incredible singing voices is just icing on the glittery cake. Scott Willis plays Bernadette, the transgendered former showgirl, with a classy air and a strong dose of sardonic wit. As Adam, the arrogant, pretty one of the bunch, B Ryan West is a thrill to watch. The boy's got a set of pipes and, like his character, seems to relish in being the center of attention. His take on Madonna's "Material Girl" is an early showstopper of the evening. And as Tick, the ringleader of the group, Wade McCollum is fantastic. In the film, Tick (played by Hugo Weaving) comes off a bit quiet, dull, and wooden, allowing the character to get quickly and easily overshadowed by his companions. But McCollum's Tick is instead a commanding and likeable presence with personality to spare. His animated performance during "McArthur Park" brings down the house, and unlike Weaving, McCollum is gorgeous both in and out of drag.

The star quality of the cast extends to the ensemble as well. This has to be one of the most enthusiastic, lively, and attractive touring companies on the road. They're all stellar performers, particularly those who get cameo roles like Babs Rubenstein as a drunken homophobe and Chelsea Zeno as a woman who knows an unconventional way to use ping pong balls. The trio of divas (Emily Afton, Bre Jackson, and Brit West) who belt out disco hits while suspended over the action are also a treat to watch, and the orchestra led by Brent Frederick is absolutely brilliant.

As is fitting of a show about drag queens, the creative team clearly cares about showcasing a feast for the eyes. Though most of the set by Brian Thomson is a bit on the flat side, it's serviceable and really makes the bus pop. Thomson's bus, a large, spinning, LED-light covered behemoth, is the crowning achievement of his set design. The lighting by Nick Schlieper and Jonathan Spencer is full of life, color, and energy. And the costumes, by Tim Chappell and Lizzy Gardiner (the same team behind the film's Oscar winning costumes) are outrageous and imaginative. From drag Muppets to a dress made out of flip flops to gigantic cupcakes to gowns inspired by both Marie Antoinette and the Sydney Opera House, each costume is better, bigger, and bolder than the last.

The only weak link on the team is choreographer Ross Coleman. Though the design work is incredibly detailed and complex, Coleman's choreography is, with a few exceptions, fairly drab and pedestrian. Granted, dancing in gigantic heels and excessively opulent costumes is tough, but it is possible. If you don't think so, do a YouTube search for videos of Cher, Beyonce, or either revival of La Cage Aux Folles. There's really no excuse for the overuse of Zigfield struts, box steps, and grape vines.

Though its book and choreography leave a bit to be desired, overall Priscilla is a polished, sparkling gem of a show. What it lacks in emotional depth is more than made up for in spectacle, and I'd be surprised if audience members don't immediately dust off their Donna Summer albums upon returning home. This Priscilla is a Queen well deserving of her crown.

NOTE: Recommended for mature audiences.

Running time: 2 hours and 35 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT plays Bass Concert Hall at 2350 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin, TX 78712 now thru May 12th. Performances are 8pm Wednesday thru Saturday and 7pm Sunday with matinee performances at 2pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday. Tickets are $30-$83. For tickets and information, please visit austin.broadway.com