• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

LBJ Goes All the Way at Zach Theatre

April 14, 2015 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Steve Vinovich Plays LBJ in All the Way

Steve Vinovich gives an impassioned speech as LBJ in All the Way at Zach Theatre

Imagine if you had eleven months to be president. What would you do? Would you seize the opportunity and make sweeping changes or lay back in the hopes of nabbing another four years?

That’s the problem Lyndon B. Johnson faced when he was thrust into the presidency in the wake of JFK’s assassination. All the Way, a Tony award winning play opening at Zach Theatre on April 16, 2015, examines LBJ’s early career with a dynamite cast and spot on direction. A definite must-see.

Rocky First Year

All The Way is the story of LBJ’s first eleven months in the Oval Office. If following in the tragic footsteps of the most popular president since Roosevelt isn’t enough, the Texas Hill Country native finds himself at the helm of a country ready to tear itself apart.

Throughout the play, we watch LBJ argue civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., fight for a second term and keep his party together. While the story is heavy on the politics, some of which gets muddled in the web of a huge ensemble cast, the themes stay true. It’s often tough to do what’s right, especially when you need to do what’s wrong.

Powerful Performances

Primarily a character study, the performances do justice to the already excellent script. In the role of LBJ, Steve Vinovich shines as the prickly Hill Country native. Despite his loud, crass behavior, Vinovich injects the character with equal parts wit and empathy. In particular, his soliloquies are both heart breaking and hilarious.

Yes, you read that right. Vinovich is uproariously funny. A Texan through and through, the script gives LBJ plenty of chances to get all Lone Star state with various senators, judges and politicians.

Melvin Abston as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in All the Way

Melvin Abston holds court as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in All the Way

The supporting cast is also exceptional. Stand outs include Michel Miller as Hubert Humphrey, Johnson’s jittery yet good natured right hand man, and Melvin Abston’s incredible portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The cast members, most of whom play multiple characters, give the production life and energy.

More Than Big Personalities

Lyndon Baines Johnson in All the Way Production

Yee-haw, LBJ!

With its backbone firmly nestled in American history, you may be nervous the production is more a high school filmstrip than entertaining drama. In two words, don’t worry. Thanks to a dynamite script and deft direction, All The Way brims with energy and charisma.

There are also deep themes running throughout the play. LBJ’s underlying story is one of constant struggle. Does he follow his heart and support civil rights, or tow the party line? The answers are never cut and dry. There are also undercurrents of obsession and anger in LBJ’s personality. It’s a complex but fascinating setup.

Well Worth Going All the Way

Tossed into a maelstrom of political upheaval, LBJ had a brutal first year of presidential reign. In All The Way, we get a funny, irreverent and deeply human look into the perils of running a country in the shadow of a great leader.

Full of excellent acting, spot on wit and personality to spare, this 2014 Tony winner for “Best Play” is done justice by the Zach Theatre company. Feel free to go the distance with All The Way.

The ZACH Theatre is located at 1510 Toomey Road. For schedules, tickets and all other info, visit ZachTheatre.org. The show runs through May 10, 2015.

 

@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:

What productions are you looking forward to seeing at Zach Theatre this season?

 

All images courtesy of ZACH Theatre and Kirk Tuck.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Theatre Tagged With: zach theatre

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Easter Egg Hunt Austin 2023 - 10 Free events & activities for kids near you

Easter Egg Hunt Austin 2023 – Events & activities for kids and toddlers near you

Austin is getting ready for a hopping good time with Easter Egg Hunt Austin 2023 and plenty more Easter Sunday events & activities for kids and toddlers! Austin Easter egg hunt events are always fun and colorful. It involves a lot of prizes, picnics and food, and a wide range of activities, from face painting […]

Things to do with kids in Austin this weekend of March 24 | Easter Egg Hunts

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of March 24, 2023 include Easter Egg Hunts, The Peking Acrobats, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of March 24, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Easter Egg Hunts, The Peking Acrobats Featuring the Shanghai Circus, Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie, and […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend of March 24 | Water Lantern Festival

11 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of March 24, 2023 include Water Lantern Festival, NASCAR at COTA, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of March 24 which include Water Lantern Festival, NASCAR at COTA, Southern Heights 5k Beer Run, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. Deal Alert […]

Things to do in Austin this week of March 20 | Gel Blaster Play Day '23

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of March 20, 2023 include Gel Blaster Play Day ’23, Yamato: Drummers of Japan, and more!

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of March 20, 2023, include Gel Blaster Play Day ’23, Yamato: Drummers of Japan, Vincent by the Penfold Theatre Company, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days […]

St Patrick's Day Austin

St Patrick’s Day Austin 2023 – Best pub crawls, events, parties, specials, & more!

Get ready to celebrate the luck of the Irish with St Patrick’s Day Austin 2023! If you are looking for ways to celebrate Austin St Patrick’s Day 2023 and find yourself searching online for “St Patricks Day Austin,” “St Patrick’s Day 2023 Austin,” or “St Patrick’s Day events Austin,” we got you covered! We’ve come […]

Recent Posts

  • Easter Egg Hunt Austin 2023 – Events & activities for kids and toddlers near you
  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of March 24, 2023 include Easter Egg Hunts, The Peking Acrobats, and more!
  • 11 Fun things to do in Austin this weekend of March 24, 2023 include Water Lantern Festival, NASCAR at COTA, and More!
  • Who Wins the SXSW Music 2023 Superlative Awards?
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of March 20, 2023 include Gel Blaster Play Day ’23, Yamato: Drummers of Japan, and more!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • Made in Austin: Affordable Customization from Moniker Guitars
  • Top 14 Famous Statues in Austin
  • Un-pho-gettable Vietnamese Food in Austin – 10 Best Restaurants
  • Guide to Austin’s East Sixth Street
  • The Story of Umlauf Sculpture Garden’s Beloved Artist

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz