Theatre - The Austinot

Lily Wolff Advocates for Artists While Directing Weird Theater in Austin

May 7, 2018 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Lily Wolff, Austin theater director

Theater director Lily Wolff’s career has rarely followed the traditional path. From her cosmopolitan upbringing, to her interest in Devised Theater, to her freelancing business plan, Wolff is carving out her own course in a city that appreciates unique trajectories.

Austin theater-goers are reaping the benefits of Wolff’s prolific talent. As she prepares for the opening of the second of three directed plays in 2018, I sat down with Wolff to learn more about her life, the Austin theater scene, and why the arts could benefit from our support. [Read more…]

Women-led Filigree Theatre Honors Past, Present, Future Through Productions

April 10, 2018 by Vi Chetan Leave a Comment

Delicate Ship Set by Filigree Theatre Austin

Set of “A Delicate Ship” by Anna Ziegler (Credit: Nicolette Mallow)

When Elizabeth V. Newman and Stephanie Moore met, neither one anticipated founding a theatre company together. But all the hard work paid off and Austin-based Filigree Theater came to be. With Newman as Artistic Director and Moore as Managing Director, the women-led artistic group has produced several critically-acclaimed shows. Newman and Moore have worked diligently to shine light on Austin’s visual and performing arts that go beyond the music our city is known for. [Read more…]

Rude Mechs Forced to Bring Theater to the People After Losing Venue

August 16, 2017 by Dustin Vegas 1 Comment

Rude Mechs is taking Austin back, one district at a time (Credit: Rude Mechs via Flickr)

Last year, Austin lost over 30,000 square feet of artistic performance space. Think about that for a second.

Austin is an artistic city. We have built a huge portion of our economy around it. The arts attract tourists and transplants, and businesses follow them here. The arts are the foundation for so much of what makes Austin the vibrant city that it is.

But the sad fact is that Austin has become a victim of its own success. As people and money flow into the city, the price of doing business here increases. Rent goes up, and creative hubs begin to shutter. We might not notice the immediate impact, but over time, the trend erodes a big part of what originally made Austin attractive and lucrative. Eventually, the rest of the food chain can suffer.

Rude Mechs is an Austin ensemble theater company standing against the [Read more…]

All of Austin’s a Stage: Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park Runs Through May

May 18, 2017 by Susan Meyer Leave a Comment

Scene from The Comedy of Errors at Zilker Hillside Theater (Credit: Sam Zavieh)

Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park is an experience I look forward to every year. It combines three of my favorite things: Shakespeare, being outside under the stars on an early summer evening, and free stuff. That’s right! Shakespeare in the Park is completely free theater, although they gladly accept donations.

This is a great place to take a special someone or your group of friends, and let the Bard’s words wrap around you while the fireflies dance. [Read more…]

Zach Theatre Energetically Presents Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

October 11, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Dance Number

A look at the signature crazy costumes worn by the cast of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Credit: Kirk Tuck)

When ZACH opened up the Topfer Theatre in 2012, the Austin theater scene jumped up a few notches. ZACH has presented quality musicals and plays since 1932, but once they built a beautiful contemporary theater to house their productions, the whole experience was elevated.

A perfect example of this creative boost is the newly opened “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” With booty shaking music and enough costume changes to boggle the mind, this musical will have audiences grinning from ear to ear for over two hours. [Read more…]

East Side’s Ground Floor Theatre Celebrates Austin’s Diversity

September 1, 2015 by Guest Blogger 1 Comment

Lisa Scheps’s mission is to provide a stage where “soft voices” can be heard

Guest article by Dana Sayre

Austin’s Ground Floor Theatre celebrates under-represented populations in Austin, broadening the diversity of the local theatre community.

You might be familiar with Austin local Lisa Scheps from “Off the Stage and On the Air,” a radio show she hosts each Wednesday on KOOP 91.7. Her latest brainchild is Ground Floor Theatre, a new theatrical venue in East Austin, at the corner of Airport and Springdale.

The goal of Ground Floor Theatre is to foster “an environment for creative thinkers and artists to produce new works by and for underrepresented communities, lifting voices that need to be heard to people who need to hear them.” [Read more…]

Local Businesses Support Mind and Body on Airport Blvd

August 31, 2015 by Leah Nyfeler 1 Comment

Austin is full of hidden treasures. Advertised primarily by word of mouth and catering to a devoted clientele, the cluster of businesses on the corner of E 38 1/2 St and Airport Blvd is one such treasure. With a holistic synergy, these locally owned services offer one-stop shopping to nourish the body and mind.

Here’s a look at six businesses that make up this unique community. [Read more…]

Duke Ellington Jazzes Up the Stage at Zach Theatre

July 22, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar Leave a Comment

See Sophisticated Ladies at Zach Theatre through August 23, 2015 (Credit: Kirk Tuck)

If you’ve daydreamed of stepping back into the roaring 20’s without the assistance of a time machine, head to Zach Theatre to see their production of Sophisticated Ladies.

Upon taking your seat, you’re greeted by a striking image of a gentleman’s face that consumes the stage. His head is tilted downward, warm expressive eyes gaze upward, with skin smooth as silk and a chin resting on a crisp white bow tie. The rim of his top hat casts a slight shadow, leaving an air of mystery. But there was no doubt who was watching over the crowd: jazz composer Duke Ellington, also known as The Duke for his signature dapper attire.

Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies offers a night of indulgence sprinkled with glitz and glamour. Scenes unfold on a stage that mimics Harlem’s notorious jazz venue where Mr. Ellington’s fame blossomed, the Cotton Club. [Read more…]

LBJ Goes All the Way at Zach Theatre

April 14, 2015 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

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. [Read more…]

Paramount Theatre Celebrates 100 Years with Special Events

February 3, 2015 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Old Congress Avenue in 1947 with the Paramount Theatre illuminated on the right

Guest article by Lindsey Moringy

A walk through the basement of the Paramount Theatre is like a walk through time: its history is literally written on the walls. Over the years, many of the estimated 10,000 visiting artists have left their mark on the famed theatre by signing the walls downstairs, just outside the dressing rooms. Passing through the hallway you’ll notice that performers from BB King to Joan Rivers have left their ‘John Hancocks’ – many with a personalized message or illustration. Admittedly, I laughed aloud upon reading what Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman chose to leave: “Freedom. [Read more…]