Austin Interviews

I am delighted to have had a chance to interview Jill Van Velzer who plays the role of Mrs. Burke in GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY. An accomplished actress, Velzer has also toured with productions of Phantom of the Opera and King & I, in addition to acting in numerous regional productions....

I’m so happy to have the opportunity to chat with the co-writer of DISASTER! Jack Plotnick. DISASTER! runs March 22 - April 21 at The Georgetown Palace Theatre and Jack is attending opening night....

Kimberly Schafer is an Award Winning Director, Choreographer and Educator. She received her Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University and her Masters in Theatre Education/Directing from Catholic University. Recently, she was selected to be a member of the Interna...

The Adderley School celebrates 30 years of empowering kids and spreading joy at Santa Barbara's Lobero Theatre on May 27th, where three generations of Adderley School alumni will unite onstage to pay homage to their alma matter and loving founder Janet Adderley. In this interview with Broadway World...

Elizabeth V. Newman moved with her family from New York City to Austin ten years ago. She is in her 4th season at The Filigree Theatre and is thrilled to have found an extended family in the Austin theatre community. The Filigree Theatre company delivers each season with a theme that ties together u...

Karen L. Maness is a UT Lecturer and Texas Performing Arts Scenic Art Supervisor. Maness is the co-author of The Art of The Hollywood Backdrop, the definitive behind-the-scenes history of Hollywood’s cinematic backdrops and the scenic artists who brought them to the big screen. BWW recently caught ...

Madelyn Geyer: We're in the middle of an unprecedented global pandemic. How are you doing? ...

Madelyn Geyer: We're more than halfway through a historic and heartbreaking year in the world, and especially for the United States. How are you doing and what is this year been like for you so far? ...

The year 2020 has proven to be full of unprecedented moments including the closing of live theater all over the world. It hasna??t been easy for the performing arts industry to find a way to bring entertainment to the public that is craving it. However, the Texas Performing Arts (TPA) and Fusebox Fe...

TILT Performance Group's Executive Director Amy Tarver and Artistic Director Adam Roberts discuss the unexpectedly positive impacts of COVID-19, upcoming projects, and shattering stereotypes on and off the stage....

Thank goodness there's an abundance of artists in Austin providing that much needed escape through their art; much of which has been moved to a virtual medium. One such artist is Maggie Gallant, whose critically-acclaimed show HOT DOGS AT THE EIFFEL TOWER makes its video premiere the Hyde Park Th...

In the last few weeks we've gotten to see what happens when the world stops and waits with bated breath. Though the future feels bleak and uncertain, there's an opportunity to connect as we never have before, exercise problem solving muscles, and create a new normal for the foreseeable future....

September 11, 2001 was a terrifying day for so many people. There were so many who initially felt so helpless as the news continued to broadcast all the sadness, destruction, and death surrounding the attacks. Planes were ordered to land wherever they could leaving the passengers worried, alone, and...

HELLO, DOLLY! has been entertaining audiences since it first hit Broadway in 1964 with Carol Channing as Dolly Gallagher Levi. As many productions and revivals ensued, the endearing qualities of this stellar show continue to sell-out. Currently on tour in North America, BWW caught up with actress Ja...

Newcomer Mariah Lyttle hasn't exactly pounded the New York City pavement quite yet, but it's not a reflection on her motivation or hard work. In fact, the young actress barely crossed the graduation stage before headlining a regional production of THE WIZ, which closed only moments before she booked...

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR has been one of the most beloved shows since it was first written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. With the release of the American album in 1970, it has become known as the a?oeBrown Albuma?? based on the original cover. It became an instant hit in households all over the...

“Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It is the music of the people who will not be slaves  again.” Familiar lyrics to the familiar show LES MISERABLES. The story tells of redemption and unity. It also shares the hope of so many wishing for a better world to live in. LES MISER...

Tarik Daniels, recent winner of an Austin Under 40 Award for his mental health advocacy using his theatre company Whatsinthemirror? presents FIREFLIES by Donna R. Love opens August 14th at Santa Cruz Center For Culture. A quiet young man with an ever ready megawatt smile, Tarik's joy in life is infe...

Texas-born Brooke Singer is no stranger to the stage. In fact, she's been performing professionally since before most of her peers had picked their first extra-curricular activity. And now, after years of sailing the world playing famous Disney characters like Belle and performing in the world premi...

There have been many great Broadway shows that have graced the stage of Bass Concert Hall that have entertained. However, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is one that will be talked about for a long time. With all of the amazing songs like “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Tradition,” “Matchmaker,” and “Sunrise Sunset,” ...

The story of ANASTASIA is one of mystery, sadness, joy and romance. The audience is taken on a journey with a young girl who doesn't know her past. She wants to know where she came from and where she really belongs. As ANASTASIA continues to tour throughout North America, BWW had a chance to catch u...

WAITRESS has been touring North America for a short time but already audiences are falling in love with this amazing musical that has music by Sara Bareillas. The story is one of hope that comes from despair and joy that comes from sorrow. As WAITRESS finds its way to Austin, Texas and Bass Concert ...

Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to one of Broadway's longest running musicals, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, is his show LOVE NEVER DIES; which is currently touring across the United States. The tour staging is inspired by the reworked 2011 Australian production of the musical. To give Austin audiences an ...

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is certainly a play that seems intriguing just by the title. "The Murder at Havernesh Manor" is the title of the play within the play that can't seem to stay on script. It seems that everything and anything goes wrong. This sets in motion so many mishaps, the audiences can't...

Theatre Synesthesia has only been on the scene for a few short years, yet in that short time, they've managed to get on several award lists and have even walked away with a few of those awards. Their work has been exclusively dedicated to producing the writing of playwright Casey Wimpee... until now...

Lisa B. Thompson burst onto the Austin theatre scene in a big way last season with her play UNDERGROUND, which was not only nominated for most of the awards given in Austin, but also managed to walk away with a few. She capped off the season by winning the New Play award from Austin Playhouse's annu...

One of Austin's best kept secrets is Austin Cabaret Theatre, which quietly brings in the best of the New York cabaret scene for one night only performances. This is all due to one man, Stuart Moulton. Stuart lives in New York City, but his love of Austin is unmistakable. We recently sat down with hi...

Who hasn't been to one of the Broadway musical gems that play out in the open air amphitheatre during these blistering hot Austin summers? A gift to the community, the Zilker Summer Musical has been part of Austin for sixty years now. Always free to the public, this year's offering is ALL SHOOK UP, ...

Leonard Bernstein is an American treasure. He was one of the first American born conductors to receive worldwide acclaim. His fame is derived not only from his long tenure as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, but also from his conducting most of the world's leading orchestras, and fr...

Many may have heard of the movie AN AMERICAN IN PARIS that starred Gene Kelly and featured such songs as "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise," "S Wonderful," and "I Got Rhythm." Well, the recent Broadway hit of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS took some of the story, some of the songs, and added to it. What was ...

Every year, Quiet Valley Ranch just outside the small town of Kerrville, Texas is transformed into a musical wonderland as the Kerrville Folk Festival is presented for 18 days. It showcases singer/songwriters who show passion and joy for the art of folk music. People come from all over the world to ...

As THE BOOK OF MORMON tours around North America, it has sold-out in city after city. Locals enjoy the opportunity to laugh and have a fun evening watching THE BOOK OF MORMON while they forget their outside worries. Currently on tour with the company is Andy Jones who is playing the role of Elder Mc...

Austin theatre troupe paper chairs has been creating original works of theatre here for the past eight years that consistently push boundaries both verbal and visual. These fresh and exciting works are, in no small part, due to two women who were among the founding members, Elizabeth Doss and Lisa L...

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER is a fun, whacky, entertaining show that won four Tony Awards including Best Musical. It seems to be a favorite by everyone. It's one that will entertain the entire family. As the show prepares to come to Austin, Texas, BWW caught up with Colleen McLaughlin who p...

Coming in March, The Baron's Men will be presenting the rarely performed The Curate Shakespeare AS YOU LIKE at the Curtain Theatre. This unique piece of theatre is subtitled 'the record of one company's attempt to perform the play by William Shakespeare.' The piece came about when the playwright, Do...

The success of THE KING AND I over the years has been nothing short of remarkable. The movie version from the 1950's brought Yul Brynner to center stage as he played the role of this famous king. With so many incarnations of the iconic musical there have been quite a few actors who have worked hard ...

Aaron Johnson is best known to Austin audiences for his strong body of performances, including Tribes (Daniel) at ZACH Theatre; Orphans (Phillip), Skylight (Edward) with Street Corner Arts; The Totalitarians (Ben) with Theatre en Bloc; The Real Thing (Billy), The Explorers Club (Lucius), Bloomsday (...

On January 13th, 1979, the world lost singer Donny Hathaway. Austinite Robert King Jr. has written a new, thought provoking musical, in which he introduces the audience to a side of Donny Hathaway that has never been explored before. Most people are unaware Hathaway battled with voices that haunted ...

It's hard to believe that RENT is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. But, from its debut on Broadway to the present, audiences have loved this great show that tackles important issues but at the same time manages to connect with the audience. BWW recently caught up with Lyndie Moe who is playing Maur...

Seth Glier's latest album is called BIRDS and is a true reflection of some difficult moments in Glier's life over the past two years including the loss of his brother, as well as watching all of the life-changing events occurring throughout the world. BWW sat down with Seth Glier to discuss with him...

One of Austin's most innovative theatre companies is Theatre Synesthesia, which has been recently recognized with awards from both BroadwayWorld and the Austin Critic's Table. We had an opportunity to sit down with two of the company founders, Devin Finn and Nick Kier to find out more about this com...