AUSTIN THEATER REVIEWS

Who isn't familiar with SINGIN' IN THE RAIN? The classic MGM film musical is arguably a perfect film musical, full of great songs, amazing dancing and memorable characters. Setting out to put this film on stage is a monumental task that requires a faithful enough recreation that it doesn't disappoin...

THE WOLVES is a 2016 play by Sarah DeLappe that looks at the experiences of nine high school girls during their soccer warmups. All of the play takes place during these successive warmups, where they navigate big questions and wage tiny battles like a pack of adolescent warriors. This portrait of li...

The Georgetown Palace Playhouse has audiences rolling in the aisles with classically drawn farce DRINKING HABITS by Tom Smith....

Texas State University's celebrated Department of Theatre and Dance produces game changing musical A CHORUS LINE with sensational style....

GIBBERISH MOSTLY, a new play by Max Langert, is an examination of a family dealing with a child suffering from a neurological disorder. In this case, we are talking about severe autism, and what is being examined is how and why choices are made. In the case of severe autism, it isn't that communicat...

FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS is presented by Southwestern University's Sarofim School of Fine Arts. Written by Alan Ball, this comedy premiered in 1993 at New York's Manhattan Class Company. Although the play was written over twenty years ago and is set in the late 80's, it tackles many topics ...

Jarrott Productions continue their tradition of producing quality shows with some of Austin's best actors in their production of John Patrick Shanley's biographical drama, PRODIGAL SON....

CATALINA DE ERAUSO, a new play by Austin playwright, Elizabeth Doss (Mast, Poor Herman), is a rollicking, comic adventure tale currently receiving its world premiere production. Doss's script crackles with wit and word play, with the occasionally recognizable contemporary phrase or saying thrown in....

The latest offering from Austin's Teatro Vivo is ENFRASCADA, a comedic tale of love, heartbreak, and the magical relationships of women. Written by Tanya Saracho, this dark comedy premiered as a part of the 2011 Clubbed Thumb Summerworks in New York City under the direction of Jerry Ruiz....

Shakespeare's HENRY IV (Part 1) is easily the most entertaining of his history plays and Hidden Room pulls out all the stops to wring every moment of excitement from the story. Director Beth Burns, using a script cut by American Shakespeare Center's Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen, presents a stellar cast at t...

The Georgetown Palace Theatre has teamed up with The Williamson Museum to mount a production of YOU CAN'T DOTHAT DAN MOODY at the beautiful and historic Williamson County Courthouse. A story of the significant trial and ruling that resulted in the first conviction of KKK members for vigilante 'just...

This Random World, the new Steven Dietz play that kicked off Austin Playhouse's 18th season on September 8th, is a well paced and finely built show. The production at Austin Playhouse, utilizing a handful of skilled actors and minimalistic set, deftly crafts a consistently interesting and entertain...

Robert Schenkkan, who has created a name for himself as a chronicler of American politics with his plays All The Way and The Great Society, is currently having a Regional Premiere of his new play BUILDING THE WALL at UT in the Oscar G. Brockett theatre. However, unlike his historical plays, this new...

A PERFECT LIFE is presented by Austin Theatre Project as part of its 2017 season. This world premiere is based on the musical, One Man Band by Tony and Emmy Award winner Larry Hochman, Marc Elliot, and James Lecesne. The original One Man Band enjoyed a well-received New York run in 1985. Original co...

TITLE AND DEED has much the same structure as playwright Will Eno's brilliant Thom Pain, but what it doesn't have, is the same degree of anger. Instead, this solo performance piece is a sharply funny meditation on life in all of its absurd glory. In ways, it seems the sole character, Man (brilliantl...

When you choose a three-person show it doesn't leave you much room for error or less than stellar acting. The current Southwest Theatre Productions company of Nicholas Kier, Devin Finn and Kristin Chiles under the direction of Joni Lorraine delivers nothing short of perfection, each character has be...

TWENTYEIGHT, a 2014 play by Tyler English-Beckwith, is a look at eight laborers who are trying to finish the shuttle that will carry them to the Liberian Space Station. This Space Station (also known as the L.S.S.) is a refuge for people of color. It seems that in this very Dystopian future, things,...

CHICAGO opened at The City Theatre this past weekend, and despite the fact that the show can work well in a small, minimalistic setting I am very sorry that I have to say that for me the potential for this production is clear, but the execution is lacking....

Director Sarah Gay has deftly manipulated this show so that it works very well in the intimate theater out in Lakeway, and she has crafted a bright, entertaining piece that is full of fun and embraces a sense of stubborn nostalgia for small town Texas....

For decades ZACH Theatre has been the jewel in Austin's crown of arts, setting the tone for others with style and quality, once again they have brought the best live entertainment around to the Topfer Stage in collaboration with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma located in Oklahoma City. MILLION DOLLAR QUAR...

Who doesn't know THE WIZARD OF OZ? And even if by some strange coincidence the multiple books of L. Frank Baum have managed to escape you, the classic MGM film (on which this production is based) has been a television staple and family viewing tradition for decades....

Considered by many to be one of the top country artists of all time, Patsy Cline was a pioneer for women in country music and as a crossover artist. Her story is one of personal struggle and determination, overcoming obstacles from poverty to a devastating car accident; but none of that comes to min...

Shakespeare's RICHARD III, is one of his best in terms of sheer drama, but Last Act Theatre takes it a step further by filling the traditionally male dominated world with an all female cast; the result is dazzling and inspiring....

The Georgetown Palace Theatre has long been known as a place to see classic musical theatre sprinkled with a few Disney shows over the years, but with ROCK OF AGES they venture into the modern adult musical world and the result is not only brilliant, it's hilarious and hugely entertaining....

Jen Silverman's black comedy THE MOORS is an interesting concoction; a black comedy about love, desperation and visibility. Set in the thick of the English literary landscape, Silverman spoofs the Bronte sisters with a bit of a queer twist. She uses all the expected elements of the Gothic (diaries, ...