AUSTIN THEATER REVIEWS

It's no secret that the musical Grease has reached cult classic status. The movie in particular is a massive hit, and the stage version is a favorite of regional theaters. It's no surprise then that the current production at Austin's City Theatre is playing to packed houses and receiving standing ...

There are so many words and phrases in this world that shouldn't go together, such as a cappella and musical, modern theater and ancient Greek mythology, and Miley Cyrus and respectable young artist. While I have no clue what Vortex Rep thinks of Miley, it seems that where the rest of us see things...

I've always had the inclination that the line between man and God is infinitely small. In Greek mythology, that line is so small that the earthbound Mount Olympus is the home of the Gods, and the Gods often descend from their perch to mingle with humans. Moreover, the Gods have human emotions of a...

Think of A Few Good Men, and you're bound to think of Jack Nicholson screaming the iconic line "You can't handle the truth!" in the celebrated 1992 film. However, if you're lucky enough to catch Georgetown Palace's current production of the 1989 play which inspired the film, you're bound to think o...

Is there a twelve step program to creating a perfect comedy? I don't know, but if there is, writer Stephen Adly Guirgis and Austin's Capital T Theatre have found it. The Motherf**ker with the Hat is a hysterical, riotous comedy that, despite what the vulgar title may suggest, is just as intelligen...

Anyone who's seen any of the annual Zilker summer musicals in Austin's Zilker Park know that, though the productions are free to the public, the entertainment value and quality are always top-notch. Zilker's 55th annual production, Little Shop of Horrors, does not disappoint. This is a dazzling, c...

Adaptations are a tricky business. Staying too close to the source material may make the audience wonder why the material was adapted in the first place, and straying too far may seem disrespectful (everyone involved in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, that one's directed at you). But occasionall...

An hour and a half of two men sitting in a small apartment discussing religion doesn't scream "riveting theatre," but under the right circumstances, anything is possible. Case in point: Trinity Street Player's current production of The Sunset Limited. While the show may not be action packed, it i...

Summertime in Austin seems like the perfect place and time for a happy-go-lucky musical celebration of jazz music and swing dance. At least SummerStock Austin thinks so, and I whole-heartedly agree. Their production of Swing!, a dazzling and energetic musical revue, is absolutely astonishing and c...

There are some things in the arts that I never expect to see. One is Harvey Firestein covering a Josh Groban song. Another is Lindsay Lohan winning an Oscar. And another is an avant garde production of A Raisin in the Sun. Well, I guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad....

If there's any lesson to be learned from the slapstick musical Bugsy Malone, now playing at Sam Bass Community Theatre, it's that gangsters are adorable. Who knew? Armed with some silly string guns and custard pies, Bugsy Malone softens the gangster genre to cute, sweet, and fun family entertainme...

Tackling a show like Pippin takes some major cojones. The original Bob Fosse production featured an iconic, Tony Award winning performance from Ben Vereen and was the first Broadway musical to feature the work of composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The current Broadway revival of Pippin just won f...

Theatrical shows for children are a dime a dozen, but children's theater productions that can also please adults are as rare and unique as the musically inclined animals in The Bremen Town Musicians. The exuberant musical-one of SummerStock Austin's three offerings currently playing in repertory at...

If Thomas Paine is the author of Common Sense, then Thom Pain must be the author of Common Nonsense. Thom Pain (based on nothing)-a rambling, absurd, existential monologue now playing at Hyde Park Theatre-is an enthralling and joyously quirky piece of theater that is meant to be experienced and enj...

Given the reputation and respect that the play has earned in the 60 plus years since its debut, any theater company producing A Streetcar Named Desire should go into it with some trepidation, but there's no sign of any in the City Theatre's exceptional production....

Late in A Chorus Line, the brassy Sheila states, 'God, when it's over do I need a drink!' I hear ya, girl. Judging by the guy to my left who spent the show playing on his phone, the woman to my right who was more interested in her bracelet and the musician in the pit who I saw reading a book, I'm ...

The Pillowman is one of those theatrical events that seldom comes along. It's sinister, sadistic, haunting, and while it may not be pleasant, it is entirely unforgettable....

As Georgetown Palace's production of The Will Rogers Follies proves, a few rope tricks, corny jokes, and leggy showgirls wearing next to nothing will always please a crowd....

"Texas is okay if you want to settle down and do your thing quietly," Janis Joplin once said, "but it's not for outrageous people, and I was always outrageous." Janis must have forgotten about Austin, because One Night with Janis Joplin, the Broadway-bound Janis Joplin musical now playing at the Za...

While regional theatres often lean towards staging Tony winning, crowd pleasing musicals, occasionally one may boldly look towards a show that is off the beaten path and lacks a trophy cabinet full of awards. Austin Playhouse has done exactly that with their current production of Triumph of Love an...

One person shows are a notoriously hard sell, unlike Tupperware's famous airtight bowls. I doubt anyone ever thought of combining the two with the notable exception of Kris Andersson, the writer and star of Dixie's Tupperware Party, now playing at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Though at...

Megan Hilty took the stage at the ZACH's Topfer Theatre in Austin on Tuesday, June 18th in the first of many one night only concerts featuring Broadway stars, and the blonde bombshell kicked off the series with a smash....

It's no secret that Shakespeare's plays are among the most challenging for actors and directors to tackle. The language is dense and the plot is often complex, making it difficult for modern audiences to connect with the play. While some productions easily rise to the occasion, there's something a...

The last few times I've seen a production at St. Edwards University's Mary Moody Northern Theatre, I've had to remind myself that I'm viewing a show featuring a cast of mostly college students. Every time, the production is of professional quality, and their current production of The Secret Garden ...

The reasoning behind staging a Tony Nominee for Best Play is quite easy to understand. Plays that have either been nominated for or won a Tony are easily marketable to the public. Still there is that occasional Tony nominated play that is a complete head scratcher, a play so poorly written it's ba...