AUSTIN THEATER REVIEWS

The 1950s is considered by many to be the pinnacle of American Theater. It was the decade that saw Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, Tennessee Williams's CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, and Eugene O'Neill's LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. But while Miller, Williams, and O'Neill set the theater world ablaze with...

I must confess that I came to Austin Shakespeare's current production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with no prejudices of my own. I've never read the original Jane Austen novel, and I've never seen any of the film versions with the exception of Bridget Jones's Diary, which is very loosely based on the Aus...

The now iconic James Dean once said that "The only greatness for man is immortality." Without question, James Dean has achieved immortality in the over 55 years since his death, and he still has quite a fan base. Those fans are at the center of The City Theatre's current production of COME BACK TO ...

As I am writing this review, I am still laughing my butt off. The City Theatre's production of VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM is just as hysterical, quirky, and off-kilter as its title. This is one gut-busting piece of camp....

Halloween may be over, which means that the truly terrifying holiday is upon us: Thanksgiving. It's that dreaded holiday where we have to break bread and socialize with our family, pretending to like them despite how excruciating we may find them to be. It's fitting then that Capital T Theatre sho...

ALWAYS PATSY CLINE, now playing at the Georgetown Palace Theatre, has made a fan out of me. This simple, understated production is a loving tribute and homage to one of the greatest singers of the last century. Whether you're a fan of Patsy Cline or not, you'll love her after seeing this productio...

The current production of RAGTIME, produced by Zach Theatre in its new Topfer Theatre, shows precisely why RAGTIME is such a respected and important piece of theater. This dazzling and flawless production of the show is nothing short of spectacular and yet another triumph for Zach....

While many Austin theater companies are currently producing some Halloween fright fests, Paradox Players is offering a play about the scariest evil of all: politicians. With THE BEST MAN, the famous comedy-drama by Gore Vidal, Austin's Paradox Players shows us that not much has changed in the dirty...

It was a dark and stormy night when two weary travelers, Nicholas and Alice, stumbled upon the lavish estate of Sir John, a worldly man with a delight for ghost stories and folklore. To pass the time, John proposes a bet to Nicholas and Alice, promising them 50 pounds if he can scare them using not...

Fiddle-dee-dee! As God as my witness, I'll never laugh this hard again! With MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, a behind-the-scenes comedy about the film version of Gone With the Wind, Penfold Theater Company delights audiences with some good ol'-fashioned 1930s Hollywood antics....

Break out the champagne and cigars. It's not a boy. It's not a girl. It's a hit! With BABY, the little-known 1980s musical, Austin Theatre Project proves it is a force to be reckoned with, quite a feat considering the company is less than one year old....

It's now the Halloween season, and all over Austin, theaters are rolling out their spookiest tricks and treats. While Last Act Theatre's current production of DOCTOR FAUSTUS may not be the scariest or spookiest, it certainly is worth seeing for its brilliant direction and strong performances....

HALLELUJAH GIRLS is a triumphant success for the Sam Bass Theatre. While the script sometimes feels like TV's "Golden Girls" in Georgia, it's so silly and entertaining that the occasional lack of originality is completely irrelevant. This show is an absolute blast!...

THE GEOMETRY OF PROXIMITY is a truly unique and haunting piece of art where everyone involved is at the top of their game. Whether you are a dance enthusiast or not, this is a show not to be missed....

Though the cast and crew all deliver move-in ready work, UNDER CONSTRUCTION is still, well, under construction. While it's commonplace to see productions in which the cast and crew underserve the material, here the material underserves the cast and crew. To the cast and crew, I say a very enthusia...

If you're feeling nostalgic for some classic 80s rock and your Van Halen albums just aren't cutting it, then throw on your favorite concert tee, put your lighter in your pocket, and get your butt to The Long Center. To borrow from Brett Michaels and Poison, ROCK OF AGES ain't nothin' but a good tim...

Austin, Texas rocked last night. It really rocked; at least at the Long Center where ROCK OF AGES was playing its first show of the week. ROCK OF AGES is currently touring around the country performing in front of incredible audiences and making them stand up and dance....

The show may be called I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, but this production, now playing the Georgetown Palace Theatre, should be known as YOU'LL LOVE IT, IT'S PERFECT, DON'T CHANGE....

With HEAVEN-EARTH-ONE, Blue Lapis Light gives Austin a tailor-made show that is unique, remarkable, intimate, mesmerizing, and literally breathtaking. This is an event that must not be missed from a company that deserves to be known as a staple of the Austin arts scene....

With their new show FULLY CHARGED, which just completed a successful run in Austin, Ringling Bros puts on a dazzling, crowd-pleasing, old-fashioned spectacle....

"In here, life is beautiful," the Emcee deviously purrs to the audience at the start of CABARET, now playing at Austin's City Theatre Company. Though he is referring to Berlin's seedy Kit Kat Klub, the same can be said of The City Theatre. In here, life is many things: clever, engrossing, and alwa...

A CHORUS LINE at The Palace Theatre in Georgetown is a thrilling, gripping, highly entertaining masterpiece and a fitting tribute to the late Michael Bennett and Marvin Hamlisch. This show is truly a singular sensation....

Omigod, you guys! Legally Blonde is a gigantic crowd-pleasing Sorority Party! Directed by Michael McKelvey, Blonde is a laugh riot with an enormously talented cast....

Checkmate. Chess, currently playing at The Long Center, is a champion. Though the material is a problematic chaos with music by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and lyrics by Tim Rice, the co-production from SommerStock Austin and The Austin Playhouse wisely sweeps the problematic po...

While A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD is not a wildly well-known or popular show, it still is a fantastic piece. Brought to life by a talented ensemble of young actors, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD is a whimsical child's storybook world come to life, and it will delight both kids and adults....