AUSTIN THEATER REVIEWS

Farce, with its fast-paced action, physical comedy, and absurdity, is my favorite type of theatre. The national tour of CLUE - Live On Stage! fits the definition perfectly, delivering buffoonery, slamming doors, and breathless pacing....

Need a break from the deluge of holiday performance fare? Ready for something bold and spicy and adult-y? Need a new take on a classic, timeless comedy that goes in a perfectly campy direction? Done with innumerable versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, ELF, NUTCRACKER, IT’S ...

Peter Pan dazzles with stunning sets, magical flying effects, and catchy new songs. This Peter Pan may never want to grow up, but it certainly deserves to be part of the conversation on how we tell timeless stories for modern audiences....

City Theatre’s Reckless explores absurdity and loss but falters with sluggish pacing and a script full of gaps. Stellar performances by Eric Kessler and Tracy Hurd shine, yet the dark humor doesn’t fully connect on a cold winter night....

GroundFloor’s production of Falsettos masterfully walks the fine line between comedy and tragedy, presenting William Finn and James Lapine’s poignant musical with a bold, albeit occasionally polarizing, emphasis on its absurd humor....

ZACH’s A Christmas Carol is a joyful celebration of the classic tale of redemption, making it the perfect way to embrace the holiday season alongside the entire family. #ATXTheatre #BroadwayWorld...

Settling into the cozy intimacy of The Vortex, Different Stages' A Murder is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery offers an evening brimming with suspense, charm, and delightful surprises. Perfect show for a chilly evening in the ATX!...

Texas State University’s Sister Act was a vibrant celebration of resilience, friendship, and sisterhood. With standout performances, powerful music, and magnetic energy, the show soared uplifting the collective human spirit....

Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, now delighting audiences at Austin Playhouse, is a theatrical romp that blends the logic of a classic whodunnit with the absurdity of over-the-top comedy. It is a good laugh!...

At City Theatre Austin, Payton Trahan (dir) captures the heart of “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” with precision and empathy, offering audiences a compelling reminder of the cost of exclusion and the beauty of embracing one’s roots....

Valentine Davies' 'Miracle on 34th Street' has charmed audiences since its debut as a 1947 film. The Wimberley Players production captures the nostalgia of the era providing a heartfelt exploration of themes that resonate deeply, even today....

Y’all, SHUCKED is in town and it’s just as corny as you might imagine. It’s full to the brim with dad jokes, groan worthy puns, a-maize-ing talent, and a sweet little universal plot. It’s a strange but pleasant marriage between Broadway and corn-try music. An unapologetically silly display o...

If you’re a fan of slapstick, quick-witted humor, and clever theatrical twists, Mary Moody Northen's production of “The Play That Goes Wrong” is the perfect play for you. Don’t miss it! #ATXTheatre...

Austin Shakespeare’s production of Jane Eyre offers a strikingly modern and feminist take on the iconic story of a woman’s resilience against the oppressive forces of her time. With music, movement, and a thoughtful focus on Jane’s journey as a woman rather than just her romantic entanglements...

What did our critic think of COPENHAGEN at Sterling Stage Austin?...

The UT Department of Theatre and Dance’s delightful adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale, James and the Giant Peach, provides a whimsical escape into a world where adventure and imagination flourish, leaving audiences with smiles and warm memories. #ATXTheatre...

UT’s Department of Theatre and Dance production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' breathes fresh life into the classic play, brilliantly balancing the whimsical with the profound, making it a delightful experience for both seasoned Shakespeare enthusiasts and newcomers alike. #shakespeare #ATXTheatre...

What did our critic think of OH TO BE PURE AGAIN at Texas State University’s Department Of Theatre And Dance? Texas State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance’s performed Kira Rockwell’s award-winning play (Gene Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award 2023), OH TO BE PURE AGAIN from October ...

Just in time for election season, Jarrott Productions has smartly put one of Austin’s finest directors, Karen Jambon, at the helm of their latest offering of POTUS: OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE. Full of sharp wit from the first line and an obvious politica...

From October 18 to 27, 2024, Bastrop Opera House presents Frederick Knott’s enthralling play, WAIT UNTIL DARK. The story follows Susy Hendrix, a blind woman living in New York City, who unwittingly becomes the target of criminals searching for a doll containing hidden heroin. ...

The Baron's Men have delivered a haunting and deeply resonant production of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' at the Curtain Theatre, capturing the play's raw emotional depth and complex themes of power, madness, and familial discord. #shakespeare #ATXTheatre...

UT's production of Kate Benson’s play 'A Beautiful Day In November On The Banks of the Greatest of Great Lakes' is a wild, chaotic celebration of the quintessential American Thanksgiving, but through a lens that’s anything but traditional. #ATXTheatre...

From October 11-26, 2024, Gaslight-Baker Theatre in Lockhart, sponsored by Haunt Happy Books, is presenting Simon Moore’s MISERY, based on the book of the same name by Stephen King....

What did our critic think of RED, HOT, PATRIOT - THE KICK-ASS WIT OF MOLLY IVINS at Austin Playhouse?...

MJ THE MUSICAL has hit the stage at Bass Concert Hall. Is it smooth? Is it criminal?  Was it a thriller? Is it Bad? Forgive me. I love a good pun - I love a bad pun, too. Nevertheless, MJ the MUSICAL is the latest in a long history of Broadway jukebox musicals now touring in Austin. ...