Joni Lorraine - Page 2

WAITRESS was originally a small indie film with a big heart. Written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, the 2007 movie told the story of Jenna, a Southern diner waitress with a knack for pie-making and a longing for a better life. The film quietly built a loyal following, beloved for its quirky charm, honest emotion, and bittersweet tone.

Texas Performing Arts just unveiled a dazzling 2025–26 season featuring Lang Lang, Alvin Ailey, Carrie Rodriguez, and more! Tickets Go On Sale Friday, June 13 at 10 AM, so check it out!

Step through the revolving door of 1928 Berlin and into a world of glamour, longing, and quiet desperation as Alchemy Theatre brings the rarely staged musical GRAND HOTEL to life at ZACH Theatre’s Whisenhunt Stage.

MOULIN ROUGE! The Musical, is an electric jukebox musical based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! directed by Baz Luhrmann. The stage adaptation, like the movie, is a visually extravagant love story set in the Montmartre district of Paris at the turn of the 20th century. It opened on Broadway in 2019.

BWW Austin recently got a chance to learn about Jeff Sullivan, a dynamic New York-based actor, singer, and dancer whose heart and talent have taken him across stages worldwide. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Jeff’s deep musical roots and storytelling spirit shine in every role—from playing J.M. Barrie in the Finding Neverland national tour to his recent turn as Joe in 9 to 5.

What did our critic think of I WANNA BE A F*CKING PRINCESS at Ground Floor Theatre?aIn I WANNA BE A F*CKING PRINCESS,  playwright Jenny Connell Davis invites us to a raucous Southern bridal suite where cocktails flow, secrets unravel, and fairy tales are upended with wicked glee.

Jenny Connell Davis is a playwright, screenwriter, and performer whose work explores identity, justice, and human connection. Her plays, including DRAGON PLAY, SCIENTIFIC METHOD, and END OF SHIFT, have been developed by theaters across the country, from the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference to ACT in Seattle. Also an accomplished screenwriter, her work has been featured at SXSW and the Toronto International Film Festival. Originally from Maine, Jenny now lives and writes in Austin, Texas.

As we anticipate welcoming the beloved musical ANNIE to Austin, I had the pleasure to  ask Julia Nicole Hunter, who portrays Grace Farrell in the current production, a few questions about her experience working on the show. A Nashville native now based in New York City, Hunter brings warmth and depth to the character of Oliver Warbucks' compassionate assistant.

First staged in 1952 and made iconic by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film adaptation, DIAL M FOR MURDER, now showing here in Austin and produced by Jarrott Productions, has long held its place as one of the most stylish and suspenseful thrillers in theatre. Originally penned by Frederick Knott, the play spins a darkly intricate web of deception, betrayal, and the illusion of the perfect crime.

It’s back, and we were in the Room Where It Happened. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON is running here in Austin through April 6th. Inspired by Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton, the musical premiered Off-Broadway in 2015 at The Public Theater before transferring to Broadway later that year, where it became a cultural phenomenon. Can you believe it? TEN years ago? 

Fair warning: Jackie Sibblies Drury's FAIRVIEW isn't your typical night at the theatre. The play starts out looking like a normal family comedy but quickly turns into something else entirely. Imagine sitting down for what seems like a standard TV sitcom about a Black family, and then suddenly everything you thought you knew gets turned upside down. It's funny, shocking, and confronting.

Cheryl Stern is a powerhouse performer and storyteller with an incredible career spanning Broadway, national tours, TV, and beyond. Next week, she'll be in town with the National Tour of FUNNY GIRL, playing Mrs. Strakosh and stepping into the role of Fanny Brice at select performances. 

What did our critic think of JERSEY BOYS at ZACH? JERSEY BOYS is widely regarded as one of the greatest jukebox musicals of all time, praised for its authentic storytelling, strong performances, and iconic music. Typically, I often judge a jukebox musical against my belief that they’re low hanging money making fruit. Some productions of this type of musical are better than others, and some are exceptions. ZACH’s JERSEY BOYS is an exceptional exception. 

Jaston Williams is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the beloved GREATER TUNA series of plays, including GREATER TUNA, A TUNA CHRISTMAS, RED, WHITE, AND TUNA, and TUNA DOES VEGAS. These two-person productions captivated audiences across the U.S. for more than three decades, with performances on and off Broadway and at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, the Alley Theatre in Houston, Pasadena Playhouse, and the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.

Our story begins with a board game originally invented in 1943 by Anthony Pratt, a British musician who envisioned a murder-mystery game to entertain people during air-raid shelter stays in World War II. The game, originally called Cluedo (a mashup of 'clue' and 'ludo,' meaning 'I play' in Latin), was later licensed by Parker Brothers and became the beloved classic we know as Clue.

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 A WONDERFUL LIFE, and on and on and on?

Recently, I had a chance to visit with Vince Kelley of the cast of the show. Vince is a wonderful, versatile performer currently starring as Blanche Devereaux in the touring production of the show.