Lynn Beaver - Page 5

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON, returns to Austin’s Bass Concert Hall with full seats and roaring crowds. There are shows that shift the way we see theatre and this is one of those rare productions that will remain in our collective consciousness long after the final notes sound.

If you need a laugh as badly as I do, the Different Stages production of THE THANKSGIVING PLAY at The Vortex is where you should be.

THE LION IN WINTER by James Goldman currently playing at the Georgetown Palace Playhouse is a rare treat. The show, a favorite of mine for decades, hits all the marks; historical figures, witty dialogue and epic family dysfunction that makes for an entertaining evening at the theatre. Written in 1966, the play met with marginal success on Broadway, but in 1968 when the movie adaptation, starring Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole debuted, THE LION IN WINTER became an instant classic, garnering Goldman an Oscar for his script.

Austin’s City Theatre and newcomer Beyond August Productions have joined forces to produce this darker than black comedy at the Trinity Street Theatre this fall.

ANNIE JUMP AND THE LLIBRARY OF HEAVEN finished its run at The Vortex Saturday night to thunderous applause from the audience and fireworks in the distance. What a triumphant return for live theatre at the iconic Austin venue The Vortex!

BWW Review: Street Corner Arts Wows Virtually With THE SPIN

Without a doubt the most delicious thing to come out of the global Coronavirus pandemic is the concentration on good old home cooking. If my Facebook and Instagram feeds are any guide, a culinary renaissance has taken place on an epic scale. What does this have to do with Austin theatre, you ask? Well, Baking For Good, an organization of local theatre luminaries is what and their offerings not only fill your belly, they are food for the soul of our community as well.

Today I’d like to feature award winning costume designer and lauded director, Jennifer Rose Davis, whose generosity, creativity and community spirit has shone brightly during these dark times.

BroadwayWorld Austin Senior Editor, Franklin Edward Benge passed away Saturday, March 14 at 11:37 AM.

Ah the good old days! Back when the sky was clear, the water was clean and the red, white and blue of the 48 star spangled banner still waved true. Only not so much for people of color and immigrants who came to the 'land of opportunity'. Prejudice and racism is as American as apple pie as Southwest Theatre Productions's world premiere of TRADE WITH KLAN by Donald E. Baker so clearly illustrates.

Do you remember your American history class? I know I do, I loved history. We were told that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were men of outstanding quality who believed that 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.a?? What we weren't told was that while writing these words, Thomas Jefferson owned over 600 African-American slaves. In addition, Jefferson had an enslaved mistress, Sally Hemings, with whom he fathered 6 children, who were in turn enslaved. Eleanor Burgess's play THE NICETIES takes on this type of historical discrepancy head on.

If you have never seen Broadway smash hit, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, you're in for an emotional roller coaster wrapped up in a multimedia work of art.

ZACH Theatre's A CHRISTMAS CAROL has been a holiday tradition in these parts for many years, and just when you think it can't get any better, Director Dave Steakley goes and does just that. He gives us bigger stars, better songs and a more topical message. I've been a fan of the show since I first reviewed it four years ago, but this year is the best ever, mostly due to the casting of Austin theatre legend Marc Pouhé as Scrooge.

Rita Anderson's new play premiered with Mèlange Theatre Company last week at Trinity Street Theatre. The fascinating story is worthy of notice by any audience interested in American history or the human struggles that face us all.

Austin Opera's latest effort, Verdi's, RIGOLETTO dazzles in every way. They absolutely outdid themselves this time.

THE VINEYARD by Nicole Oglesby and produced by Heartland Theatre Collective plays its final performance at Trinity Street Theatre on November 10th.

HANG by Debbie Tucker Green is a thoroughly modern play. Using only three actors, a bare bones set and lasting only 90 minutes, HANG uses clever dialogue to pull the audience in and twists the mind brilliantly. Currently showing at Ground Floor Theatre the play, that debuted in 2015, boasts an unequaled cast and crew that shatters the audience's perception with an unforeseen plot twist. Producer/Director Chuck Ney and his new production company, Horizon Line Theatre, have chosen the perfect show to make their first foray into the Austin theatre scene. Witty, articulate and provocative, HANG holds the audience in rapt attention, our heads spinning for the duration.

The Hidden Room has a reputation for presenting meticulously researched historic theatre in the acting style in which they were originally produced. Their current show, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI does not disappoint. The cast and crew outdo themselves in presenting outstanding classic theatre every time. After it's run in Austin, this production hits the road to perform in London, Stratford and Cornwall.