Sabrina Wallace

Jesus Christ Superstar at Georgetown Palace Theatre may be my favorite Palace production since I started reviewing in 2018. Jamie Rogers delivers a modern, energetic rock opera filled with standout performances, inventive staging, hip-hop-infused choreography, and a live band that absolutely rocks. Don't miss this one!

The results are in and the buckets have found their new homes! The Austin Theatre Critics Awards honored the outstanding artists, productions, designers, directors, and unsung heroes who made this past season one to remember. Check out the full list of winners and celebrate the best of Central Texas theatre.

Most people know Vincent van Gogh through his paintings. Leonard Nimoy's Vincent introduces us to the man behind them through the eyes of his devoted brother Theo. Penfold Theatre delivers a beautifully told, emotionally resonant production led by a captivating performance from Nathan Jerkins.

What happens when fandom becomes an obsession? Dirty Gold Theatre's Insomnia Cafe takes a ridiculous premise and turns it into something surprisingly unsettling. Equal parts dark comedy and psychological thriller, the play left me laughing one moment and questioning why the next.

The Robber Bridegroom is a wildly entertaining evening of bluegrass, folklore, romance, and comedy. The Alchemy Theatre transforms the Whisenhunt Stage into a constantly evolving Southern tall tale with inventive staging, excellent performances, and choreography that never stops moving—a joy from start to finish.

For more than a decade, Josh Wechsler and Jen Young Mahlstedt have helped shape the future of young performers in Central Texas. In this exclusive interview, they discuss The J² Method, college preparation, mentorship, and Starmade Shadows, their annual showcase celebrating artistry, growth, and community.

Funny, warm, and painfully relatable, Austin Playhouse’s Erma Bombeck: at wit's end transforms domestic chaos into razor-sharp comedy. Sarah Fleming Walker commands the stage in a captivating solo performance that captures the exhaustion, wit, ambition, and quiet resilience behind Bombeck’s iconic voice.

At first, Wakey, Wakey feels like an eccentric conversation filled with dry humor and scattered thoughts. Then the truth lands. Hyde Park Theatre’s production of Will Eno’s play is intimate and funny, and Ken Webster delivers a deeply human performance.

The Wiz at Bass Concert Hall delivers dazzling visuals, standout performances, and plenty of personality. Hannah Beachler’s scenic design and Sharen Davis’ costumes are unforgettable, while Phoenix Assata La Freniere, Kyla Jade, and the charming trio of Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion keep the journey lively and fun, even when the score lacks the lasting punch of its famous Oz relatives.

The 2025–2026 Austin theatre season was bold, adventurous, thought-provoking, and funny as heck. I haven’t cried in public as much as I did this past season!

City Theatre Austin revisits Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple with nostalgic charm, a detailed lived-in set, and an entertaining ensemble led by Darwin Ragsdale and Zachary Gamble. While the pacing occasionally softens the comedy’s sharp edge, the production still delivers a fun night of classic laughs.

The 13th Annual Heller Awards for Young Artists (HAYAs) took place last night, May 6, 2026, for the first time at Bass Concert Hall, the home of Broadway in Austin, presented by Texas Performing Arts and co-produced by Impact Arts. It was a night of celebration and joy!

On Tuesday night, Topfer Theatre was packed for Zach Theater’s 2026-2027 season announcement, and honestly, seeing that many people come out on a school night to celebrate regional theatre felt wonderful. The energy in the room was electric. Austin showed up for the arts.

Austin Playhouse’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, directed by Lara Toner Haddock, is a fast, witty farce about Monty Navarro and his murderous path to inheritance. The humor lands through timing and structure rather than weight or message. I’d almost forgotten how funny it is, and it’s simply built to keep you laughing.

The world premiere of Kathleen Fletcher’s autobiographical Take Care of My Friend is a raw, funny, and unflinching portrait of life with OCD, anxiety, and depression. A powerful ensemble-driven piece that turns intrusive thoughts into theatre and breaks isolation through honesty. Worth every laugh and every tear.

Dear Evan Hansen at ZACH explores mental illness, grief, and the aftermath of a teenage tragedy in a hyperconnected world. Strong cast led by Evan Jennings, emotional music, and urgent themes left me moved, reflective, and deeply affected.

The Hidden Room’s Fire Raisers is chilling and razor-sharp, where politeness becomes peril in a world where truth is seen and still ignored. Under Beth Burns, it mirrors a culture where power bends consequence, and complicity hides in plain sight.

City Theatre Austin’s Men on Boats is a sharp historical comedy where an all women and non-binary ensemble dismantles frontier myth making. Clever staging, precise physical comedy, and bold direction turn conquest into satire.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Ground Floor Theatre delivers a stripped-down, electric experience, telling a story of identity, loss, and resilience. Fueled by a powerhouse performance, it becomes more than theater, it is a bold call to uplift and protect queer voices.

Bandwagon Arts gives Noël Coward’s Private Lives a modern twist at Ground Floor Theatre. Ex-spouses Elyot and Amanda collide on neighboring honeymoon balconies, and chaos follows. Quick wit, messy romance, and socialites behaving badly keep this classic comedy humming.