Ann Ciccolella News

Austin Shakespeare seats the audience in the round for Harold Pinter's Old Times at The Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Austin Shakespeare seats the audience in the round for Harold Pinter's Old Times at The Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

PRESENT LAUGHTER is a 1939 comedy by Noel Coward. The play's title comes from a song in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, 'present mirth hath present laughter', that urges the sense of carpe diem. Coward repeats one of his signature theatrical devices at the end of the play, where the main characters tiptoe out as the curtain falls - a device that he also used in Private Lives, Hay Fever and Blithe Spirit. The plot follows the life of self-obsessed actor Garry Essendine (Marc Pouhe) as he prepares for a theatrical tour in Africa. Amid a series of events that border on farce, Garry has to deal with women who want to be with him, placate both his secretary and his estranged wife, cope with a more than slightly crazed young playwright, and overcome an impending mid-life crisis. The story has been described by Coward as 'a series of semi-autobiographical pyrotechnics'.

Austin Shakespeare brings Noel Coward's classic comedy Present Laughter to the Rollins Studio Theatre at The Long Center for the Performing Arts from November 16, 2016 - December 4, 2016. Chaos, romance and dazzling dialogue are shaken up to concoct this perfect cocktail for the holiday season! Marc Pouhe stars as the 1930's matinee idol, Garry Essendine, who is self-obsessed, slipping into middle age, and still surrounded by admiring women. Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella says, "Marc was so funny offstage at Macbeth this summer that I envisioned him in a full-out comedy."

A public reading of scenes from Ayn Rand's We the Living/The Unconquered will be performed today, September 29th, at 2pm at The Westside Theatre Downstairs (407 West 43rdStreet).

Austin Shakespeare's short run, staged reading of WOLF HALL, PART 1, transports the audience to the court of King Henry VIII with smooth staging and lavish costuming.

Austin Shakespeare is kicking off the 2016-2017 season with a staged reading of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall (Part I only), running September 22 - 25, 2016 at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Mantel's best-selling novel, which was adapted for stage by Michael Poulton, is a thrilling reimagining of life under Henry VIII with an unlikely hero at the center, Thomas Cromwell, the son of a blacksmith who rose to become one of the most powerful men in England. After a sold-out Broadway run and rave reviews, Austin Shakespeare is thrilled to produce the Southwest premiere of Wolf Hall with a fully costumed staged reading directed by Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella.

A public reading of scenes from Ayn Rand's We the Living/The Unconquered will be performed on September 29th at 2pm at The Westside Theatre Downstairs (407 West 43rdStreet). Directed by Ann Ciccolella, We the Living/The Unconquered is produced by Austin Shakespeare, who produced a stage adaptation of Ayn Rand's Anthem Off-Broadway in 2013.

Austin Shakespeare, central Texas' classical theater company, will collaborate with ACMC for the first time to create a music-filled production of Shakespeare's Henry VIII at 7:30 pm on Saturday, July 16th at the University of Texas' beautiful Bates Recital Hall. Part of the 20th Anniversary Austin Chamber Music Festival, this one night only event will feature professional actors in Tudor period costume performing alongside a piano quintet.

Now in its 32nd year of Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park, Austin Shakespeare brings a professional production of a modern, military Macbeth facing unusual witches and sword fights in camouflage. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets and picnics on any Today through Sunday at 8 pm for the entire month of May for the production co-sponsored by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.

Now in its 32nd year of Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park, Austin Shakespeare brings a professional production of a modern, military Macbeth facing unusual witches and sword fights in camouflage. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets and picnics on any Thursday through Sunday at 8 pm for the entire month of May for the production co-sponsored by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.

Now in its 32nd year of Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park, Austin Shakespeare brings a professional production of a modern, military Macbeth facing unusual witches and sword fights in camouflage. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets and picnics on any Thursday through Sunday at 8 pm for the entire month of May for the production co-sponsored by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.

Now in its 32nd year of Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park, Austin Shakespeare      brings a professional production of a modern, military Macbeth facing unusual witches and sword fights in camouflage. Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets and picnics on any Thursday through Sunday at 8 pm for the entire month of May for the production co-sponsored by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Dept.

Austin Shakespeare's welcomes the public to a free 'Shakespeare Idol' - family-friendly celebration where students ages 12-19 perform Shakespeare speeches and scenes with commentary from professional judges. The event will be held today, April 2, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Long Center's AT&T Room, 701 West Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78704.

Austin Shakespeare's welcomes the public to a free 'Shakespeare Idol' - family-friendly celebration where students ages 12-19 perform Shakespeare speeches and scenes with commentary from professional judges. The event will be held on Sunday, April 2, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Long Center.

Based upon the Greek legend, after betraying her family to get the Golden Fleece for the hero, Jason, he brings Medea and their sons to Corinth where he unexpectedly decides to marry the princess. Faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea exacts her revenge.

The Greek tragedy Medea by the irreverent Euripides slashes across the stage with the revenge of a woman scorned, starring nationally-acclaimed classical actress, Franchelle Stewart Dorn in the title role. The production runs at the Long Center for the Performing Arts (701 W. Riverside Drive), February 17-March 6, 2016 and is presented by Austin Shakespeare.

Austin Shakespeare presents the legendary passion of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, located at 701 West Riverside Drive in Austin at 7:30 pm Thursday-Sunday, November 19 - December 6, 2015. 

Austin Shakespeare presents the legendary passion of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, located at 701 West Riverside Drive in Austin at 7:30 pm Thursday-Sunday, November 19 - December 6, 2015. 

Austin Shakespeare, in collaboration with Armstrong Community Music School, has cast familiar Austin singing actors along with new ones for their concert version of Stephen Sondheim's musical, Sunday in the Park with George, September 24 - 27, 2015, for six performances in four days at the Long Center for the Performing Arts (www.thelongcenter.org).