Don Toner News

At the dawn of modern astronomy, Henrietta Leavitt leaves her home and beloved sister to work in Harvard's male-driven observatory and map the night sky. She forms a new sisterhood with her fellow star "computers," Annie and Williamina, and begins to fall in love with her supervisor, Peter Shaw. As Henrietta makes a revolutionary discovery about where the Earth is in time and space, she must fight to be heard in a world where women's ideas are dismissed until men take credit for them. A celestial romance and a true story of determination, Silent Sky invites you to revel in the magic of the universe on this historic journey of love, family, feminism and science.

At the dawn of modern astronomy, Henrietta Leavitt leaves her home and beloved sister to work in Harvard's male-driven observatory and map the night sky. She forms a new sisterhood with her fellow star "computers," Annie and Williamina, and begins to fall in love with her supervisor, Peter Shaw. As Henrietta makes a revolutionary discovery about where the Earth is in time and space, she must fight to be heard in a world where women's ideas are dismissed until men take credit for them. A celestial romance and a true story of determination, Silent Sky invites you to revel in the magic of the universe on this historic journey of love, family, feminism and science.

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Since its original 1973 Broadway production, the musical has been produced in the West End, by opera companies, and in a 2009 Broadway revival. It was adapted for film in 1977. It received Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score.

BWW caught up with Tito Beveridge, owner of Tito's Vodka, to chat for a minute about his new play, THIS SIDE OF THE DIRT.

DISGRACED is the 2013 Pulitzer Prize award-winning play that asks difficult questions about religion, assimilation and individuality. It is now in its Regional Premiere at Austin Playhouse. DISGRACED tells the story of Amir (J. Ben Wolfe), a successful Pakistani-American lawyer, whose life unravels after he lends his name to the cause of an imam accused of terrorism. When he and his artist wife Emily (Molly Karrasch) host an intimate dinner party, the social niceties that can disguise a person's prejudice soon dissolve when the evening escalates into increasingly brutal language exposing all the prejudice simmering underneath the veneer of civility.

Austin Playhouse presents THE PHILADELPHIA STORY by Philip Barry, November 20 - December 20, 2015 at Austin Playhouse at ACC's Highland Campus. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Austin Playhouse presents THE PHILADELPHIA STORY by Philip Barry, November 20 - December 20, 2015 at Austin Playhouse at ACC's Highland Campus. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Tom Stoppard's THE REAL THING is a structurally complex play that uses the gimmick of the play-within-a-play to examine the concepts of marriage and infidelity. It debuted in London in 1982 and two years later was on Broadway.

Henry and Annie have fallen in love, much to the chagrin of their spouses, but their affair does not lead to domestic bliss. As Henry endeavors to break through his protective facade of clever quips, Annie struggles to remain faithful to her new husband. This backstage comedy evolves into a thought-provoking meditation on "the real thing" in relationships, politics, and art. Stoppard combines his characteristically brilliant wordplay and wit with flashes of insight that illuminate the nature and the mystery of love, creating a Tony Award-winning play that challenges the mind while searching out the innermost secrets of the heart.

Austin Playhouse's 16th season opens this September with two classics: Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing and the beloved romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story. They're joined by four regional premieres, including Austin Playwright C. Denby Swanson's The Norwegians, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced, a moving, jazz-infused play about baseball legend Satchel Paige, and a hilarious spoof on Victorian adventurers, The Explorers Club.

It's become a trend, both locally and nationally, for theater companies to reprise a production several years later with the same cast. Of course, if a show gets an encore, it better be deserving of it. In the case of Austin Playhouse's I'm Not Rappaport, the encore is more than well deserved, and its two stars put on a veritable master class in acting.

Austin Playhouse presents Chicago by Fred Ebb and John Kander, directed by Michael McKelvey, May 29 - June 28, 2015. Performances are: Thursday - Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. at Austin Playhouse at Highland Mall 6001 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78752.

This Tony Award-winning play introduces audiences to the unforgettable characters Nat and Midge, two senior citizens who meet in Central Park to escape and combat the sometimes unpleasant realities of life. Together they fight injustice, spin fantasies, and form a friendship full of comic genius. Our production reunites acclaimed actors Tom Parker and Billy Harden as Nat and Midge--roles they've played for director Don Toner in 1989 and 1998 productions. As Toner says, "They're damn near old enough to play the parts now!"

Austin Playhouse will present She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, directed by Don Toner and Lara Toner-Haddock, tonight, February 13th - March 8, 2015.

This boisterous and charming comedy of mistaken identities has delighted audiences for over two centuries. Two well-bred young men arrive at the country estate of Mr. Hardcastle, intending to court his daughter Kate and her cousin Constance, but when local mischief-maker Tony Lumpkin plays a practical joke on the two urbanites, the Hardcastle household is launched into a dizzying, deliciously frothy romp that examines romance and social manners as well as the art of love. Our production will be a sumptuous celebration of the gorgeous language, elegant costumes, and outright hilarity of Goldsmith's classic.

Austin Playhouse will present She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, directed by Don Toner and Lara Toner-Haddock, February 13th - March 8, 2015.

In this comic twist on a classic sleuthing caper Oscar Wilde's muse, actress Lillie Langtry presents Holmes with what seems like an open and shut case. But with his superior powers of deductive reasoning, Sherlock wastes no time in exposing a much more sinister conspiracy. In a fast-paced ride full of surprises and disguises, Holmes and Watson must do whatever it takes to help their friends...while facing their greatest foe.

In this comic twist on a classic sleuthing caper Oscar Wilde's muse, actress Lillie Langtry presents Holmes with what seems like an open and shut case. But with his superior powers of deductive reasoning, Sherlock wastes no time in exposing a much more sinister conspiracy. In a fast-paced ride full of surprises and disguises, Holmes and Watson must do whatever it takes to help their friends…while facing their greatest foe.

Every November, BWW-Austin teams up with other Austin-based theater publications to announce the Central Texas Excellence in Theatre Awards. The nominations were announced last night. Scroll down for the full list!

In this comic twist on a classic sleuthing caper Oscar Wilde's muse, actress Lillie Langtry presents Holmes with what seems like an open and shut case. But with his superior powers of deductive reasoning, Sherlock wastes no time in exposing a much more sinister conspiracy. In a fast-paced ride full of surprises and disguises, Holmes and Watson must do whatever it takes to help their friends...while facing their greatest foe.