Madison Piner News

Time is running out to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Austin Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

Voting is fully underway for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Austin Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 11. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Austin Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Austin Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Since I moved to Austin in 2009, I haven't been quite this blown-away with the realization of the astounding talent we have right here in our very own city. Doctuh Mistuh's production of HEATHERS the Musical features a veritable who's who of young local talent, some truly memorable music, a fantastic band, and of course, all of those one-liners and scenes that HEATHERS film fans are expecting.

Who out there doesn't know THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW or, at least, the film musical version, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW? Well, as it turns out, at least six people the night I went… but I digress. THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is the live stage version of what became the most successful flop in cinema history. A musical with music, lyrics and a book by Richard O'Brien, the show is a twisted tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the late 1940s on. The show tells the tale of Brad and Janet, a newly engaged couple who get caught in a storm and take refuge in the castle of a mad transvestite scientist, Dr. Frank-n-Furter, on the night of the unveiling of his new creation, a muscle man named Rocky Horror. The original London production premiered in 1973 and closed in 1980, running for a total of 2,960 performances and winning the 1973 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical.

As a self-proclaimed theatre nerd, I have a bit of an embarrassing confession: I have never seen Chicago on stage. I've belted the soundtrack, seen the movie countless times, and even walked past the Ambassador Theater on Broadway (that counts-right?). But I had not yet seen this musical favorite live, until Wednesday night at the opening of Summer Stock Austin's Chicago. And yes, was it all that and a side of jazz.

SILENCE, THE MUSICAL will run today, June 19-July 13, 2014 (Thurs-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 5pm. Midnight performances on July 5 & 12) at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre, 2803 E Manor Rd, Austin, TX.

SILENCE, THE MUSICAL will run June 19-July 13, 2014 (Thurs-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 5pm. Midnight performances on July 5 & 12) at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre, 2803 E Manor Rd, Austin, TX.

Summertime in Austin seems like the perfect place and time for a happy-go-lucky musical celebration of jazz music and swing dance. At least SummerStock Austin thinks so, and I whole-heartedly agree. Their production of Swing!, a dazzling and energetic musical revue, is absolutely astonishing and completely entertaining. Though SummerStock Austin's other two current productions of Pippin and The Bremen Town Musicians are excellent and memorable, Swing! proves to be the biggest crowd-pleaser of the bunch.

Sometimes there's nothing as hysterical as hysteria. That's the main premise of Reefer Madness, currently produced by Doctuh Mistuh Productions, a musical satire about the dangers of marijuana. The show, which splits its run between the Spiderhouse Ballroom and the Dougherty Arts Center, is an absolute laugh riot.

While A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD is not a wildly well-known or popular show, it still is a fantastic piece. Brought to life by a talented ensemble of young actors, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD is a whimsical child's storybook world come to life, and it will delight both kids and adults.