It's been 30 years since we were first introduced to Tuna, the third smallest town in Texas, where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies. The 20 Tuna residents -- men, women, children and a dog -- are portrayed by only two performers, R. Michael Clinkscales and Will Mercer, in a hilarious look at rural Texas life. There is a universality to this script, written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, that is the reason it has held up so beautifully over the years. This current production, staged by The Wimberley Players and directed by Aaron Johnson, is a thoroughly enjoyable evening and R. Michael Clinkscales and Will Mercer more than do justice to this Texas treasure.
I've seen three productions of Avenue Q in my life, all of them ranging from the Broadway national tour to a local community theater performance, to Sunday's matinee performed by the Austin Theatre Project. Bottom line: Avenue Q smart, funny, and relatable show. It's crude, sometimes a bit cringe-worthy, but simultaneously downright hilarious. Throw in an equally humorous and catchy soundtrack, and it's no wonder the show won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical (beating Wicked, mind you).
Austin Theatre Project has announced its third annual New Year's Eve gala and fundraiser, featuring the gender-bending musical revue, Bending Broadway. With a cast of fourteen, the show is filled with Broadway favorites from Sweet Charity, Next to Normal, Into the Woods, Jekyll and Hyde, Book of Mormon, and many more!
When the Wimberley Players stage The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, tonight, September 12 - October 5, audiences can expect packed houses and a hilarious good time as only Mel Brooks can deliver. A spoof of classic horror films of the '30s and '40s (as seen in the 1974 movie of the same name), it is a rowdy, 'bawd-villian' frolic of the Frankenstein story in the best tradition of Borscht-Belt comedy.
When the Wimberley Players stage The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, September 12 - October 5, audiences can expect packed houses and a hilarious good time as only Mel Brooks can deliver. A spoof of classic horror films of the '30s and '40s (as seen in the 1974 movie of the same name), it is a rowdy, "bawd-villian" frolic of the Frankenstein story in the best tradition of Borscht-Belt comedy.
After months of thought, debate and conversation, the staff and writers of Austin Entertainment Weekly with much assistance from Broadway World Austin's Editor Jeff Davis, have announced a new award system for the Central Texas Theatre Community.
Whether at their best or worst, Erica and Ben are always honest and authentic, and that honesty and authenticity is what The Boys Next Door revolves around. As Tom Griffin's outstanding text requires that 'normal' actors play the four central roles, getting that sense of honesty is tough. The actors must show how quirky and unique these men are but must keep the characters from becoming offensive caricatures.
The show may be called I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, but this production, now playing the Georgetown Palace Theatre, should be known as YOU'LL LOVE IT, IT'S PERFECT, DON'T CHANGE.
