Rick Smith News

Lifeline Theatre's KidSeries presents The One and Only Ivan, a world premiere adaptation by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member James E. Grote, directed by Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne, based on the bestselling book by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by Patricia Castelao.

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!

Ebenezer Scrooge's heart is hard as stone, but a handful of ghosts and one special little boy will teach him what Christmas really means when Meadow Brook Theatre presents its 33rd annual production of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol.' Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast!

Hidden identities and high society collide to provide a spirited evening of song and dance and slamming doors in "Cole Porter's You Never Know." The Baron Rommer has the penthouse suite at the Hotel Ritz in Paris for the summer of 1929. The baron's butler's head has been turned by a lovely society woman, but at his station, he knows he doesn't stand a chance. If he were only a baron…. What could he do but trade identities with his boss? But that's only the first of the misunderstandings and mix-ups that will have you laughing.

At 18, most kids are thinking of leaving home, but not Joshua. Josh has autism, and it sets the tone for his entire household. When his grandmother comes for a visit, the carefully maintained balance in the family is sent spinning. After all, Josh isn't the only person in the family, and isn't everyone else entitled to a life, as well?

City Theatre's production of The Odd Couple has kicked off to a great start. The Odd Couple will be running for three more weeks, until March 30. Catch it while you can! Check below for pictures of the production.

At 18, most kids are thinking of leaving home, but not Joshua. Josh has autism, and it sets the tone for his entire household. When his grandmother comes for a visit, the carefully maintained balance in the family is sent spinning. After all, Josh isn't the only person in the family, and isn't everyone else entitled to a life, as well?

A survey was just completed to determine what made Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard a fan favorite. While responses were many and varied, there were a few themes of note that repeatedly came up.

In 'Harris Cashes Out!' we meet Harris Wellborn who wrote a musical that lasted for just one performance off-Broadway…40 years ago. Now he's barely getting by, surviving on the charity of his overbearing sister and living in a run-down apartment. Then a wacky neighbor enters his life, and her conniving boyfriend has got the perfect plan to cash in on Harris' near-fame.

In "Harris Cashes Out!" we meet Harris Wellborn who wrote a musical that lasted for just one performance off-Broadway…40 years ago. Now he's barely getting by, surviving on the charity of his overbearing sister and living in a run-down apartment. Then a wacky neighbor enters his life, and her conniving boyfriend has got the perfect plan to cash in on Harris' near-fame.

Voting is now underway for Austin! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Austin! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

One hundred fourteen scores from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2013 are in contention for nominations in the Original Score category for the 86th Oscars®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.

Voting is now underway for Austin! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

'The Game's Afoot' takes audiences to a mystery mansion with Sherlock Holmes. Well, not Holmes, himself. Rather, William Gillette, a 1930s actor best known for portraying Sherlock Holmes. After bringing his castmates to his Connecticut estate for a holiday celebration, the merriment ends abruptly when a guest is stabbed to death. Gillette, determined to save his guests, hilariously decides to channel his most beloved role, Sherlock Holmes, to solve the deadly puzzle.

"The Game's Afoot" takes audiences to a mystery mansion with Sherlock Holmes. Well, not Holmes, himself. Rather, William Gillette, a 1930s actor best known for portraying Sherlock Holmes. After bringing his castmates to his Connecticut estate for a holiday celebration, the merriment ends abruptly when a guest is stabbed to death. Gillette, determined to save his guests, hilariously decides to channel his most beloved role, Sherlock Holmes, to solve the deadly puzzle.

Think of A Few Good Men, and you're bound to think of Jack Nicholson screaming the iconic line "You can't handle the truth!" in the celebrated 1992 film. However, if you're lucky enough to catch Georgetown Palace's current production of the 1989 play which inspired the film, you're bound to think of a remarkably effective and thought provoking evening of theatre.

In complete darkness, the Godlike voice of a judge echoes. To the unseen jury, the voice states, "Premeditated murder is the most serious charge tried in our criminal courts…One man is dead. Another man's life is at stake…In the event that you find the accused 'Guilty,' the bench will not entertain a recommendation for mercy. The death sentence is mandatory in this case. You're faced with a grave responsibility." Moments later, twelve men file into the jury room. As they immediately discuss everything from the weather to an upcoming ball game to their desire to "get it over with," it becomes clear that all of them failed to grasp the importance of the judge's stern and eloquent instructions. All, that is, except for the solitary juror who detaches from the group and stares pensively out the window. So begins 12 Angry Men, Reginald Rose's gritty and brutally honest examination of our judicial system, now playing in a stark and powerful new production at Austin's City Theatre.

Written by Roger Bean, 'Life Could Be a Dream' runs tonight, April 24 through May 19 at Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, MI.