Susan Branch News

Austin Shakespeare presents William Luce's The Belle of Amherst, a one-woman show featuring Helen Merino tonight, November 14-24th at the Rollins Studio Theatre of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside Drive, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Austin Shakespeare presents William Luce's The Belle of Amherst, a one-woman show featuring Helen Merino November 14-24th at the Rollins Studio Theatre of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside Drive, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Austin Shakespeare presents William Luce's The Belle of Amherst, a one-woman show featuring Helen Merino November 14-24th at the Rollins Studio Theatre of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside Drive, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities, October 25 - November 9, 2013. Joyce Cohen, Nancy Lemenager, Dennis Parlato, Kate Skinner and Michael Zlabinger make up the all-Equity cast. Check out photos of the cast in action onstage below!

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities tonight, October 25 - November 9, 2013.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities October 25 - November 9, 2013. Check out a first look below!

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities October 25 - November 9, 2013.

Though art about art has been all over Austin as of late, there's always room for one more production provided it's as good as this. Museum is a bold, laugh-out-loud farce that lovingly mocks the pretentiousness often found in both modern art and those who claim to love and understand it.

"Texas is okay if you want to settle down and do your thing quietly," Janis Joplin once said, "but it's not for outrageous people, and I was always outrageous." Janis must have forgotten about Austin, because One Night with Janis Joplin, the Broadway-bound Janis Joplin musical now playing at the Zach Theatre, seems tailor made for our music-loving city.

The last few times I've seen a production at St. Edwards University's Mary Moody Northern Theatre, I've had to remind myself that I'm viewing a show featuring a cast of mostly college students. Every time, the production is of professional quality, and their current production of The Secret Garden is no exception. All audience members are bound to be mesmerized by the physical beauty of the stagecraft and the incredible performances.

It's been said that perception is reality. While I completely agree with the statement, it is cause for one major question. Whose perception is reality? Where some of us may see empty air, others may see a 6 foot 3 ½ white rabbit. This odd and puzzling philosophical question is at the core of Harvey, the 1945 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy by Mary Chase. The farce, now playing at Zach's Topfer Theatre, tackles this question, albeit with far more humor and wackiness than you'd ever find in a collegiate philosophy class.

I've heard it said that we are our most authentic selves when no one else is around and it's just us with our thoughts. Perhaps that's why Tru is so effective. By giving us a one man play in which Truman Capote can contemplate his life and the people in it, Jay Presson Allen has given us a fascinating portrait of the famous writer. Buoyed by Jaston Williams's fearless performance, this production is not to be missed.

Greater Tuna star Jaston Williams inhabits Truman Capote in what's described as a virtuoso performance of the charming, acerbic, fragile, and enigmatic writer. In this one-man tour de force, Williams' astonishing portrayal of the In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's author is by turns hilarious, vulnerable, and confessional. The audience becomes confidants to TRU's trademark wit and honesty. Packed houses, standing ovations, and waves of laughter characterized this show in its initial run at ZACH Theatre 12 years ago making it the hottest ticket in town. This production promises to be even more fun this time around.

IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS is exactly what it should be: a sensational holiday feel-good experience. One that worships warm reds and greens, fervent Christmas trees, musings of snow and the cozy thoughts of sipping 'hot cocoa.'

The current production of RAGTIME, produced by Zach Theatre in its new Topfer Theatre, shows precisely why RAGTIME is such a respected and important piece of theater. This dazzling and flawless production of the show is nothing short of spectacular and yet another triumph for Zach.

Pioneer Theatre Company's Loge Gallery has held over its exhibit "Setting the Stage: Fifty Years of Pioneer Theatre Design," a collection of theatrical renderings from dozens of designers whose creations have been brought to life on the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre's main stage since its inaugural season in 1962. The display will appear during the run of PTC's season opener, In the Heights, September 14 - September 29, 2012.

The Sound of Music, the final collaboration of Musical Theater Gods Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is quite possibly their most popular and most famous; judging by the current production by Zilker Theatre Productions it's easy to see why. The Sound of Music is a classic crowd-pleaser that the entire family can enjoy and appreciate.

Xanadu presented by the Zach Theater in Austin is two hours brimming with joy, laughter, and sequins.

The Denver Center Theatre Company will present William Shakespeare's comedy THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, playing the Stage through February 26. Tickets may be purchased now, by calling 303.893.4100 or visiting www.denvercenter.org.

This version of Willy's 16th century exploration of family expectations, courtship rituals, marriage as an institution, identity, love, and sex is a fun, physical, social exploration of what it means to be a woman - in 1590, 1950, and 2012.