*This post by future contributor Jonathan Morgan
Get psyched, get pumped, and get the hell outta your house. Continuing this weekend, you'll find more cool shows in Austin than scared kids at a Michael Jackson concert…or a Gary Glitter concert…or….
FRONTERA FEST: "Jesus, Austinist", you say, "can't you guys talk about anything else?" We could, but this festival is so damn jam-packed with theatrical goodies that we're hereby telling you again, just in case you've recently fallen off the face of the planet. Best of the Week is the big news for Short Fringe at Hyde Park Theatre (Saturday@8pm). Short Fringe Coordinator Jennifer Hamilton blogs about last week's Best of here. Over at the Blue Theater, Long Fringe notables are Dance Carousel from Spank Dance (Saturday@12pm, Sunday@1:45pm), and The Most Beautiful Lullaby You've Ever Heard from percolating Austin playwright Greg Romero (Friday@7pm, Saturday@11:15pm). Bring Your Own Venue's stand-out is Ben Prager, super-star monologist. Ben is performing at the Off Center (Friday and Saturday@10pm). Full schedule, directions, and so forth at www.fronterafest.org. For tickets to any Frontera show, call 479-PLAY.
But that's not all! There are hordes of other shows in town that have nothing to do with Frontera Fest! Check it.
GET YOUR WAR ON: We saw the workshop for this spectacular Rude Mechs show last year and loved it. Then we checked out this year's full production and loved it even more. Finally, a show that proves the War on Terror is way cooler than that lame War on Drugs that The Man tried to stick us with back in the 80s. See this show. Tickets by calling 476-RUDE or at www.rudemechs.com.
DARK GODDESS 2006: The latest installment in a series of annual "ritual theatre" events from Bonnie Cullum and the Vortex. This is what they do best. If you like weird performance and partial nudity, this is your show. Tickets at 478-LAVA or www.vortexrep.org.
URINETOWN: The regional premiere of a smash hit Broadway success from Dave Steakley and the Zach Scott crew. Tickets for this show have been selling like hot cakes, the Statesman loved it, and we hear that this weekend saw a standing ovation at every performance. Rumor is, it's funny. Join the stampede by calling 476-0541 or visiting www.zachscott.com.
TWO INTO WAR: Different Stages brings us an anti-war double-bill at the play! Theatre filled with "tales of suffering and celebration". Both pieces are directed by Latifah Taormina, legendary Executive Director of Austin Circle of Theatres. Tickets at 474-8497 and www.austix.com.
HOUSE AND GARDEN: This über-play by Alan Ayckbourne is based on the coolest gimmick we've ever heard of. Two plays happen simultaneously with the same cast – one inside (House), one outside (Garden). Sounds complicated, but according to this dude at the Statesman, it's worth your nickel. Don and Laura Toner both direct this auspicious undertaking at the Austin Playhouse. Tickets at 476-0084 or by visiting www.austinplayhouse.com.
WHEN PIGS FLY: This is the final weekend to see what is, undoubtedly, another funny show from Blake Yelavich and Naughty Austin. A musical revue that's most likely chalk-full of cheeky jokes about being gay. But don't worry, closet-boy, the New York Post says it's "user friendly for straights". Get your giggle on by calling 472-2287 or at www.artsonreal.com.
Now that you're in the know, you should no longer be able to convince yourself that checking out the completely lame open mic night at your local coffee house is "getting out". See you at the theatre.
If you think your performance event is worth posting here, email the details to jonathonmorgan@gmail.com.
*Photo (c) datarec at Stock Exchange.
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