Ay, But One Truth: This Week in Theatre

Ah, the theatre. Drenched in history, glory, shame, and the passionate pursuit of dreams. Wrought with the epitomic struggles of man – the epochal moments of our modern age – wrangling that which is humanity onto our most noble public platform – the stage.

So yeah, just like every week there’s a manwich-size portion of performance going on in town this weekend. Beyond the kick-ass stuff that’s already going on, the new show garnishing our Austinist pick of the week is UpWake III from Women and Their Work. We already gave you a little inside info on this upcoming performance-and-media-dance-thon when we gave away some tickets. But just a quick reminder – the story follows Zero, a toon character, in a dance/clown performance that interacts with 3-D projections. Whoa, trippy. It’s running this weekend only, so get yer ass down to the Boyd Vance Theatre, Friday or Saturday night at 8pm. Tickets, info, and all that jazz at the WaTW website.

Here’s a rundown on what else is going on:

THE EMPTY BOWL
This show from Loaded Gun Theory won the ArtSpark Festival last year – which means it’s probably more exciting to watch this production than it is to play video games. Plus, the original show was created by some Austin theatre notables, including Rob Matney and Ben Wolfe (both of whom we adore). Though we’ve never actually seen a LGT show (for shame, Austinist, for shame), this “absurdist comedy” sounds like it might be a good introduction. The show opened on Thursday, but if you go Saturday you could stay for a party and hear the Arab League play! All the fun at Arts on Real. Tickets, info and all that at the LGT website.

THE SUMMER PEOPLE
If there’s one group of people that know how stage a revolution, damned if it isn’t those Russians. Here, the UT Department of Theatre and Dance stages this “middle-class” take on all the upheaval by Maxim Gorkey. We bet lots of the characters’ names will end in “vick”. Opening Friday at the B. Iden Payne Theatre. Check out the PAC website for more info.

FLIGHT 916 and THE POWER (POINT) OF LOVE
Flight 916 is the latest effort from prominent Austin playwrights Rebecca Beegle and Cyndi Williams. We really dug Williams’ last playwriting effort, and as an actress she just got some mad props for her role as in the big-hit indie film, Room. If that isn’t enough to make you check this out, Power Point is brought to you by Found Magazine art director and animator Arthur Jones – who, if you’re a TV watcher, you might’ve just seen in some ad on TBS, or TNT, or one of those three-letter cable stations. Score. Playing this weekend only as part of the FuseBox Festival at the Blue Theater. Tickets, info and the secret to happiness here.

CHEATER
Another group writing piece headed up by Andrea Skola (if any of you remember Stall Graffiti ATX, that was her, too) – this time, for Shrewd Productions. New short plays by Michael Kranes, Robert LeBlanc, Gregory Romero, Ken Webster, Mical Trejo and Skola herself. There’s some fine playwrights in that line-up, plus we hear the cast is awesome. Check it out starting tonight, and running through May 13 at Hyde Park Theatre. Call 695.7405 for tickets, or do it internet style over at the HPT website.

But wait, don't forget these fine shows, still running from last week!

DECAMERON DAY 7: REVENGE. Read our review. Presented by the Rude Mechs at the Off Center. Running through April 29th. Tickets and info at the Rude Mechs website.

STATIC, by Jason Pavelchik. Read our review. Presented by Salvage Vanguard Theatre at the Woodward Hotel through May 6th. Tickets and info.

THE ODD COUPLE, presented by Austin Playhouse through May 7th. Tickets and info.

IN 2 THE WEST. Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Call 223-3352 for more tickets and info.

9x9x9. Coda Theatre Project at the Play! Theatre. Thursday thru Saturday at 8pm. Call 809-0050 or visit the Coda Theater website for tickets and info.

UNCLE VANYA from Kadigan & Mountweazel Theater. Running Thursday thru Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are only $3 on Thursdays, and $6 on Friday and Saturday. (At that price, what the hell, right?) More info at the company's website, or by emailing Graham Schmidt, the show's delightful director. (Take the () outta the email. Unless you're a creepy email spider. In that case, go away.)

THE EXONERATED, presented by Zach Scott Theatre through May 7th. Tickets and info.

BAD DATES, presented by Zach Scott Theatre through May 7th. Tickets and info.

THE BEARD OF AVON
Presented by Different Stages at the Vortex. Running through April 28th. Tickets and info at 453-7943.

THE WOMEN
Presented by Sam Bass Community Theatre and running through April 29th. Tickets and info by calling 512.244.0440 or traveling to Round Rock via the virtual highway.

TRIPLE ESPRESSO
Presented at the State Theatre Wed thru Fri at 8pm, Sat at 4pm and 8pm, & Sun at 2:30 and 7pm. Running through May 14th. Tickets and info here.

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