Radio IST List: Graham Williams
Austinist's Will Mills Gets Dunked For Charity [Video]
Bibles and Rhymes: An Interview with Why?'s Yoni Wolf
Our common pitch to the non-theatre-goer:
Hey, you’re a fun looking guy/gal. Wanna give something new a try? You know that persnickety twitch in the back of your head, reminding you that you feel disconnected from friends, neighbors and co-workers? You know how, in a quiet moment, alone in your apartment with the sinking feeling that there just isn’t anything imaginable that you could possibly want to do, you wish that you’d felt one great passion in your life – some calling that could inspire you to the kind of greatness hinted at – hinted at – but never quite achieved in movies and TV? You know that secret wish that you could be part of something larger then yourself, part of a community – part of a group where you felt…finally…at home?
Yeah, you look like the type. We’ve got a great new fix for you. Theatre. Everyone’s doin’ it. Come on, little lost one. It doesn’t hurt you to try it. Come on. What’s stopping you? Your parents? Your job? The rules? Don’t be such a pussy. Go see a play this weekend.
And, if you’d like our advice on which play to see, we recommend our Austinist Pick of The Week: The Intergalactic Nemesis. This campy sci-fi, faux retro-radio live performance from Salvage Vanguard is about to take over the world – or, at least, the country – in a national tour this fall. See it now, so that in six months you can be just like one of those snobby New York assholes that say “...the tour? Oh, I guess I’ll see it – I doubt it’d be as good as when I saw the original production on Broadway.” Except instead of “on Broadway”, you can say “at the Blue Theater in Austin.” Then just look smug. It’s a three part trilogy, with Part I on Thursdays, Part II on Fridays, and Part III on Saturdays. All shows at 8pm. Check out the Salvage Vanguard website for tickets and info.
WHIRLED NEWS TONIGHT
Technically, this opened a long time ago, but because it’s improv comedy based on weekly news clippings (as selected by the audience at the beginning of show) it’s new every week! This is a little note from us to say, don’t forget about the show that took the Windy City by storm, and get yer butt down to the Hideout on Saturday night at 10:30 in order to have a damn good time. Read our interview with Whirled News Austin performer Erika May, or check out the Whirled News Austin website for more info.
ARTSPARK FESTIVAL
There’s five – count ‘em – five new theatre performances showing as part of this festival, with companies from Austin, NYC and beyond. We did a little preview post about Art Spark earlier this week, which you can read here.
A PLACE TO LAND
Performed in a Clarksville home, this show from Performance Encounters combines text, live music, videos, dance and social activism to answer the question, “what makes a house a home?” Performed by Sharon Marroquin, Leticia Rodriguez, and Suzi Stern at 1609 W 9th Street. Click here for a map, or, if you’re a little adventurous, wander around the neighborhood for awhile. We lived in that hood when we first moved to town, and, if nothing else, it’s great for walking. Info and more at the Dance Umbrella website.
TAPESTRY DANCE: 6th ANNUAL SOUL TO SOLE FESTIVAL
Speaking of dance, these peeps bring the whole gamut. Master classes, panel discussions and archive films of jazz tap performances with appearances by international tap artists like Arthur Duncan (of the Lawrence Welk Show), Derick Grant (Broadway’s Bring in Da Noise) and many others. Master classes today and tomorrow, and Participant Showcase/Soul to Sole Faculty Concert on Saturday at Helm Fine Arts Center, St. Stephen’s School. Call 512.773.7827 for more info or visit the Tapestry Dance website.
THE OLDEST PROFESSION
Paula Vogel, the playwright famed for her Pulizter Prize winning play How I Learned to Drive, has become a leading voice in the modern American theatre. Paradox Players present the Austin premiere of one of her lesser known pieces, The Oldest Profession – a bittersweet comedy about five elderly prostitutes. It’s all going down at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Call 512.744.1495 for tickets, or visit the Paradox Players website.
CROWNS
It’s summertime again, which means we’re about ready for another run of the ever-popular Crowns from Zach Scott Theatre. An uplifting musical by Regina Taylor, based on the book Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats, this show is sure to bring out the crowds – and for good reason. With more holy-crap-that’s-amazing vocal talent than you dare shake a stick at, this is the best idea you’ve had for what do with your parents when they’re in town. Tickets and info at the Zach Scott website.
THE DIONYSIUM
Is it already the first Tuesday of the month next week? Time for more witty banter from the good boys over at The Dionysium – the only place to find good lecture, debate and theatre combined in one evening of beer-guzzling entertainment. Plus, this Tuesday is their second birthday – score! Featuring Sinus Show’s Owen Egerton, the ever-amazing Graham Reynolds on the Hammond organ, and the following topic for debate: "Resolved: Tipping at bars and restaurants should be eliminated in favor of paying servers a regular salary." 7:30pm at the Alamo Drafthouse South. More info at the Dionysium website.
Plus, there's still plenty of shows running from last week.
TALENT SHOW 1989
Read our review. Get Along Gang at the play! Theatre.
CATASTROPHE THEORY
Stephen Pruitt at the play! Theatre (running in conjunction with Talent Show 1989).
YOU'RE NO ONE'S NOTHING SPECIAL and LONELY
At the Hyde Park Theatre.
BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS
At the Austin Playhouse.
THE 24th DAY
Naughty Austin at Arts on Real.
BAD DATES, presented by Zach Scott Theatre. Tickets and info. Held over through June 28th! -- featuring the now uninjured Helen Merino!
Photo by Wylie Maerklin at Castle Photos
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