Fusebox Festival Starts Tomorrow

This year's Fusebox Festival starts Thursday, and fans of theatre, dance, film, visual art, or music should take note. Passes to the ten day event cost only $129 and guarantee advanced access for all the shows. For those who would rather pay for each performance piecemeal, tickets are available for each event on a sliding scale online or at boxoffices before each show. Some Fusebox happenings are free and the public can RSVP to attend at the Fusebox website. We'll be previewing Fusebox Festival events all week in an attempt to help you navigate the confluence of cultural occurrences that will be taking place. Here's a rundown of Thursday's events:

Parades Processionals and Percussion: Fusebox Festival kicks off with a big bang courtesy of a processional consisting of fifty drummers. The parade will commence tomorrow at 6:30pm at Wooldrige Park (at 10th and Guadalupe) and heads straight down Guadalupe concluding at Ballet Austin.

The Method Gun: Acclaimed local theatre troupe, the Rude Mechanicals, reprise their award winning original performance. First performed last year at the Long Center, The Method Gun explores the turbulent life and mysterious death of the actor's eccentric guru, Stella Burden. The Method Gun is being performed Thursday through Saturday at 8pm at the Off Center through the end of Fusebox Festival on Saturday, May 2nd.

Mr. Z Loves Company: Matt Hislope and Josh Meyer of the Rubber Repertory have put together a show that makes Avenue Q actually seem like Sesame Street. Two tuxedoed men (Meyer and Hislope in masks) explore an intimate relationship surrounded by naughty maids with plenty of musical and physical comedy and, of course, dildos. Do we need to mention that this show is for adults only? Mr. Z Loves Company is being performed at 8pm at the Vortex Theatre on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. (Tickets for this performance will be sold only through the Vortex, Fusebox Passes do not guarantee admittance.)

érection: French dancer and choreographer Pierre Rigal explores the gradual "erection" of primitive man to an upright walker in a forty five minute performance where he goes from lying prone to sanding tall. Director Aurelien Bory brings his experience working with the contemporary French circus to this act of dance, acrobatics, projected image, and sounds. érection will be performed regularly throughout Fusebox Fest at The Austin Ventures Studio at Ballet Austin (501 W. 3rd Street). The performance is presented in collaboration with Arthouse and is free, so go RSVP online!