For the remaining Fridays in July, Lovey and Lovey, the alter-egos of comedians Michael Jastroch and Tami Nelson, will be holding court at the US Art Authority. Described by Sean O'Neill at The Onion as a "modern take on the screwball comedy...in the grand tradition of The Thin Man's wet-whistled wits Nick and Nora," the Loveys trade barbs about life, love, and whatever the audience might toss their way. We had a chance to chat with none other than Madame and Monsieur Lovey. Here's a teaser of the snap and sparkle you can expect from the show.... [continue]

Austin poet Shannon Leigh Lewis has passed away after a weeks-long coma in a Florida hospital. Despite heroic efforts following a cave-diving accident on June 14th, she never regained consciousness. A memorial service will be at St. Michael's Episcopal Church on Wednesday, July 9th at 6 p.m. Additional services, memorials, and benefits are being planned.... [continue]

Feeling strong? Wanna work up a sweat and win a few nifty prizes? This Saturday Hyde Park Gym and Grass Iron Fitness are hosting the Baddest of the Bad Push/Pull Competition. 2pm at Hyde Park Gym (4125 Guadalupe), Free!... [continue]

Monday night, the Austin Critics' Table, an informal collective of local arts critics, will usher in seven new inductees to the Austin Arts Hall of Fame, and will dole out achievement awards to this year's nominees in categories including Theatre, Design, Dance, Art, and Classical Music. The "Table" has been in the award-giving business for 16 years, recognizing Austin's wide variety of talent with a pat on the back and an annual rip-tootin' good time. ... [continue]

In When Something Wonderful Ends—a blend of autobiography, American history, and analytical rant about Middle East politics—Barbara Chisholm charms from start to finish, fully engaging the audience effortlessly. That's no mean feat, considering much of the subject matter is heavy fare, weaving together a convincing argument that the war in Iraq is all about oil. We attended the show with someone we consider conservative; he found the analytical nature of the piece compelling and convincing. See it to bask in Chisholm's sparkle and to check out Barbie's groovy gear, but take away a great night of thought-provoking theatre.... [continue]

The current production of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow, closing this weekend at Austin Playhouse is great theatre. It's brisk, fun, and sharp, with plenty of kick. In the hands of a stellar cast, you get to hear the words and see the scenes of this well-known work in their most intense, funniest, very best light.... [continue]

This weekend and early next week there are several chances to catch new works by local playwrights Robert Sanchez, Erica Saleh, Soo–Jin Lee, and Mike Agresta.... [continue]

Earlier this week, Arts on Real's General Manager, Blake Yelavich, sent out the call: "With the value of property sky-rocketing in the East Side neighborhoods, it is increasingly difficult to meet the demands of leases and taxes desired by the property owners." Arts on Real needs to raise $7500 by the end of April or it will shutter its doors by the end of May. To avoid that fate, the company is collecting donations and hoping for ticket sales for their current, well-received comedy Matt & Ben, starring local faves Kelley Estes and Breanna Stogner.... [continue]

On a quest to produce a revival of 2006's critically acclaimed The Muses: Memories of a House (the Chron called it "theatrical magic"), the vestige group is in search of a home.... [continue]

In anticipation of its upcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing, Austin Shakespeare is hosting a family-friendly birthday bash at Castleton Village, ye olde Elizabethan towne on Richard Garriott's Lake Austin property. Much Ado previews this Friday night (4/25) at the Curtain [$25 tickets], plays a gala premiere on Saturday that will include munchies, madrigals, and more [$75 tickets], and ends the weekend with a family-friendly matinee on Sunday at 3pm [$15-20 tickets].... [continue]

The subtitle of [humdrum collective]'s current production—No One Else in the Woods Tonight—is "The Iron Lung Play." Curious subtitle, we think. This time the [collective] is taking on not only the 1950's polio epidemic, but also fantastical storytelling about life, death, and the afterlife. Set to cello music. Awesome.... [continue]

To call Zach Scott's current production of Doubt "rock solid" doesn't do it service. The acting is terrific, the lighting design is gorgeous, the costumes, the set, the sound—they all support the piece perfectly. For lack of better words, it's spot-on.... [continue]

This Sunday afternoon, residents of Hyde Park might come across something a little strange—a group of cars driving slowly through the neighborhood, the passengers watching as actors perform a series of vignettes along the route they're traveling. This is the annual production of floodlines, conceived by Jaclyn Pryor seven years ago, and in its fifth of seven years of annual production (2010 will be the last year it's performed). Floodlines is this Sunday, 4/20... [continue]

Ron Berry has been having a mighty fine time of things lately. Last year's Fuse Box Festival was critically and commercially successful. Refraction Arts' production of The Assumption was so popular, they resurrected it late last year to sold out houses. The company garnered a whopping 24 Critics Table Awards in '07. To top it all off, in its most ambitious year to date, Fuse Box '08 kicks off in less than two weeks. We recently chatted with Ron about Fuse Box to get the scoop on this year's fest.... [continue]

Tomorrow night at Salvage Vanguard Theater, UT's Libraries and the Fine Arts Library are hosting a panel discussion with quite an impressive panel of local playwrights. None other than George Brant, Sherry Kramer, Kirk Lynn, and Steve Moore "will address their position as straddlers—young, critically acclaimed playwrights whose early successes in the 20th century influenced the theater’s trajectory into the 21st."... [continue]

Kathleen Battle performs in recital at the Long Center on Monday evening. Kudos to the Long Center for offering up an amazing inaugural season, and especially for kicking it off with such a rare, classy event—one we probably won't see the likes of for another several seasons. And only that soon if we're lucky.... [continue]

Photo by Kirk R. Tuck Doubt: A Parable4/3-5/11, Wed-Sat @8pm, Sun @2:30pmZach Scott Theatre (1510 Toomey Rd)[info] | [tickets]If you've never heard of John Patrick Shanley's multiple award-winning play, Doubt, your head must be deeply buried in sand. Garnering Obies, Tonies, and the Pulitzer, the play was a blockbuster a few years back. Heck, they're even making it into a film. Starring Meryl Streep, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, no less. This is our way of... [continue]

Mark our words: Rotozaza's Etiquette, coming in April for Fuse Box, will sell out. // Hyde Park Theatre is holding auditions this Saturday. // Out of Bounds '08 is now taking submissions. // Troades at the Vortex is held over for two more weeks.... [continue]

Upright Citizens Brigade founders Matt Walsh, Matt Besser and Ian Roberts perform tonight (United States Art Authority) and tomorrow (ColdTowne Theater). Tickets online. // At the SXSW South Tent tomorrow, the Bowery Poetry Club and others perform, from 11:30-3pm. Wammo emcees! Full schedule after the jump.... [continue]

ON Network's Greenlight Awards seek "the next best, original Digital TV Series." You can watch the pilots, all of which are potentially addictive, online. The contest is not only for a complete production, but also for Best Original Digital Series Idea. >. Winners in both categories will be announced at the SXSW Film Awards, tonight at the Convention Center at 6pm.... [continue]