We all know that liberties get taken with history (read: Holocaust denial, the First Thanksgiving). Of course these have often been, in the course of human events, virulent ploys to obscure truth for the sake of agenda. However, in the realm of art, liberties taken with purported facts have elucidated great and (if there's any such hierarchy) more important human truths. With Mary Stuart, Friedrich Schiller's account of an interaction between Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots, the author has crafted a parable that examines the crushing responsibility of the powerful and the incoherency of truth when viewed through pained eyes. These women never met, but Schiller's imagined liason offers them a humanity that history didn't. It also offers the audience musings on the ties that bind, and the ways hands break those ties. more ›

For any Shakespeare geek residing in Central Texas, we can imagine no greater treat than to watch one of his plays performed on the “wooden O” that is The Curtain Theatre. Richard Garriott’s Elizabethan replica space is nestled on his property on the shores of Lake Austin and provided the backdrop for Austin Shakespeare’s inaugural Young Shakespeare production of The Comedy of Errors this past weekend. The all-teen cast delivered a solid performance that was pleasantly surprising in many ways. more ›

Austin Shakespeare presents its inaugural "Young Shakespeare" production The Comedy of Errors from June 25- 28 at the Curtain Theatre. Comedy is Shakespeare at his farcical best. Shipwrecks, two sets of twins, love on the rocks, long-lost relatives and a few lusty wenches - what more could one ask for? more ›

Let us begin with a succinct review for Austin Shakespeare’s production of Romeo and Juliet, currently playing for Free at Zilker. Ready? Here it is: WOO-HOO! Though that’s all you really need to know, here’s a little more for you stickler-for-details types. more ›

Beginning this Thursday, Austin Shakespeare offers up the latest twist on the young romantics, as the 24th annual FREE Shakespeare in Zilker Park season opens and runs through June 7th, playing at the Sheffield Hillside Theatre (across the parking lot from Barton Springs). This bicultural interpretation, directed by Ann Ciccolella, is set in Central Texas in the 1940’s and looks at the story through a Mexican-American lens, including some dialogue delivered in Spanish. more ›

April might be the cruelest month in some circles, but not for fans of The Bard, whose 445th birth anniversary is this Thursday. To celebrate, Austin Shakespeare is offering up two different events and you should Romeo on over to at last one of them (seriously, don’t ju-liet yourself miss the festivities). No word on how things currently are in Denmark, but certainly, nothing is rotten at this event. more ›

When reviewing Wilde, as when reviewing Shakespeare, there is an overwhelming desire by the reviewer to seem as brilliant, poetic, and insightful. This is, of course, impossible, so at the risk of sound oh so trite, we will begin by simply stating that An Ideal Husband as produced by Austin Shakespeare is ideal in many respects. more ›

Austin is beyond fortunate to have a strong contingent of thespians dedicated to the Bard. under the guidance of Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella, Austin Shakespeare is presenting a musical revue that has nothing to do with midsummer night dreams or long winter naps. Instead, the group will raise their voices high and offer up tunes from favorite musicals including Peter Pan, Kiss Me Kate, She Loves Me, and The Light in the Piazza. Austin Shakespeare (formerly Austin Shakespeare Festival) is one group of Will-o-philes that really stretched MacBeth last September at the Long Center. Now, really going out on a limb, they’re spending the next several days totally busting free of their muse to offer up a little non-holiday cheer for those of us who don’t give a rat’s ass about shiny-nosed, misfit distant relatives of Bambi. more ›

Austin Shakespeare's current production of Macbeth offers a contemporary version of the work, framed by a global perspective. The cast is packed with ringers, including stellar Marc Pouhé in the title role and multi-talented Sharron Bower as Lady Macbeth. The design team is nothing to sneeze at either, with Michael McKelvey's original music; Michelle Ney's set and costumes; and Jason Amato's lighting design. Phew! That's a cauldron-load of talent. more ›

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]. more ›

Starting on Thursday evening, The Long Center is offering a Sneak Peak of the facility, with building tours on Thursday and Friday from 6-10p, and all day Saturday and Sunday from 10a-10p. The performance schedule is a tad overwhelming, so we're pointing out the theatre goodies we'd most like to see. more ›

Since appointing new AD Ann Ciccolella last fall, Austin Shakespeare has been kickin' ass and takin' names. // The director-less, self-dubbed "brats of theater," Bedlam Faction, have returned. // SVT has a trouserload of programming this month, including Twelfth Night, produced by Kadigan and Mountweazel. more ›