And they're off.... The nominations for this year's B. Iden Payne Awards have been announced. We received 'em this morning, straight from the offices of the Austin Circle of Theatres. If you want to get in on the action, ballots will be available starting this Thursday, September 21, at ACoT (701 Tillery Street) & AusTIX (kiosk at the Austin Visitors Center, 209 E. 6th Street). You must be an ACoT member to vote, but... more ›

As we reported several months ago, one of our most favorite local starlets, Helen Merino, had to pull out of Zach Scott's Bad Dates due to an unfortunate encounter with a pothole. We were excited to learn today that Merino will return to the role for a three week holdover. Don't get us wrong. We love Jill Blackwood, too, and her run received a rave review from the Chronicle. But we felt terrible for... more ›

MONDAY [27] [ music ] Jay Moeller's Birthday Blues Bash, with Ephraim Owens, Mike Barfield, Scott Nelson, Damien Llanes, James Bullard, and loads more at The Continental Club (9:30pm) (link) [ music ] KOOP Radio Monday Benefit with Guy Forsyth, Wammo and Sick, and Southpaw Jones. Hosted by Owen Egerton (of Sinus) at Ruta Maya ($5, 8:30pm) (link) [ art ] "Art is Imagination": Paintings of the American West at Blanton Museum of Art (Free,... more ›

(UPDATE: All performances for this weekend (firm) and next (tentative) are cancelled. We'll keep you posted on this story as it develops. --JH ) In what is undoubtedly a major bummer for Zach Scott Theatre, Helen Merino, star of the recently opened and critically acclaimed production of Bad Dates has been seriously injured. According to Michael Barnes at the Austin-American Statesman, the star of the show all about shoes...has broken her foot. Merino stepped... more ›

It’s all right. You’re not the only one, which means you’re (probably) not a loser. more ›