Penfold Theatre's production at the Hideout Theater of the 1995 musical John and Jen is by no means a downer: It's full of clever acting, sophisticated music, and the remarkable singing of Sarah Gay and Andrew Cannata. Most of the time, it's lively and funny, and at the finale there's a strong turn toward hope. more ›

There's a story on one of Kevin Smith's comedy DVDs where he talks about being on the set of Live Free or Die Hard. He explains that, during a particularly heated argument with the director about what his character was doing, Bruce Willis picked up the phone to call the studio. They sided with the director, and he finally offered to end the argument for good. "Let me ask you something," He says in Smith's recount of the conversation, "Who's your second choice to play John McClane?" The point was made, and they made the choice that Willis wanted. 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 ›