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....

In case you're still curious about where to vote on Tuesday, we've reprinted the official list from the Travis County Clerk web site as of Monday evening. For up-to-date information, you might want to double-check the Office of the Registrar's database To find out which precint you're in, use their handy Voter Verification form. From the Elections Divison: Registered voters can vote with a voter registration card, driver’s license or any official photo ID,......

The week's news on arts, books, film and music....

The new Museum building will be developed in partnership with international developer Hines and world-class architecture firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, whose portfolio includes the MoMA in Manhattan, the future World Financial Center in Beijing, and the Citigroup Tower in London....

From ImageAfterArt The Teresa Long Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Palmer Auditorium) will be opening with a bang in early March 2008. Enter: "The Earth Harp," a gargantuan outdoor stringed instrument created by these guys. /// Art thieves strike in Brazil! They robbed the Sao Paolo Museum of Art (MASP), making off with two paintings worth a total of approximately $100 million dollars. The paintings: Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (Picasso) and The Coffee......

Photos from The University of Texas Performing Arts Center's renovation of Bass Concert Hall. Photos by Lauren Perdue. If you can't view the Flash slideshow above, an alternate version appears after the jump.......

We read in the paper this morning that Austin I.S.D. is hoping to team up with the city and the Long Center to house a performing arts center for students. The school district might be able to use the Topfer Theatre, part of the Long Center plan that had been on hold for lack of funding. Currently Austin ISD has to rent venues, such as Bass Concert Hall, for district events since the school district......

Christian and Celeste Casasare laughing about their obsession with the movie Flashdance. “I think the guys in the audience who saw Flashdance will be like...” Christian looks up, smiling in a daze with her finger pointed up, in recognition of Jennifer Beals’ sexy dance routine to Shandi's "He's A Dream." The sisters — both charming and classic beauties — describe the steamiest number of The Southern Sirens' burlesque performance while sipping margaritas. That’s right;......

We had a chance to check out The Lion King at Bass Concert Hall this past weekend, and we're pleased to admit that it exceeded even the high expectations our friends and colleagues had set for us. The musical adaptation of Disney's 1994 animated hit follows the same storyline and brings back most, if not all, of the original soundtrack, with a smattering of new songs inserted throughout. While most of the cast held......

Less than two weeks remain before UT Performing Arts Center officially begins its limited run of Lion King, and crews at Bass Concert Hall are working feverishly to complete the interior renovations. Two hundred seats have been removed from the venue, which normally holds nearly 3,000 people, to make room for the grand opening processional, putting the audience right in the middle of the action. The critically acclaimed, Tony award winning Broadway adaptation of......

If you're still hunting for prime seats at either of Jeff Tweedy's performances at Hogg Auditorium, you're in luck: the UT Performing Arts Center has just released a handful of really good seats for both days. We did a quick search online a few minutes ago and came up with a pair of orchestra section spots, two rows from the front stage, for the previously sold out Wednesday show. Not too shabby. Get yourselves over......

Nestled between two other fantastic shows in January—Ghostland Observatory on the 19th, and Lindsey Buckingham on the 25th—UT Performing Arts Center's Hogg Auditorium will play host to Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy on Tuesday, January 23rd. Tickets, $25, will go on sale this Thursday at noon. Check UT PAC's website for more details later this afternoon. [UT Performing Arts Center] Jeff Tweedy Tuesday, January 23rd UT PAC Hogg Auditorium......

Fleetwood Mac guitarist/songwriter Lindsey Buckingham--who might or might not be the object of obsession for a certain Austinist music editor--has just been booked for a concert at UT PAC's Hogg Auditorium in late January. Buckingham released his first solo album in over a decade in October. Featuring cameos by the likes of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Donovan, and Mick Fleetwood, Under the Skin is a glistening pop masterpiece that's enthralled both critics and audiences......

Last night, Austin's theatre denizens gathered at Zach Scott Theater for the annual B. Iden Payne Awards ceremony. A function of Austin Circle of Theaters, every fall the BIPpies recognize outstanding work on Austin's stages. This year's ballot was chock full of amazing talent—undoubtedly the voting public had some difficult choices to make. With a fabulous ceremony helmed by Andrea Skola and the women of Shrewd Productions, and featuring commentary from the always-funny Buzz......

Because most performance companies create their budgets on a fall-to-spring season, September and October generally see hordes of productions by our local theatre-makers chompin’ at the bit after a summer of relative tranquility. With the B. Iden Payne nominations and Austinist’s own Best Theatre in Austin picks officially announced, it’s time to leave 05/06 behind us, and head charging off into new theatrical waters. (Or something.) This week’s Austinist Pick of the Week is......

Maybe some of you noticed the recent passing of the State Theatre. (By “passing”, we really mean “death”.) The June water main break that flooded the theatre – moving artists like Kathy Dunn Hamrick and Steven Tomlinson to other venues in town – has now, for all intents and purposes, killed the organization entirely. At the very least, the current season is all but canceled, and all State Theatre staff (except Artistic Director Michelle......

After we announced that NBC's new fall series Friday Night Lights would be shooting in Austin, a few of you wrote in asking us about whether they were still casting for the show. We got in on this rather late, as they're indeed looking for extras today. Two separate casting calls will be held at the 24-Hour Fitness in Round Rock (info), one at 1pm this afternoon and the second at 8:30pm this evening. Update:......

FRIDAY [23] [theatre] I Love My Dead Gay Son: The Musical! at Off Center (8pm, $15) (more) [theatre] Uncertainy Avoidance at Peacock Lounge (8pm, $11, 220.7198 for more info) (more) [theatre] HMS Pinafore at Forrest King Performing Arts Center at Crockett High (8pm, $15-$20) (more) [theatre] The Return of the Intergalactic Nemesis (Episode II) at Blue Theater (8pm, $12-$35) (more) [dance] Blue Lapis Light: Requiem at Intel Shell (8pm, Pay what you can) (more) [film]......

MONDAY [19] [film] Tickets on Sale Now for Superman Returns, opening June 27th @ Alamo at Alamo South (Multiple Shows, $8) (more) [sports] World Cup Matches at Alamo Village (Daily, Various) (more) [film] State vs. Reed (funds from screening benefit Rodney Reed's family) at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (more) [film] Casino at Austin Java (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] The Fearless Freaks at Café Mundi (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon at Alamo......

FRIDAY [16] [music] The Streets with Lady Sovereign at La Zona Rosa (link) [film] Raiders of the Lost Ark at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) (link) [film] Sinus Show: Showgirls at Alamo Downtown (7pm & 10pm, $12.50) (link) [film] Rolling Roadshow: Curious George at Bushy Creek (8pm, Free) (link) [books] Kinky Friedman presents Cowboy Logic: The Wit and Wisdom of Kinky Friedman (and Some of His Friends) at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Yuppie Pricks Beach Party with......

There's a mighty big lot of theatre going on at any given time in A-burg, and this weekend is no exception. While we've got only two shows opening -- both musicals, we might point out...very.different.musicals -- there's still plenty of monkeying around to be done, with a few closings (sad!) and lots of continuing runs (happy!). So let's take a peek inside this barrel and see what the apes are up to. We can't......

Gilbert and Sullivan: the names may not sound familiar to you, but their music has been referenced very often in pop culture. If you haven't seen any of their works, you may have heard bits and pieces on an episode of the Simpsons or Family Guy. Maybe you saw the Mike Leigh film, Topsy-Turvy (if you didn't, you aren't missing much). Those of you unfamiliar with the British operetta-writing pair: it's time to get schooled.......

Last year, over 100,000 people attended the inaugural First Night Austin, which is a major arts festival to welcome the New Year. This year, First Night Austin 2007 will again take place on December 31, but since it is now the second annual event, we hope that it will be an even bigger party. First Night Austin announced an official call to artists for visual and performing art proposals. They will be accepting proposals in......

Natasha Tsakos’ “manifesto” begins as follows: “I am alone, on a path leading toward a little light, walking with my suitcase and my theater. Together we create worlds of wonder, reverie, and contemplation.” And you know what? She’s not just sayin’ that. This past Saturday we saw Tsakos’ UPWAKE Part III, the final installment in a series of performances that follow Zero, a toon character, on an ultra-modern journey to dreamland and beyond. Tsakos......

[from UT PAC's Press Release] Tonight's Sheryl Crow concert at the UT Performing Arts Center has been postponed. Crow underwent breast cancer surgery last week. Her spokesperson says she is expected to make a full recovery. In a statement released Friday, Crow said she hopes to reschedule her National tour... soon. Fans may either hold on to their tickets for a later performance or get a refund at the point of purchase. If you......

The UT Performing Arts Center presents the Dave Douglas Quintet, led by powerhouse jazz trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas, a musician the Boston Globe calls, "[one of] the most musical, inquisitive, and prolific of current jazz trumpeters, composers, and bandleaders" Rounding out Douglas' quintet are Donny McCaslin, tenor saxophone; Uri Caine, Fender Rhodes; James Genus, bass; Clarence Penn, drums. The Quintet's first album, The Infinite, was nominated for a Grammy as best instrumental jazz album in......

The UT Performing Arts Center is hosting An Evening With Aqualung, who return to Austin following a much talked about performance at SXSW. Aqualung will be playing in the intimate setting of McCullough Theatre next Tuesday, November 22. And if you have not seen a show at this 400-seat theatre, believe us when we say it is a rare treat. Led by Matt Hales, Aqualung plays contemplative, atmospheric pop with a classical tinge. And,......

Austin took a big leap forward earlier this week in its goal to become a major performing arts powerhouse before the next decade. The ambitious Long Center - which when completed in 2008 will consolidate the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin, and Austin Lyric Opera as well as serve as an exhibition space for hundreds of local artists and organizations - received $500,000 from the Dallas-based Meadows Foundation. This brings the total level of......

Looks like Austin is going to have it's very own New Year's celebration this year. First Night was recently announced, but don't be fooled by the title. The festival is actually December 31st. Festivities will include a variety of visual and performing arts occurring all over the city, although the event will be focused in the area along Congress between 9th and the river. The event will conclude with a fireworks show to ring......

Think you have to leave town to to get your fix of High Culture? Think again. Our little hamlet is one of a select number of US cities that boasts an Art Museum, a Ballet, a Symphony Orchestra, as well as an Opera! Starting today and running through this Monday, May 2, Austin Lyric Opera is putting on a production of The Marriage of Figaro at the Bass Concert Hall. Your choice of showtime and......