Auditions for Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks by Richard Alfieri, November 18 and 19, 2013

Paradox Players will hold auditions for Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks by Richard Alfieri at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 19, in Room 17 at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover (click for map). 

Production dates are February 7-23. Rehearsals will start in early December. Looking for one female, 60-75, and one male, 35 to 50. A small stipend will be paid.

This warm comedy opens with a spry senior citizen welcoming an acerbic dance instructor into her Florida condo. Sparks soon fly between this gay man and widow of a Southern Baptist Minister, but with each weekly lesson the two become more attached.

Actors should prepare a one to two minute monologue. Contact the director, Matt Burnett, at 210 286 9728 or matthewcharlesburnett@yahoo.com, with questions.

NEW JERUSALEM by David Ives, Paradox Players, October 11 - 27, 2013

(Paradox Players, performing at Howson Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Avenue - click for map )

(Paradox Players)

present

New Jerusalem

by David Ives
October 11 - 27
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.

Paradox Players presents New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656, by renowned playwright David Ives, at the Howson Hall Theater, October 11 - 27.

In 17^th Century Amsterdam, members of the Jewish community were tolerated by the town council on the condition that they maintained a low profile, kept radical beliefs to themselves and refrained from discussing religion with Christians. Into this world comes Baruch de Spinoza, a brilliant young philosopher who openly questions the nature of God and reality.

New Jerusalem opens the temple doors and chronicles the playwright's take on Spinoza’s interrogation by representatives of the synagogue and a Christian leader. He is accused of atheism and, if he will not agree to reform his beliefs, will be excommunicated from the Jewish community.

But according to Paradox Artistic Director Gary Payne, "The play is by no means just a religious treatise. It’s a courtroom drama that will have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for intellectual freedom."

Spinoza, of course, went on to write the books (most notably "Ethics,") that have had a profound influence on religious philosophy for the past 350 years. In fact, Albert Einstein, asked if he believed in God, responded, “I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fates and actions of human beings.”

Adds Payne, “Spinoza’s beliefs were certainly outside of the Jewish and Christian mainstream. But they mesh beautifully with my own and those of a number of ‘liberal’ religions, such as Unitarian Universalists.”

David Ives, the playwright of New Jerusalem, is best known as the writer of All in the Timing, which is probably the world’s most produced series of short plays over the past 20 years.

The Howson Hall Theater is located in the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover Avenue, Austin, TX 78756.

Performances are October 11 – 27, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Tickets for the Opening Night Gala, which includes a special reception with refreshments, and for which all tickets are $25. For all other performances, tickets are $20 General Admission, $15 for Seniors, and $10 for Students.

Purchase tickets online at www.paradoxplayers.org, or phone 512-744-1495 for reservations.

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Auditions for New Jerusalem by David Ives, Paradox Players, July 1, 2013

Paradox Players will hold auditions for New Jerusalem by David Ives at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 1, in the Howson Hall Theater at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover (click for mao). Production dates are October 11 to October 27. Rehearsals will start in mid to late August. 


This engrossing historical drama is about the interrogation of the young but brilliant Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation, in Amsterdam on July 27, 1656, by both the Jewish and Christian hierarchy of Amsterdam, regarding his unorthodox beliefs.


Looking for two women, 20-30, two men, 20-30, three men 40+. Contact the director, Gary Payne, at 512 799-5872 or capcitymystery@swbell.net to schedule an audition.

NEXT FALL by Geoffrey Nauftts, Paradox Players, June 14 - 30, 2013

(













Paradox Players, performing at Howson Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Avenue - click for map )

present

Next Fall

By Geoffrey Nauftts
Directed by Karen Jambon

June 14-30, 2013

Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm ~ Sundays at 3:00pm
Friday, June 21st–SOLD OUT
Make reservations or pre-purchase tickets online with PayPal.

Location ~ Howson Hall at First UU Church

FREE CHILDCARE available on certain days if reserved 7 days in advance. Email childcare@austinuu.org to reserve.

View details for Friday and Saturday, or Sunday performances.

We close the season with Geoffrey Nauftts’ riveting new play, Next Fall. Luke believes in God. Adam believes in everything else. Next Fall portrays the ups and downs of this unlikely couple’s five-year relationship with sharp humor and unflinching honesty. It paints a beautiful portrait of a modern day romance, asking the hard questions about commitment, love, and faith (adult language).

“The funniest heartbreaker in town! Smart, sensitive, and immensely appealing.” NY Times

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Auditions for 'Next Fall' by Gregory Nauftts, Paradox Players, April 29

Paradox Players Auditions for the play Next Fall by Gregory Nauftts

April 29 at 7 p.m.
Howson Hall at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin - 4700 Grover
Performance Dates: June 14-30

Guest Directed by Karen Jambon (kjambon@sbcglobal.net)

Show Description: Luke believes in God. Adam believes in everything else. Next Fall portrays the ups and downs of this unlikely couple’s five-year relationship with sharp humor and unflinching honesty. It paints a beautiful portrait of a modern day romance, asking the hard questions about commitment, love, and faith.

Roles Available: Two males (20 to 30) -- One male (45 to 55) -- One female (25 to 35)

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED), Paradox Players, February 8 - 24, 2013

(Paradox Players, performing at Howson Hall, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Avenue - click for map )

present


The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
(Abridged)

directed by Ben Schave
February 8 - 24, 2013
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00
Tickets are $15 General Admission, and $10 for Students, Seniors (65+) and groups of 10 or more. The one exception is the February 8 Opening Night Gala, which includes a special reception with refreshments, and for which all tickets are $20.
Purchase tickets online at www.paradoxplayers.org, or phone 512-744-1495 for reservations.

Paradox Players presents the phenomenally popular parody The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) at the Howson Hall Theater, February 8 – 24. The play, written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987, went on to 9 record-breaking years on London’s West End, and has been the world’s most performed stage parody for the last 20 years.
In The Complete Works, 3 actors perform hilarious short versions of 7 of Shakespeare’s plays. In a single final frantic skit, the actors present all of the rest of the Bard’s plays in two minutes. Throughout the performance, audience participation abounds.
Guest Director Ben Schave, who is a professionally trained clown, says, “What appeals to me most about The Complete Works is that it’s pure clown theater, with audience interaction, whole and silly characters who's performance space is a living 360 degree world, and tons of space for physical comedy.”
The Howson Hall Theater is located in the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover Avenue, Austin, TX 78756 (click for map )

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Paradox Players Holds Casting for The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) open to December 5

Paradox Players is currently looking to complete the cast for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), to be performed at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Ave., Austin. Audition opportunities are available until December 5. 

Looking for three men, age 20 to 40. A stipend will be paid.

The show is a fast-paced comedy covering all of Shakespeare’s plays in one evening.

Performances are weekends from February 8 through February 24. There will be a few rehearsals in December, and then 3 – 4 nights a week starting early January.

For more information or to schedule an audition, call Ben Schave at 587-9139.

Paradox Players Seeks Actor to Complete Cast of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)

Paradox Players is currently looking to complete the cast for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), to be performed at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Ave., Austin.

Looking for three men, age 20 to 40. A stipend will be paid.

The show is a fast-paced comedy covering all of Shakespeare’s plays in one evening.

Performances are weekends from February 8 through February 24. There will be a few rehearsals in December, and then 3 – 4 nights a week starting early January.

For more information or to schedule an audition, call Ben Schave at 587-9139.

Auditions: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Paradox Players, November 10

Paradox Players will hold auditions for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) on Saturday, November 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 13 of the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Ave., Austin.

Looking for three men, age 20 to 40. A stipend will be paid.

The show is a fast-paced comedy covering all of Shakespeare’s plays in one evening.

Performances are weekends from February 8 through February 24. There will be a few rehearsals in December, and then 3 – 4 nights a week starting early January.

For more information and to schedule an audition time, call Gary Payne at 512-799-5872, or email him at capcitymystery@swbell.net.

Video Promo: The Best Man by Gore Vidal, Paradox Players, October 5 - 21

present

 

The Best Man

by Gore Vidal, directed by Gary Payne

October 5-21, 2012

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. - Sundays at 3 p.m.

HOWSON HALL THEATER Map to First UU Church

Click for additional information 

Upcoming: The Best Man by Gore Vidal, Paradox Players, October 5 - 21

 

present

The Best Man

By Gore Vidal
Directed by Gary Payne
October 5-21, 2012

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm - Sundays at 3 pm
HOWSON HALL THEATER
Map to First UU Church

TICKETS
$20 Opening Night Gala, Friday, October 5th
(includes special reception with refreshments)
Thursdays - pay what you can
$15 for all other performances
$10 for seniors (65+), students (with ID) and groups of 10 or more
RESERVATIONS
By phone (512) 744-1495
Online , or Purchase via Paypal

FREE CHILDCARE
on Sun Oct 7th Matinee if reserved by Sept 30th.
Email childcare@austinuu.org or call (512) 452-6168, ext. 313

Gore Vidal's The Best Man is about the race to the presidency, as two front-runners vie for their party's nomination in the midst of back stabbing, double-crossing, dirty-dealing and all the games politicians play. The political intrigues rampant in this mid 20th century setting may seem strangely similar to the political intrigues of the present day. Vidal's insights still resonate, whether in Tea Party true-believer pressure or birth control controversies. It's a vivid snapshot of American political life a half-century ago that shows both how much and how little has changed. A roller coaster ride of twists and turns which make for a most entertaining and fun night of theater.

"Timeless, exciting and archly delicious." - Associated Press



(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Auditions at Paradox Players for Children's Production, October 10 and 17

 

Auditions for Paradox Players' Children’s Theater Production

Paradox Players is holding auditions for its fall children’s show Three Billy Goats Gruff and Too Much Noise, story dramatizations using a narrator, adult actors, and puppets. We’re looking for male and female actors, and a guitarist or pianist.

A small stipend will be available for participating artists.

 

Auditions: October 10 and 17, at 10:00 a.m., at Howson Hall, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover.

Rehearsals: Rehearsals will start in November and will take place mornings at Howson Hall.

Performances: Performances will be on the mornings of December 10, 12, 14, and 16 at local elementary schools and in Howson Hall.

For more information, call the director, Jean Boehme, at 512-7720 or email her at joboej@hotmail.com.

Call for Additional Male Actors for Gore Vidal's The Best Man, Paradox Players

Paradox Players is completing the casting for Gore Vidal’s biting political satire The Best Man. Production dates are October 5-21. 

Rehearsals will start in mid August. Looking to fill several male roles to round out the cast, ages 30 to 55. 

Call the director, Gary Payne, at 512-441-4720 or email him at capcitymystery@swbell.net to schedule an audition by Wednesday, July 25.

Sides will be available beforehand. A small stipend will be paid.

Auditions for Gore Vidal's The Best Man, Paradox Players, July 9-10

Paradox Players will hold auditions for Gore Vidal’s biting political satire The Best Man at 7 pm on Monday, July 9 and Tuesday, July 10, in the Howson Hall Theater, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover. (click for map) Production dates are October 5-21. Rehearsals will start in August.

Looking for ten males, ages 35 to 55; one male, age 65+; two females, ages 35 to 55; and one female, age 60+. Small stipends will be available. Audition sides will be available beforehand. 

For more information, call the director, Gary Payne, at 441-4720, or email him at capcitymystery@swbell.net.

Upcoming: Sisters Under the Skin, Paradox Players, May 3 - 27

presents

the first production of the historically based espionage drama

Sisters Under The Skin

by Austin playwright Paullette MacDougal

directed by Gaia Farnam

May 4 – 20, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Howson Hall Theater, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover (click for map)

Tickets for the May 4 Opening Night Gala, which includes a special reception with refreshments, are $20. All other performances $15 General Admission, with $10 for Students, Seniors (65+) and groups of 10 or more. Purchase tickets online at www.paradoxplayers.org or phone 512-744-1495 for reservations.

This production will include the Heritage Chorale performing spiritual songs born of emancipation, 19th century religion, and the struggle for freedom.

Early in the American Civil War, educated slave Mary Bowser became a dining room servant to the Jefferson Davis family in the Confederate White House in Richmond. Pretending to be dull-witted and illiterate, the heroic Mary reported what she saw and heard – war strategy, troop movements, weaknesses in the rebel forces – to her owner, Elizabeth Van Lew.

To avoid suspicion, Elizabeth, who sent the information through the lines to Lincoln and Grant, feigned insanity, earning the name “Crazy Bet.” Facing certain death if found out, Mary and Elizabeth, slave and owner, courageously became Lincoln’s eyes and ears in the heart of the Confederacy.

According to playwright MacDougal Sisters Under The Skin started as a short play called "Crazy Bet," which was awarded "Best of the Fest" in FronteraFest 2011. "Lots of people were intrigued by the story and urged me to write a full-length version. The fact that 2012 is the 150th anniversary of the drafting of the Emancipation Proclamation was an incentive for me to really get my skates on.”

Sisters Under The Skin features actors Rae Petersen as “Crazy Bet,” Rodnesha K. Green as Mary Bowser, and Peggy Schott as Mrs. Jefferson Davis.The Heritage Chorale is under the direction of Madeline P. McCauley, Minister of Music at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Upcoming: Searching for Eden by James Still, after Mark Twain, Paradox Players, February 10 - 26

Found on-line:

present

Searching for Eden

Written by James Still, after Mark Twain
Directed by Joni McClain

February 10 - 26
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm • Sundays at 3 pm
HOWSON HALL THEATER, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Avenue (click for map)
Tickets -- $20 Opening Night Gala, Friday, Feb 10th (includes a special reception with refreshments)
$15 all other performances ($10 for seniors and groups of 10 or more)
Reservations by web , phone 744-1495 or Purchase via Paypal
Free childcare Feb 12 Matinee if reserved by Feb 5. Email childcare@austinuu.org or call 452-6168, ext. 313

Adam and Eve meet in paradise and embark on an epic, exuberant battle of the sexes. Several thousand years and a fall from grace later, the middle-aged couple returns to present-day Eden, now an upscale resort. Searching for Eden is a fresh, funny new look at the question of how to make the magic last, and a tender testament to enduring love.

The play is inspired by and adapted from a pair of short stories by Mark Twain. Says director Joni McClain, “Several thousand years after Adam and Eve meet in paradise, they return to a very different Eden. It’s a comic testament to enduring love; a fresh look at how to make the magic last.”

Variety Magazine called Searching for Eden “An engaging blend of wit and whimsy.” The Indianapolis Star wrote, "Eden is a paradise of a play, a captivating romantic comedy that captures the wit and warmth of Mark Twain's timeless paeans to love and marriage and updates them for today.”

Searching for Eden will be presented at the Howson Hall Theater, located in the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover Road, Austin, TX 78756. Performances are February 10 – 26, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are $20, and for all other performances $15 General Admission and $10 for Seniors and groups of 10 or more. Purchase tickets online at www.paradoxplayers.org or phone 512-744-1495 for reservations.

Searching for Eden features actors Matt Gauck as Adam and Marsha Sray as Eve.

Upcoming: Getting Betta by Don Fried, Paradox Players at FronteraFest and Howson Hall, January 24 - February 4

Received directly:

present the regional premiere of the futuristic comedy

– Getting Betta –

by Don Fried

directed by the playwright

at the Blue Theatre, 916 Springdale Rd. (click for map)

for the 2012 FronteraFest Long Fringe

Tuesday, January 24 – 7:00 pm; Tuesday, January 31 – 9:15 pm; Thursday, Februrary 2 – 7:00 pm; and Saturday, February 4 – 1:15 pm

Tickets for the Fringe are $15 and are available at www.fronterafest.org or by phoning 512-479-7529.

3 additional performances will be at Howson Hall Theater, UU Church, 4700 Grover Avenue, Austin, TX 78756 (click for map)

Friday, March 2 – 8:00 pm; Saturday, March 3 – 8:00 pm; and Sunday, March 4 – 3:00 pm

Tickets for the Howson performances are $15 and are available at the door.

Paradox Players presents the regional premiere of Don Fried’s futuristic comedy Getting Betta at the 2012 FronteraFest Long Fringe, January 24 – February 5, at Austin’s Blue Theater. Playing the title role of Betta is award-winning Austin-based film and stage actress Lana Dieterich, who starred in the 2011 Long Fringe production of Fried’s Senior Moments. Also featured are long-time Austin actor Craig Kanne and recent Texas State theatre graduate Brittany Flurry.

In the play, Michael is a technologically-challenged senior citizen living in a retirement home. Betta, a virtual computerized assistant, is assigned to him against his wishes by the administration of the facility. After a brief period of conflict, Michael and Betta reach a truce and settle down to live together. However, as Betta acquires technology upgrades to make her more human, she becomes paranoid and schizophrenic, and things spiral out of control.

The San Juan Capistrano (California) Patch review of Getting Betta had this to say: “What is love? What is family? Does technology serve us, or do we serve technology? Do you have to be a human to be human? You’ll laugh at, as much as ponder over, some of the answers suggested in Getting Betta.”

Getting Betta premiered simultaneously in Colorado and California in March, 2011. Fried, who also directs the production, has had his work performed throughout the U.S., in Canada, and England. In March, he travels to London to work on the world premiere production of his play Phoenix, which was inspired by the life of British singer/songwriter Nick Drake.

Guest Artist by Jeff Daniels, Paradox Players, October 14 - 30

Steubenville, Ohio -- with all respect due to the inhabitants of that town of 19,000, it sounds about as far away from theatre civilization as one could get. It's in those rough hills of east Ohio, forty miles west of Pittsburgh and facing east into West Virginia. Playwright Daniels uses the Steubenville bus station as the run-down unlikely setting for the encounter of a famous playwright on his way down and an awestruck aspiring writer dreaming of a future not centered in the wing-nut and fastener factory that's the family business.

Steubenville's the birthplace of Dean Martin, a point of local pride commemorated by a poster next to the doors to the toilets. Further background, not communicated: it was also the birthplace of porn and B-film actress Traci Lords and of playwright Jeffrey Hatcher (Hatcher's Wikipedia entry calls it "a gritty Ohio River town better known for its mob connections, houses of ill repute and industrial detritus than for its literary sons and daughters"). Steubenville's downtown Grand Theater movie alace has been closed since 1979 and only just escaped demolition in 2010 due to the efforts of a community group.

Tyler Jones as the earnest young writer Kenneth Waters assures visiting playwright Joseph Harris that the Steubenville community theatre group is really quite good; their director won a 'Steubie' last season. "A what?" snaps Joe Penrod as the visitor, who has been sleeping on a bus station bench because Waters had dozed off while waiting for the arrival of his 1:30 a.m. bus.

Click to read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Auditions for Paradox Players' Getting Betta by Don Fried, October 26

Found at AustinActors.net:

Auditions for Paradox Players Production for 2012 FronteraFest Long Fringe

The Play: “Getting Betta,” a serio-comedy being presented by Paradox Players at the 2012 FronteraFest Long Fringe, January 24th – February 5th. We are working on getting 3 or more additional performances to be presented at another venue after the Fringe run.

“Getting Betta,” premiered simultaneously in the Denver area and Southern California in March, 2011.

Audition Date and Time: Wednesday, October 26th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm.


Roles: Michael: Age 70+. A crotchety, technologically challenged senior;Betta: Age 30 – 60. An anthropomorphic computer program who progresses from mechanical to zany; Crystal: Age 25 – 35. High strung and on the verge of losing it. Paid -- hopefully: The three actors will share 50% of ticket sales in excess of the cost of the production.

Director/Playwright Don Fried's work has been produced throughout North America and in the United Kingdom. Contact: don@fried.cc for more information.

Synopsis: Michael is a technologically challenged senior citizen in a sheltered independent living facility. Betta is a virtual computerized assistant assigned to him against his wishes by the administration of the facility. After a brief period of conflict, Michael and Betta reach a truce and settle down to live together. However, as Betta acquires technology upgrades to make her more human, she becomes paranoid and schizophrenic. Crystal, Betta’s programmer, arrives and it soon becomes clear that she’s no more in control of Betta than Michael is. But at the same time that the situation is spinning out of control, Michael and Betta are becoming increasingly dependent on each other: Michael because he is growing infirm, and Betta because she fears being “shut off.”

Images and Audio: Guest Artist by Jeff Daniels, Paradox Players, October 14 - 30

KUT's Michael Lee interviews director Karen Jambon and plays dialogue between Joe Penrod and Tyler Jones, October 10:

Images received directly:

present

Guest Artist

by Jeff Daniels
directed by Karen Jambon

October 14 - 30 Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm • Sundays at 3 pm
HOWSON HALL THEATER , Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover Avenue
Map to First UU Church

TICKETS $20 Opening Night Gala, Friday, Oct 14 (includes a special reception with refreshments)
$15 all other performances ($10 for seniors and groups of 10 or more)

Free childcare Oct 16 Matinee if reserved by Oct 9. Email childcare@austinuu.org or call 452-6168, ext. 313

Reservations by web, phone 744-1495 or Purchase via Paypal

Starring: Joe Penrod - Harris; Tyler Jones - Kenneth; Craig Kanne - Ticketmaster

Click 'Read more' to view additional images at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .