(*) IN THEIR SHOES, a musical by Tova Rubin, Playhouse San Antonio, March 6 and 7, 2013

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Upcoming: Noel, A Christmas Adventure by PAIYH Dance Studio at One World Theatre, December 15

NOEL is a magical Christmas adventure down Candy Cane Lane with spectacular dance numbers, vibrant costumes and familiar holiday melodies. This original musical follows the journey of a girl who must learn that if she can believe in herself, she just might save Christmas. Join us to find how working together, believing in yourself and finding the best in each other is the only way to keep Christmas cool! The perfect holiday treat for children of all ages! Presented by Nada Stearns in association with PAIYH Dance Studios.

Saturday, December 15^th @ Noon

Buy Tickets here.

 

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Spring Awakening, Zach Theatre, September 20 - November 13

by Hanna Bisewski and Michael Meigs

Spring Awakening won eight of the 2007 Tony awards, including that for best musical, and the powerful production opened by the Zach Theatre last Saturday shows you why. This very contemporary musical adaptation of Franz Wedekind's Spring Awakening has played across Europe, and the U.S. national touring company fielded by Broadway Across America visited Bass Hall for a week in October, 2009. Awakening has now settled in to the Wisenhut Stage until November 13 playing an extended Tuesday to Sunday schedule. Zach management clearly expects this one to resound with the Austin public.

The time is the late 19th century and the place is a quietly repressed, sinister bourgeois community in rural Germany. The story is one that encompasses child abuse, sexual ignorance, adolescent suicide and a hushed-up death, all orbiting themes of the sexual awakening of children aged around thirteen. The Zach's production, true to the script and the music, takes these matters head-on, each actor approaching his character's criminal sexuality with a child-like shamelessness and a believable innocence.

The show is not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for those offended by stage depictions of sex. Can you laugh at a young man avidly masturbating on the toilet while reading a penny-dreadful novel? What would you think of some adolescent sado-masochism with a switch? An intense, angry song by two girls about fathers who fondle them at bedtime or even do more? The first act ends with the tense, lengthy, very hot and fully suggestive seduction of sweet innocent Wendla by her smart, troubled friend Melchior, staged in profile on a high platform as a grim Lutheran pastor preaches below them to the robed choir.

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

IMHO: Austin Live Theatre Applause Awards, 2010 - 2011

AUSTIN LIVE THEATRE “APPLAUSE” FOR THE 2010 - 2011 SEASON

from a survey of the 104 productions reviewed since May 1, 2010

In a non-competitive examination of the 2010 - 2011 season so far, ALTcom offers enthusiastic renewed applause to favorite productions, performances and artists listed in the continuation here (click 'Read more' to view all mentions).

ALT reviews appeared over the course of a year but in fact covered only nine months of theatre activity in the greater Austin area. I was away for most of July and August, missing among other events the summer musical season, and I was also out of Austin for most of December.

I've spent a lot of time assembling this collection -- entering happily into the same sort of time trap that catches you when you sit down to go through those boxes of old photos and letters that got stuck in the back of the closet. These really are no more than expressions of my humble opinion, informed by the productions I was fortunate enough to see and probably disinformed by lapses of memory and attention. I see now that the choice after the summer to spend less time in the audience has had an effect. I stayed away from some productions I certainly would have enjoyed and appreciated. This past year I spent less time on the periphery, missing the opportunity to nose into very interesting theatrical developments away from the downtown core.

I've linked the listings to ALT reviews where available, and I've tried to make sure all mentions and credits are correct. If you see any omissions, please let me know at michaelmeigs@austinlivetheatre.com.

Please click here to share again some of my favorites in Austin live theatre from the last twelve months.