IF YOU START A FIRE, BE PREPARED TO BURN by Kevin Kautzman, staged readiing at Hyde Park Theatre, March 3, 2013

Our inaugural staged reading will take place at Hyde Park Theatre on March 3rd, 2013 at 5PM! Hyde Park Theatre is located at 511 West 43rd St. just a 1/2 block away from 43rd and Guadalupe.

If You Start a Fire [Be Prepared to Burn]

By Playwright & Michener Fellow Kevin Kautzman
An Internet sex comedy for the Recession Generation! Chris and Lucy are American twenty-somethings struggling to get by during the Great Recession. They hate their jobs, but at least they have each other and health insurance! That is until Chris loses his job…
Join us for the first Austin, Texas reading of this new play! After successful premieres in Michigan and New York, here’s some of what the critics have to say:
“Hot Stuff! – An absolute gem… Kautzman is clearly a brilliant author and sophisticated wit… the play is absolutely a must-see.”
- Robert Angelone. Epicurus.com
“A Comedy That Raises Serious Questions – A sexy romp through Kautzman’s clever banter and thought-provoking comedy… If You Start a Fire… explores issues unique to the 21st Century, with themes as old as the Greek story of Pandora’s Box.”
- Patty Nolan, Detroit Examiner
“Kautzman’s text is magnificent as he submerges these two characters robbed of forethought into a trajectory of pure discovery… this cutting-edge, boundary-pushing comedy is poised to win viewers on the strength of its online and offline connections both.”
- Carolyn Hayes, RogueCritic.com
Meet the Cast…
Lauren Badell (Lucy): Lauren Badell got used to the sensations and sounds of the stage in her mother’s womb and has found it difficult to turn her back on it ever since. Attending various youth programs and performing in community theatre throughout her youth, she eventually was accepted to the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York City. She has performed in and around Austin for the past three years, working closely with the Michener program and particularly enjoys the developmental process and collaboration with playwrights. She has never once successfully kept a plant alive. Not even a cactus.
Gino Sandoval (Chris): Giovanni Sandoval is a 21 year old actor. He was most recently seen in “Gods and Idols”, “Elizabeth: Heart of King”, and “Dog Sees God”. He would like to thank his family and friends for all their support and love.

Christian Huey (Big Ben & Tommy Knocker): Christian Huey is the last standing native of Austin, TX. His film acting debut was as Zach in Damon Garrett’s Descent (2003), followed by Kyle in Tim Sanderson’s vampire mockumentary Nightlife (2005). He has performed in and written for several Austin-based comedy troupes such as The Institution Theater, The Hideout, and the comedy musical outfit The Crank Collective. He played Carl the bus driver in the Fall 2012 run of Bus Stop with The Way Off Broadway Players. Christian is also the creator of the comic strip “Things Are Happening” and co-host of the long-running comedy podcast Chicken Fried Radio.

Food and beverages will be provided. This reading is free and open to the public, with a $5 – $10 suggested donation. All proceeds go to directly support the artists.
(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Auditions for Two Actors for 'If You Start a Fire, Be Prepared to Burn' by Kevin Kautzman, ATX Center Staged, February 14

Seeking two male actors, 20's, for a premiere staged reading of If You Start a Fire, Be Prepared to Burn, by Kevin Kautzman. Auditions February 14^th with appointments from 6-9 pm. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. The performance will be on March 3, 5:00pm, at Hyde Park Theatre. Rehearsals are February 19 and February 26, and March 2.

Location for the auditions: George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center: 1165 Angelina St., 78702. Click here for the map.

An Internet comedy for the Recession Generation! Chris and Lucy are typical American twenty-somethings struggling to get by during the Great Recession. They hate their jobs, but at least they have each other and health insurance! That is until Chris loses his job…

After successful premieres in Michigan and New York, here’s some of what the critics have to say:

“Hot Stuff! – An absolute gem… Kautzman is clearly a brilliant author and sophisticated wit… the play is absolutely a must-see.” - Robert Angelone. Epicurus.com

“A Comedy That Raises Serious Questions – A sexy romp through Kautzman’s clever banter and thought-provoking comedy… If You Start a Fire… explores issues unique to the 21st Century, with themes as old as the Greek story of Pandora’s Box.” - Patty Nolan, Detroit Examiner

“Kautzman’s text is magnificent as he submerges these two characters robbed of forethought into a trajectory of pure discovery… this cutting-edge, boundary-pushing comedy is poised to win viewers on the strength of its online and offline connections both.” - Carolyn Hayes, RogueCritic.com

CAST

CHRIS: 20-something Young, two years of college, where he majored in hallucinogenic drugs, philosophy, and Latin. Naïve.

LUCY: 20-something (cast) Young, finished college with a degree in English and Gender Studies. Waits tables. Working toward her MBA. Naïve, but not so naïve as Chris.
BIG_BEN: Chat Presence English. Has an accent. Into some weird stuff.

TOMMYKNOCKER: Chat Presence. Canadian. Or claims to be Canadian. Who knows, eh?

One actor sought to be able to play both BIG_BEN and TOMMYKNOCKER. When he’s TOMMYKNOCKER, the accents will also differentiate the characters. The accents can and probably should be stylized, as they are what Chris and Lucy hear.

ATX Center Staged is a new series of professionally staged readings from UT Austin affiliated playwrights. We promote UT Austin-affiliated playwrights by presenting their work to the Austin community. We hope to help build bridges between playwrights and the Austin theatre and to promote significant plays that deserve further attention and productions. This series is an exciting and new opportunity to meet UT Austin affiliated artists, as well as be exposed to theatre companies around Austin that are interested in producing new works. Come join us! Please visit atxcenterstaged.com for more information.

To sign up for an audition time, please visit the Doodle link and select your time. Please be prepared to stay a little longer if we might wish you to read with other actors. If you have any questions, please contact atxcenterstaged@gmail.com. Thank you!

DREAM OF PERFECT SLEEP by Kevin Kautzman, University of Texas New Works, April 18 - 27, 2013

(University of Texas theatres, Winship Drama Bldg. (WIN), near 23rd St. and San Jacinto, Austin)

presents

Dream of Perfect Sleep
Written by Kevin Kautzman
Directed by Courtney Sale
April 18 and 26 at 8:00 p.m.
April 21 and 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Lab Theatre
Tickets: $15 adults/$12 UT faculty and staff/$10 students with valid I.D.
Tickets are available online, by phone at 512-477-6060 or 800-982-BEVO, and in person at:

• Texas Performing Arts’ Bass Concert Hall, Monday - Friday 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Winship Drama Building Box Office, Opens one hour prior to curtain. Sales at this time are cash only.

About the playMary and Gene are old. Mary suffers from severe vertigo and just wants to watch her show, gosh-darn-it. Gene has some big news for their middle-aged kids. When new-ager Melissa and recovering-addict Robert return to a home decorated for the holidays (when it’s not the holidays), the family must make a hard decision about what it means to exit this world with grace.

About the playwright
Kevin Kautzman is a playwright originally from North Dakota pursuing his M.F.A. at the Michener Center, with a screenwriting secondary. In 2012 he premiered six plays (three full-lengths and three shorter works) at theatres in Canton, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Worth, New York, and Saint Paul. Honors include the Playwrights’ Center’s Jerome Fellowship, the Tennessee Williams Scholarship, and the International Student Playscript award. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Playwrights’ Center, and Scriptworks. He can be found online at kevinkautzman.com.
UTNT (UT New Theatre) is curated by Steven Dietz and Brian Kettler.
Buy your tickets today!

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

UT New Theatre plays announced for April, 2013, University of Texas

UTNT (UT New Theatre), the annual showcase of new plays from the UT M.F.A. Playwriting Program, returns this spring April 18 - 28 in the Lab Theatre with four dynamic works by emerging playwrights. UTNT (UT New Theatre) is curated by Steven Dietz and Brian Kettler. Specific dates, times and ticketing information will be available in January 2013. For additional information, call 512-471-5793.


Now in its sixth iteration, UTNT 2013 presents the following:


Staged Works:
 
70 Secrets of Marmalade Kittens by Gabrielle Reisman

Seduced by a pair of ceramic figurines, Quinn wrestles with abandoning her husband, her young children, and their lonely life on an Iowa hog confinement farm. Ten years later her now grown children - with the counsel of an aging pet goose - must choose between selling off their father's business, and tracking down the ghosts of their mother's desires.
 
Dream of Perfect Sleep by Kevin Kautzman
Mary and Gene are old. Mary suffers from severe vertigo and just wants to watch her show, gosh-darn-it. Gene has some big news for their middle-aged kids. When new-ager Melissa and recovering-addict Robert return to a home decorated for the holidays (when it's not the holidays), the family must make a hard decision about what it means to exit this world with grace.
 
The Kingdom by Andrew Hinderaker
A Catholic priest of 22 years has stopped taking confession. He has stopped delivering mass. Hiding out in the basement of his church, he seeks to perform miracles of his own making. What becomes of a priest who has lost his faith in us all?

Reading:
 
A Perfect Robot by Sarah Saltwick
Believe Alan Turin - that girl is really a robot. It's just that Mollybot's face is uncannily human. She hasn't been so perfect since her creator went missing and there's only one chance to convince the investors of her worth. One far away woman holds the key to unlocking it all.