SING, MUSE, Vortex Repertory, August 23 - September 14, 2013

(Vortex Repertory Company, 2307 Manor Rd.) 

presents

Sing Muse

Conceived and directed by Rudy Ramirez | devised by the Ensemble
Aug.23 - Sep.14, 2013, Thursdays-Sundays 8pm

Vortex Repertory Company, 2307 Manor Rd. -- click for map 
Tickets: $30 Priority Seating, $20 General Admission, $10 Artists/Students
Limited seating. Advance Reservations available. 

---

Sing Muse - an original a cappella musical - returns to The VORTEX with an all-new production where music and dance, comedy and tragedy, poetry and science come together to retell an ancient story of human love touched by divine inspiration. The VORTEX transforms into the Theatre of Dionysus--in beautiful downtown Athens!

Few remember Thamyris, the once-legendary poet of Ancient Greece who was the first man to fall in love with another man. But the Muses remember. Thamyris claimed he could make art superior to the Muses’ and failed. After defeating him, they sentenced him to an eternity in Hell. However, eternity is a long time, and now The Muses give Thamyris one last chance to redeem himself.

This production of Sing Muse is the next phase of its artistic development. Devised last year, Sing Muse received a workshop production in August 2012. This new Sing Muse combines the best of the first production with new songs, dances, and poetry to reach divine heights.

The ensemble cast features Jonathan Itchon, Chelsea Manasseri, Melissa Vogt-Patterson, Hayley Armstrong, Laura Ray, Karen Rodriguez, Nikki Zook, Leslie Hollingsworth, Michelle Alexander, and Aisha Melhem.

Directed by Rudy Ramirez, Scenic Design by Ann Marie Gordon, Lighting Design by Patrick Anthony, Choreography by M’bewe Escobar. Music by Chelsea Manasseri, Rudy Ramirez, and Melissa Vogt-Patterson. Musical Arrangements by Chelsea Manasseri. 

Musical Direction by Chelsea Manserri and Jennifer Coy.

The Cast:

• Hayley Armstrong: Urania, Muse of Astronomy
• Nikki Zook: Polyhymnia, Muse of Hymns and Religious Poetry
• Aisha Melhem\: Terpsichore, Muse of Dance
• Michelle Alexander: Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry
• Chelsea Manasseri: Euterpe, Muse of Music
• Leslie Hollingsworth: Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy
• Laura Ray: Clio, Muse of History
• Karen Rodriguez: Thalia, Muse of Comedy
• Melissa Vogt-Patterson: Erato, Muse of Love Poetry
• Jonathan Itchon: Thamyris, a poet

Sing Muse is funded and supported in part by VORTEX Repertory Company, a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, and by the City of Austin through the Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division, believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin's future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Photos by Andy Berkovsky: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, City Theatre, June 13 - July 7, 2013

Photos by Andy Berkovsky for the

Nikki Zook, Kevin Gates (photo: Andy Berkovsky)

 




production of 

Much Ado About Nothing

by William Shakespeare

directed by Bridget Fairas,

June 13 - July 7, 2013

Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m.

(3823 Airport Rd. at 38 1/2 St., behind the Shell station)
 

Shakespeare’s Sublime Battle of Wits and Wills.

Considered one of the most popular and charming comedies, Much Ado About Nothing features the classic couple Benedick, an arrogant and confirmed bachelor, and Beatrice, his favorite sparring partner, who would rather exchange scorching insults than sweet nothings. However, the pugnacious pair is forced to forge a partnership in order to defend house and honor, and salvage the true love of Hero and Claudio after deceptions destroy the lovers’ wedding day. Will the earnest endeavor to restore a young romance elicit an unexpected change of heart for the effort’s unlikely collaborators as well? Witty wordplay, passionate poetry and clever plot twists make this the perfect romantic evening to share love and laughter.

(photo: Andy Berkovsky)

Click to view additional, larger photos at AustinLiveTheatre.com. . . .

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare, City Theatre, June 13 - July 7, 2013

(3823 Airport Rd. at 38 1/2 St., behind the Shell station)

presents

Much Ado About Nothing

by William Shakespeare

directed by Bridget Fairas

June 13 - July 7, 2013

Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m.

Shakespeare’s Sublime Battle of Wits and Wills.

Considered one of the most popular and charming comedies, Much Ado About Nothing features the classic couple Benedick, an arrogant and confirmed bachelor, and Beatrice, his favorite sparring partner, who would rather exchange scorching insults than sweet nothings. However, the pugnacious pair is forced to forge a partnership in order to defend house and honor, and salvage the true love of Hero and Claudio after deceptions destroy the lovers’ wedding day. 

Will the earnest endeavor to restore a young romance elicit an unexpected change of heart for the effort’s unlikely collaborators as well? Witty wordplay, passionate poetry and clever plot twists make this the perfect romantic evening to share love and laughter.

THE CAST

Don Pedro- Tyler Haggard
Don John- Heath Thompson
Claudio- Clay Avery
Benedick- Kevin Gates
Beatrice- Nikki Zook
Leonato- Mick D'Arcy
Antonia- Tracy Hurd
Balthasar- Chris Casey
Conrade- Maggie Bell
Borachio- Stephen Cook
Friar Francis- Casey Weed
Dogberry- Robert Deike
Verges- Toni Baum
First Watchman- Darren Scharf
Second Watchman- Eva McQuade
Sexton- Leigh Hegedus
Hero- Laura Ray
Margaret- Terah Zolman
Ursula- Leanna Holmquist
Messenger- Lindsay Palinsky

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Two ALT Reviews: The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, Different Stages at the City Theatre, January 6 - 28

By Catherine Dribb

Having attended the performance with a friend who, while a fan of theater, nevertheless believes that scripts written after 1950 that don’t take into consideration the average attention span of adults reduce their art to inconsiderate babbling, I became concerned when the greeter at the box office said, “the show runs over two hours but has two intermissions.” My pragmatic thespian friend, while relenting since The Children’s Hour was written in 1934 (before writers could be held accountable for taking into account the attention span of post-television-watching-post-Atari-playing adults), nevertheless gave me a look when I passed along the greeter’s information and pointed him toward the one-stall bathroom.

However, The Children’s Hour, produced by Different Stages, was not only well staged, but also well timed and neither of us was troubled by the length. Director Karen Jambon used Lillian Hellman’s solid script to keep the show well paced and entertaining, despite the troubling nature of its themes.

Karen Wright, played by Nikki Zook, is one of the two teachers of an all girls school, falsely accused of being a lesbian in relationship with fellow founder Martha Dobie (Bridget Farias). Zook brings to our senses the agony of harassment, unfounded and unrepentant. From her initial interaction with student and accuser Mary Tilford, darkly and acutely played by Laura Ray, to releasing her fiancé, a sincere but human Dr. Cardin (Errich Petersen), to finally resigning herself to a lonely, branded life after her best friend and alleged lover Martha takes her own life, Zook’s character is strong and compelling. These dramatic performances were accented by the school children’s caricaturistic performances (notably those of Helen Hulka and Bethany Harbaugh), which provided necessary comic relief against the evil of a conniving child’s web of lies.

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

Images By Bret Brookshire: Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, Different Stages at the City Theatre, January 6 -28

Found on-line: images by Bret Brookshire for

presentation of

The Children's Hour

by Lillian Hellman

January 6 - 28, Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

at the City Theatre, 3823 Airport Road (behind the Shell station)(click for map)Pick your Price Tickets: $15, $20, $25, $30
** Reservations: 926-6747 **

Click to view additional images by Bret Brookshire at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Upcoming: The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, Different Stages at the City Theatre, January 6 - 28

Found on-line:

presents

The Children's Hour

by Lillian Hellman

January 6 - 28, Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

at the City Theatre, 3823 Airport Road (behind the Shell station)(click for map)Pick your Price Tickets: $15, $20, $25, $30
** Reservations: 926-6747 **

Different Stages continues its 2011 – 2012 season with The Children's Hour. Award–winning playwright Lillian Hellman entered the world of the theater with a resounding thunder of acclaim in 1934 with this, her first and most famous play. The Children's Hour is the story of how a selfish child's whispered accusation destroys the lives of two young schoolteachers. A devastating story of deceit, shame and courage, its potent exploration of a culture of fear remains startlingly relevant.

Karen Jambon (Mornings at Seven) is the director of The Children's Hour. Playing the two schoolteachers, Karen and Martha, are Nikki Zook (Spider's Web) and Bridget Farias (Titus Andronicus). Erich Peterson (Suddenly Last Summer) plays Doctor Joe Cardin, Karen's boyfriend, the only male character. Laura Ray (Agnes of God) plays Mary Tilford, the student who accuses the two teachers. Rae Petersen (The Red Balloon) plays Mary's grandmother, Mrs. Tilford, and Miriam Rubin (Eurydice) plays Martha's meddling aunt, Mrs. Lily Mortar. Rounding out the cast are Molly Bentley, Bethany Harbaugh, Helen Hutka, Katie Kohler, Sara Billeaux, and Nguyen Stanton.

Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Tickets are Pick your Price: $15, $20, $25, and $30. For tickets and information call 926–6747.

Dont forget to "Like" us on Facebook!

Visit www.main.org/diffstages for more information about Different Stages!

Spider's Web, Different Stages at the Vortex Repertory, July 2 - 24

You don't see much of Agatha Christie in the United States any more, except perhaps in public libraries and the occasional revival of one of her many plays. Airport newstands will offer you thick paperbacks by Clive Custler or Sue Grafton or any of a number of other contemporary producers of blockbusters.

Different Stages does us a service by providing an accomplished and amusing production of her mid-twentieth-century curio, Spider's Web. Most of Dame Agatha's familiar elements are there: an isolated old manse in the countryside, a collection of proper, well brought up English folk, a murder and some earnest police officers trying to clear it up. There's a mystery to solve -- who assaulted the despicable Oliver Costello with a blunt object in the secret passage? Christie is very sporting with her puzzle, scattering clues along the way like Hansel and Gretel dropping breadcrumbs in the woods.

Spider's Web is a comedy rather than a thriller. Clarissa, the vivacious young wife of a much older British diplomat, happily plays country hostess as husband Henry, all atwitter, rushes off to deal with Foreign Office business. She teases and charms the three men visiting from London -- her former guardian, who has been knighted; a half-deaf old country duffer; and a young man from London who courts her shamelessly. Mix in a couple of eccentric servants, the wicked dope dealer who gets bashed, and the plods from the local constabulary.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Upcoming: The Graveside Service by Tim Thomas, FronteraFest at Hyde Park Theatre, February 5

Received directly:



Announcing


The Graveside Service

by Timothy Thomas

as part of FronteraFest's Short Fringe. This is your first chance to get a glimpse at what will become a new musical from Loaded Gun Theory. This show will sell out!

Friday February 5, 2010, 8 p.m. at the Hyde Park Theatre
Buy Tickets Now!

Loaded Gun Theory will reveal everything about KOOP Radio's Mr. Spradling and Mr. Harris and their roles in the deaths of certain musicians.

Lights! Longing! Music! Carnage!

Directed by Amy Lewis with Craig Kanne as Mr. Harris,Gene Storie as Mr. Spradling, Nikki Zook as Lillian Price, Bobbie Oliver as Mrs. Roger T. Price