Jill Blackwood News

I'm a sucker for plays that are so multifaceted that I feel I can't do them justice in a review. In the Next Room, or the vibrator play, now playing at ZACH Theatre, is without a doubt one of those plays. The comedy, written by Sarah Ruhl, is wonderful but exceedingly difficult to describe. It's funny but poignant, humorous but emotional, modern and old-fashioned.

ZACH Theatre brings you IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY playing today, January 29-Feburary 23, 2014 on stage at the Topfer Theatre.

ZACH Theatre is pleased to bring you IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY playing January 29-Feburary 23, 2013 on stage at the Topfer Theatre. A stimulating, funny and provocative new Broadway hit set in a prim upper class Victorian home, where a gentleman doctor has invented an extraordinary and mysterious device for treating 'hysteria.' His wife overhears mystifying sounds emanating in the next room and sees patients leaving in blissful health. This smart comedy ponders marriage and intimacy, and what it truly means to find connection. Contains adult situations and brief nudity.

ZACH Theatre's recently opened its production of LES MISERABLES, it's opening production of the 2013-2014 season, and judging by this backstage video of the cast rocking out to Mika's 'Grace Kelly,' it appears things aren't that miserable backstage.

ZACH Theatre's recently opened it's production of LES MISERABLES, it's opening production of the 2013-2014 season, and BroadwayWorld-Austin shares the following video sneak peek of this stunning production!

ZACH Theatre's recently opened it's production of LES MISERABLES, its opening production of the 2013-2014 season, and BroadwayWorld-Austin shares the following photos from this stunning production!

Musicals rarely reach the phenomenal success of Les Miserables. It's played in London's West End for 28 years and counting. The Original Broadway production ran for over 6,500 performances and played for over 16 years, and the recent film adaptation won 3 Academy Awards and earned over $440 million worldwide. Whether you're a longtime fan of the musical or a newcomer to it, Zach Theatre's current production of it certainly does it justice and shows exactly why Les Miserables is an international hit that others are measured against. This is a solid, soaring production of one of the most beloved musicals of all time.

ZACH Theatre will present Austin's first professional theatre staging of international musical theatre sensation LES MISERABLES as the opening production of the 2013-14 season, the second season in the new Topfer Theatre, tonight, Sept. 25. The world's longest running musical, LES MISERABLES has been seen by more than 65 million people in 42 countries.

ZACH Theatre will present Austin's first professional theatre staging of international musical theatre sensation LES MISERABLES as the opening production of the 2013-14 season, the second season in the new Topfer Theatre, Sept. 25. The world's longest running musical, LES MISERABLES has been seen by more than 65 million people in 42 countries.

In late December, BroadwayWorld posted Wish Lists of Musicals and Plays that should be produced in Central Texas in the 2013-2014 season. Several months later, many theater companies have announced their upcoming seasons, and some of our wish-list shows are part of the line-up.

As successful and ground-breaking as My Fair Lady was, there has not been a successful musical adaptation of any of Shaw's other plays…until now. A Minister's Wife, now playing in Austin through a new production by Penfold Theatre, is a delicate, understated, and exceedingly beautiful piece that wonderfully adapts Shaw's play Candida into musical theatre form.

Penfold Theatre Company presents A Minister's Wife at the Trinity Street Theatre from March 28 to April 14.

Penfold Theatre Company presents A Minister's Wife at the Trinity Street Theatre from March 28 to April 14.

ZACH - Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, presents Goodnight Moon, adapted from the book Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, featuring book, music, and lyrics by Chad Henry.

ZACH - Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, presents Goodnight Moon, adapted from the book Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, featuring book, music, and lyrics by Chad Henry.

As 2012 comes to a close, many Austin theater companies are putting together their 2013-2014 season. Given the incredible talent in this town and the large number of daring, courageous theater groups in the Austin area, here are my picks for 13 musicals that I'd love to see produced in the 2013-2014 season.

When you walk into the Whisenhunt Stage to see their current production of The Santaland Diaries and are greeted with fractured Christmas songs such as "Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire," "It's the Most Fattening Time of the Year," and "Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow, Yellow Snow," you know you're in for an unconventional and twisted Holiday show. In its final year at ZACH, their annual production of Santaland Diaries is still fresh, entertaining, and hysterical.

ZACH Theatre - Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, presents THE SANTALAND DIARIES, written by David Sedaris and adapted for stage by Joe Mantello. ZACH's production will be directed by Dave Steakley and star Martin Burke, Amy Downing (for evening performances) and Jill Blackwood (on matinees).

ZACH Theatre - Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, presents THE SANTALAND DIARIES, written by David Sedaris and adapted for stage by Joe Mantello. ZACH's production will be directed by Dave Steakley and star Martin Burke, Amy Downing (for evening performances) and Jill Blackwood (on matinees).

The current production of RAGTIME, produced by Zach Theatre in its new Topfer Theatre, shows precisely why RAGTIME is such a respected and important piece of theater. This dazzling and flawless production of the show is nothing short of spectacular and yet another triumph for Zach.