Jeff Davis - Page 18

I must confess that I came to Austin Shakespeare's current production of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with no prejudices of my own. I've never read the original Jane Austen novel, and I've never seen any of the film versions with the exception of Bridget Jones's Diary, which is very loosely based on the Austen classic. However, prior knowledge of Austen and her work is not needed whatsoever to enjoy this pristine production. Whether you are an Austen fan or are a newcomer like myself, there is much to love about this spectacular show.

Trouble Puppet Theater Company presents Toil and Trouble, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth for puppet theater-an elegantly brutal play brought to life (and death) through puppetry, complete with witches, ghosts, and bloody skullduggery. Watch Macbeth and Lady Macbeth achieve dazzling ambitions, overreach, and fall into hells of their own making.

While the plot line about pardoning turkeys is as pointless, strange, and silly as…well…pardoning turkeys, NOVEMBER is a crowd-pleasing satire that anyone is sure to love. Right now it's unclear who will win the election, but at The Playhouse, NOVEMBER wins hands down.

The now iconic James Dean once said that "The only greatness for man is immortality." Without question, James Dean has achieved immortality in the over 55 years since his death, and he still has quite a fan base. Those fans are at the center of The City Theatre's current production of COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN. The play by Ed Graczyk concerns the 20 year reunion of the James Dean fan club of McCarthy, Texas, a town not far from the shooting location of Dean's last film, Giant. As the characters reminisce about their idol and their high school years, certain secrets start to immerge.

As I am writing this review, I am still laughing my butt off. The City Theatre's production of VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM is just as hysterical, quirky, and off-kilter as its title. This is one gut-busting piece of camp.

Halloween may be over, which means that the truly terrifying holiday is upon us: Thanksgiving. It's that dreaded holiday where we have to break bread and socialize with our family, pretending to like them despite how excruciating we may find them to be. It's fitting then that Capital T Theatre should present THE PAIN AND THE ITCH, a dramatic comedy about a family whose secrets unravel on Thanksgiving night.

Austin fanboys and girls rejoiced this weekend at Austin Comic Con, presented by Wizard World. The events featured celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premiers, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. Wizard World, Inc. also produces Wizard World Digital, an online publication covering new and upcoming products and talents in the pop culture world, is distributed on a weekly basis to online and iPad users worldwide.

Austin fanboys and girls rejoiced this weekend at Austin Comic Con, presented by Wizard World. The events featured celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premiers, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. Wizard World, Inc. also produces Wizard World Digital, an online publication covering new and upcoming products and talents in the pop culture world, is distributed on a weekly basis to online and iPad users worldwide.

ALWAYS PATSY CLINE, now playing at the Georgetown Palace Theatre, has made a fan out of me. This simple, understated production is a loving tribute and homage to one of the greatest singers of the last century. Whether you're a fan of Patsy Cline or not, you'll love her after seeing this production.

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.

I first heard of McCallum's Fine Arts Academy earlier this year when I attended their Theater Department's production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. I was completely awestruck by the talent and professionalism of these high school students, and I immediately contacted their teacher, Joshua Denning, to learn more about their program. Mr. Denning then invited me to a closed dress rehearsal of their upcoming musical production of THE SECRET GARDEN to chat with him and the students.

While many Austin theater companies are currently producing some Halloween fright fests, Paradox Players is offering a play about the scariest evil of all: politicians. With THE BEST MAN, the famous comedy-drama by Gore Vidal, Austin's Paradox Players shows us that not much has changed in the dirty world of American politics in over 50 years, a well-timed message given the upcoming election.

It was a dark and stormy night when two weary travelers, Nicholas and Alice, stumbled upon the lavish estate of Sir John, a worldly man with a delight for ghost stories and folklore. To pass the time, John proposes a bet to Nicholas and Alice, promising them 50 pounds if he can scare them using nothing more than literature.

Fiddle-dee-dee! As God as my witness, I'll never laugh this hard again! With MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, a behind-the-scenes comedy about the film version of Gone With the Wind, Penfold Theater Company delights audiences with some good ol'-fashioned 1930s Hollywood antics.

Break out the champagne and cigars. It's not a boy. It's not a girl. It's a hit! With BABY, the little-known 1980s musical, Austin Theatre Project proves it is a force to be reckoned with, quite a feat considering the company is less than one year old.

It's now the Halloween season, and all over Austin, theaters are rolling out their spookiest tricks and treats. While Last Act Theatre's current production of DOCTOR FAUSTUS may not be the scariest or spookiest, it certainly is worth seeing for its brilliant direction and strong performances.

HALLELUJAH GIRLS is a triumphant success for the Sam Bass Theatre. While the script sometimes feels like TV's "Golden Girls" in Georgia, it's so silly and entertaining that the occasional lack of originality is completely irrelevant. This show is an absolute blast!

The Zach Scott Theatre has shown Austin for 79 years that it knows how to put on a show. On Saturday, September 27th with their Deep in the Heart of ZACH celebration of the new Topfer Theater, Zach proved they know how to throw a party as well.

Something wicked's coming to Austin this Halloween. Baron's Men will terrify Austinites with MEDIEVAL MACABRE, an original work that asks one simple question: Can literature be frightening? I recently had the opportunity to speak with the production's Producer, Laura Trezie, and here's what she had to say about Baron's Men, MEDIEVAL MACABRE, the unique style of the Curtain Theater, and things that go bump in the night…

Hundreds of years ago, English playwright Christopher Marlowe wrote the world's first theatrical version of a little German legend about a man who sells his soul to the Devil. That man was Faust, and Marlowe's version, DOCTOR FAUSTUS, will be produced by Austin's own Last Act Theatre Company from October 11th through October 27th.