Jill Blackwood

Austin Shakespeare Unveils 24-25 Season Featuring US Premieres & More

Austin Shakespeare's 2024-25 season will feature unexpected twists, U.S. premieres, and more. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Photos: First Look at HEAD OVER HEELS at ZACH Theatre

Production photos have been released for the Austin premiere of Head Over Heels with band musical direction by Rock-N-Roll Hall of Famer and Go-Go bassist Kathy Valentine. Check them out here!

Photos: Inside Rehearsal For HEAD OVER HEELS at ZACH Theatre

All new rehearsal photos have been released for ZACH Theatre’s production Head Over Heels playing in The Topfer at ZACH, August 9-September 10, 2023 with a ZACH360 immersive experience.

Cast Set for HEAD OVER HEELS at ZACH Theatre

Immerse yourself in the world of musical theatre with Head Over Heels at ZACH Theatre. Meet the stellar cast and highlights the talent that will have you singing and dancing along. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience!

Review: The stage is alive with THE SOUND OF MUSIC at ZACH Theatre

Despite the minor tweaks and modern aspects of the production, this is still the same classic musical that is suitable and enjoyable for the entire family. If you want to make the experience more unique and try that old acting bug, you can purchase table seats and learn how to Waltz with Max, Liesl, and the rest of the von Trapp children.

Cast Announced for THE SOUND OF MUSIC at ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre has announced the cast for Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Tony, Grammy, and Oscar-winning musical The Sound of Music playing June 15 – July 24. 2022 under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley.

Photos: First Look at THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the ZACH Theatre

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is running at the ZACH Theatre from now through May 1st. With music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien, the cult-classic returns to ZACH this time as part of ZACH360 with audience involvement and participation packs as part of the event.

Photos: First Look at Cecil Washington Jr. as Frank-N-Furter in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre is presenting The Rocky Horror Show running April 6 - May 1. With music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien, the cult-classic returns to ZACH this time as part of ZACH360 with audience involvement and participation packs as part of the event.

Cast Announced for THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre has announced the cast for The Rocky Horror Show running April 6 – May 1. With music, lyrics and book by Richard O’Brien, the cult-classic returns to ZACH this time as part of ZACH360 with audience involvement and participation packs as part of the event.

Live Zoom Reading Of THE RIVALS to be Presented by Austin Shakespeare

Austin Shakespeare is presenting the hilarious comedy of manners The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, in an online reading at 5 pm, Sunday, May 30.

Photo Flash: ZACH Theatre Presents SONGS UNDER THE STARS With Jill Blackwood and Matthew Redden

ZACH Theatre recently presented the first week of their Songs Under the Stars series, a socially distanced outdoor concert series on The Plaza at ZACH playing October 15-November 8, 2020. Opening week starred Jill Blackwood and Matthew Redden with “On Broadway.” Celebrating the Golden Age of Broadway.

ZACH Theatre Presents SONGS UNDER THE STARS A Fall Outdoor Concert Series

ZACH Theatre has announced weekly Fall Concert Series 'Songs Under the Stars', October 15 through November 8.

BWW Review: Captial T Theatre's IT IS MAGIC Casts a Spell on Austin Audiences

Not all is as it seems in this dark comedy written by Mickle Maher and directed by Mark Pickell.

Austin Critics Table Announces 2018-2019 Award Nominees

After considering hundreds of live stage productions, concerts, and art exhibitions in Austin between the dates of May 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019, members of the Austin Critics Table have announced their nominees for outstanding dance, classical music, visual art, and theatre with the nominees for the 2019 Critics Table Awards.

BWW Review: Tom Stoppard's INDIAN INK Shares the Humanity Behind British Imperialism at The Rollins Theatre in Austin, Tx.

Tom Stoppard is regarded as one of the greatest living playwrights of our day. His time spent in India in the 1940's as a boy, no doubt influenced the author's point of view in writing INDIAN INK. By modern terms, Stoppard's writing would be described as a slow burn, with a style gradually revealing plot and character as the play progresses. In INDIAN INK, the scenes travel long distances in both space and time, to reveal the heart of Flora Crewe played by Jill Blackwood. Examining the imperial British rule in early 20th century India - the clash of cultures between India and the British, display both the casualties and inspiration of such a combination. At the heart of our story Flora leaves England for a warmer climate amid advice from her doctor for her failing health. The story jumps back and forth between Flora navigating India in the early 1900's to more modern times detailing a biographer and her sister investigating the aftermath of her fascinating life. The story gently exposes itself as a subtle tale of love in many capacities. Love between sisters, scholarly love and the forbidden budding relationship between Flora and her portrait artist Nirad Das (played by Tamil Periasamy). As described of Flora throughout the show, her many affairs were fleeting, which made the building of her love for Nirad sweet, leaving the audience wanting more.

Austin Shakespeare Presents Songs From KISS ME, KATE

Songs from Cole Porter's delightful musical Kiss Me, Kate, performed by some of Austin's best singers on Jan. 13, will benefit Austin Shakespeare. Jill Blackwood, Leslie Bonnell, Sharron Bower Anderson and Jacqui Cross will sing with Brian Coughlin, Colum Morgan, Kyle Stephens and Scott Shipman at the Parker Jazz Club on W 4th St. just off Congress. The evening will also feature Tapestry Artistic Director Acia Gray tap-dancing to "Too Darn Hot." Austin Chronicle Arts Editor Robert Faires will be master of ceremonies for the evening.

BWW Review: THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Misses a Lot of Opportunities But Still Highly Entertaining

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (or, as it is sometimes called, the much shorter, 'Drood') is a 1985 musical based on Charles Dickens unfinished novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Written entirely by Rupert Holmes, it was the first Broadway musical with multiple endings determined by the audience. Holmes received Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score. The production won five Tony Awards out of eleven nominations, including Best Musical. The musical is derived from both Dickens' final unfinished novel and British pantomime and music hall traditions that reached the height of their popularity in the years following Dickens' death. Produced originally by Austin Playhouse in 2005, it was nominated for six B. Iden Payne awards including the winner of Best Director for Musical Theatre (Don Toner). Jill Blackwood, Rick Roemer, and Jacqui Cross reprise their roles from that 2005 production.

BWW Review: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE Paints a Fantastic Piece of Theatre in Austin TX

Utilizing his own genius and artistic experiences, Stephen Sondheim paints the picture of an artist's life work through pointillist painter, George Seurat. In SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, George's characterizations are fictionalized by Sondheim, telling the story of the artist chasing his masterpiece. However this famous artist's painting that this show is based on is very real: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Creatively springing to life with it's variety of personalities throughout the park, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE creates disposition and purpose for the subjects the artist is sketching. The pointillist's sweating muse is a young parisian woman named Dot, who is clearly a little grumpy from waking up so early to stand in the sun to be painted. From the top of the show, this introduces theme of sacrifice, both by the artist and those close to their work. As the Sunday morning progresses, more Parisian characters roll onto the stage displaying the Island of La Grande Jatte in 1884 as conceivably the trendiest brunching spot in modern day. As the different storylines begin to mix, much like the paint in George's brush strokes, Dot begins to feel alone posing idly. As a bystander in her own story as rather than the focus of a romance with her lover George, Dot arrives at a crossroads in her life. George's obsessing over his use of the colors red and blue in his famous painting reflect the hot and cold nature of his current love affair. Travelling a century into the future and revealing the heartache of networking within the arts community, the story quantifies the aftermath of a masterpiece. SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE examines the impact of an artist both during creation and in the distant future.

Cast Announced for SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre is proud to announce the cast for the Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George.  With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, Sunday in the Park with George plays ZACH's Topfer Stage from May 30-June 24, 2018 under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley with musical direction by Allen Robertson.

Cast Announced for SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre is proud to announce the cast for the Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George.  With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, Sunday in the Park with George plays ZACH's Topfer Stage from May 30-June 24, 2018 under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley with musical direction by Allen Robertson.