‘Year of the Rooster’: Dark comedy rules the day in Capital T’s funniest in ages

“Year of the Rooster” is, in many ways, a hard sell. The moment you tell someone that it’s a black comedy about cock fighting, you can expect some eye-rolling and shocked looks. Thanks to fast-hitting humor, energetic performances, and sharp direction from Mark Pickell, Capital T has created gold from his concept, taking audiences on … Continue reading ‘Year of the Rooster’: Dark comedy rules the day in Capital T’s funniest in ages

‘Mast’ is an emotional, if fragmented, night of drama

Elizabeth Doss is one of those playwrights that will have this critic in a seat opening night. Many of her former plays, including the stunningly original musicals "Murder Ballad Murder Mystery" and "Hill Country Underbelly" have become favorites, and it's always a delight to see what her mind can cook up. With her latest, "Mast", … Continue reading ‘Mast’ is an emotional, if fragmented, night of drama

Zach Theatre celebrates The Duke with the lively, hot ‘Sophisticated Ladies’

Duke Ellington was one of the most celebrated and influential music men of his times, and Zach is looking to celebrate his work with their latest production, a conflagration of song and dance called "Sophisticated Ladies". Bringing in the big guns, Zach has called in none other than Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday to lead the … Continue reading Zach Theatre celebrates The Duke with the lively, hot ‘Sophisticated Ladies’

Sensitive performances take center stage in Hyde Park’s ‘The Night Alive’

Conor McPherson's plays provide fascinating snapshots from the darkest sides of Ireland, and they burst with life and energy. Hyde Park has been taking these plays and turning them into gold for some time now, and with their latest, they bring out one of the most grounded and honest of these productions, in "The Night … Continue reading Sensitive performances take center stage in Hyde Park’s ‘The Night Alive’

‘Heathers: The Musical’ is a dark, hilarious take on the cult classic

For the past several years, Doctuh Mistuh Productions, led by award-winner Michael McKelvey, has been bringing Austinites some of the best cult musicals around, and have gained heavy praise in the process. Just last year, their production of Silence: The Musical, a campy, musical rendition of Silence of the Lambs, won the B. Iden Payne … Continue reading ‘Heathers: The Musical’ is a dark, hilarious take on the cult classic