Untimely Ripp'd Off

Up through last Saturday, the folks in the Austin Shakespeare Festival (ASF) had been feeling real good about the opening weekend of their production of The Merchant of Venice at the Zilker Park Rock Island. They had made it through tech week without getting washed away by summer storms, and their first three performances had gone smoothly enough to impress patrons and critics both (see the Chronicle review in this issue's "Arts Listings," p.79). So, after Saturday night's show, the company loaded the costumes, props, and equipment into the shed behind the stage and cheerily went home to rest up for Sunday's performance. But their good feeling was shattered the next day when they discovered vandals had broken into the storage unit in the night and, according to ASF Board Vice President Bill Sheffield, "trashed the inside of the shed." They stole more than $1,000 in sound equipment and either ripped off or ripped up the clothing and props with it. Total cost of the damage: over $2,000. Making the crime yet more painful for the group was the fact that all of the damaged and stolen material was either rented or borrowed. ASF not only has to find substitutes for the rest of the run, it has to replace goods generously loaned to them by other local groups. Needless to say, ASF is in need of contributions more than ever. Call 454-BARD to tell them you want to help. And when you go see Merchant, take along a little extra cash for a gift.

Getting Seen

Up in Boston, The Theater Offensive is in the midst of its annual festival of lesbian and gay theatre, Out on the Edge, and this year Austin is a very big part of it. The fest showcases new works by prominent artists in the queer theatre scene, and of the six shows being presented in the 1996 fest, two hail from our town. Performing alongside such national notables as Holly Hughes, Tim Miller, Muriel Miguel, and The Five Lesbian Brothers are our very own root wy'mn theatre company and Daniel Alexander Jones, Daniel Dodd-Ellis, and Jason Phelps. The men will present Jones' Blood:Shock:Boogie (just performed in The Roxanne Popsicle Exlosion produced by Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre) this weekend, September 20-22, and the wy'mn will present No Mo' Blues (with Sonja Parks performing Sharon Bridgforth's script) September 27-29. Congratulations, folks!

Paynes on Parade

This Sunday, September 22, the Austin Circle of Theatres (ACoT) hands out its 1995-96 B. Iden Payne Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in local stage productions during the past 12 months. Awards for artistic endeavors will be presented in 30 categories, and special honors will be conferred on John Aielli and on The Austin Chronicle for support of local theatre. The event takes place at the Four Seasons Hotel. Tickets are $25. For info, call 499-8388.

Send literary, performing, and visual arts news to: "Articulations," PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765 or onstage@auschron.com