Makes Me Wanna Shout!

One of the fall's most exciting events is underway. The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center is sponsoring a look at the last 40 years of British theatre and is pulling out all the stops for it. Titled Shouting in the Evening, the program includes: a major exhibition exploring the extraordinary drama of this era and the playwrights behind it, including John Osborne, Samuel Beckett, Joe Orton, Harold Pinter, David Hare, Tom Stoppard, Timberlake Wertenbaker, and Caryl Churchill; lectures on and readings from the work of these artists; screenings of films written by British playwrights; and the 1996 Flair Symposium, two days of lectures, panels, and interviews, featuring playwrights Hare, Stoppard, Wertenbaker, and Simon Gray; critic Mel Gussow; director Frith Banbury; actor Janet Suzman; scholar Ruby Cohn; and our own world-class theatre historian Oscar Brockett. Films will be shown at the Texas Union every Tuesday in October (see the "Screens" section for info), and programs and performances are offered every Wednesday, 7pm, in the Leeds Gallery, fourth floor of the Flawn Academic Center. Next week is the panel discussion "Performing Osborne: From Page to Stage to Empire". Admission is free. For info, call 471-8944.

October = Arts

Sometime between campaign stops, Bill Clinton proclaimed October "National Arts and Humanities Month," calling the arts and humanities vital to our nation's well-being. While we'd really love to see that sentiment backed up by federal dollars, right now we'll take what we can get. So we'll just celebrate National Open House Day this Saturday. The Austin Parks & Recreation Department will have the Dougherty Arts Center, Elisabet Ney Museum, George Washington Carver Museum, O. Henry Museum, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, and Parque Zaragosa Recreation Center open from noon to 2pm, so we can all see how they help to promote the arts in Austin. Drop on by. Call 397-1454 for info.

Off the Desk

The Public Domain has expanded their domain. The enterprising theatre company which invaded the Avenue last year and built a splendid loft theatre in the second story of 807 Congress has taken over the first story, too. Theatre founders Michelle and Robi Polgar now have a smart gallery to complement their playhouse. For info, call 474-6202.

The City of Austin Cultural Arts Program needs artists for its 1997-98 Peer Panels. These panels are the first step in the city arts funding process and arguably the most crucial, as they provide the evaluation of artists by other local artists. Applicants should have expertise in one or more disciplines: Dance, Literature, Mixed Arts, Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts, and be willing to volunteer for a six-month commitment. It's dirty work, but somebody has to do it. Call Cultural Contracts, 397-1461, for more info.

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