This is the big week for local stars of the stage. It’s the week of the B. Iden Payne Awards, presented by the Austin Circle of Theatres. In a ceremony at The Metropolitan Club Monday, September 15, 25 awards for outstanding work in theatrical productions of the past year will be presented, along with several new awards for support, including stage manager, theatre volunteer, technical assistance, audience member, artistic spirit, and board member, plus the organization’s Special Recognition Award. This year, ACoT’s Board has opted to honor three local theatre greats: Alice Wilson, former artistic director of the Zachary Scott Theatre Center; Eva Paloheimo, former managing director of Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre; and the late Michel Jaroschy, founder and producing director of Capitol City Playhouse for 14 years. The ceremony begins at 7pm. Tickets are $25. For information, call 499-8388.
Getting Seen
Those globetrotters in the Sharir Dance Company are at it again. The Austin-based troupe, which has performed in both Israel and The Netherlands in the past year, leaves this week on a tour with stops in Portugal, Greece, and Sweden. First stop is Lisbon for the arts festival Encontros Acarte, in which it will perform Hollow Ground II, by SDC artistic director Yacov Sharir and Andrea Beckham and Memory of Absence by co-artistic director Jos� Luis Bustmante and composer Russell Pinkston. Then, Pinkston and Bustamante take Memory of Absence to Thessalonika for the 1997 International Computer Music Conference. And October 8-10, Yacov Sharir presents “The Technological Future of Dance” at a Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences’ symposium. If you want to see some SDC moves and can’t afford the international airfare, just head to Houston this weekend; SDC is taking part in a “Weekend of Texas Contemporary Dance” in the Miller Outdoor Theatre. Call 458-8158.
Off the Desk
DiverseArts Production Group says to come back to school, its Community Arts School. It offers a range of seminars, workshops, and master classes in such areas as Afro-Latino percussion, jazzology, improvisation, performance readiness, peddle loom weaving, expressive movement, and basic illustration, from such notable teachers as Rich Harney, Martin Banks, Pam Hart, Ivry Newsome, and Harold McMillan. Class sizes limited; many will be one-on-one with the instructor. Call 477-9438.
Worthy Causes
Mexic-Arte Museum is sponsoring its third annual “Frida’s Fiestas” dinner Tuesday, September 16, 6pm, at Fonda San Miguel, 2330 W. North Loop. Master chef Roberto Santiba�ez will be serving savory items from recipes by Frida Kahlo and of his own design, along with music by Arista Latin artist Nydia Rojas. Tickets are $50 for members/$60 non-members, with proceeds to benefit Mexic-Arte. Call 480-9373.
This article appears in September 12 • 1997 and September 12 • 1997 (Cover).