Austin’s musicians may be used to having star artists drop in to hear the
locals when they visit town, but its theatre artists aren’t. A national
theatre artist seeing a local stage production is about as rare as an Austinite
getting nominated for a Tony. So, it created a stir when noted actor/writer
Eric Bogosian stopped by Hyde Park Theatre to catch a performance of his play
Talk Radio by homegrown troupe The Company. Bogosian, in Austin to perform his
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee at the Paramount Theatre, was urged to see the
show by director Rick Linklater, who had seen it earlier. Bogosian attended
last Saturday’s show with Paul Beutel and Paul Alvarado of the Paramount. What
did he think? Well, the author gave The Company company a standing ovation. And
the group’s Cathy Grant reports Bogosian saying that he thought Ken Bradley was
better than the guy that replaced him in the New York production. Bogosian also
talked with cast and crew for half an hour after the performance.
Comedy Transitions
The changes are coming fast and furious at The Laff Stop. Last month, thelongtime stand-up spot’s new owners (who also own San Antonio’s Rivercenter
Comedy Club) announced a new name for the venue: the Capitol City Comedy Club.
Now, they’ve closed the lounge as part of a major renovation, displacing
ComedySportz Austin, which has been performing improv shows in the lounge since
last fall. The biggest change comes Nov. 19th, when the whole club shuts down
for several weeks for a big makeover. Fans wishing to bid a fond adieu to the
Stop as it’s been for 10 years have this week with hypnotist Mike Mesmer “Eyes”
and next week with Fred Greenlee to get, well, the last laugh… As for
ComedySportz, bouncing from one space to another is nothing new. Their
residency at the Stop began after their own space on Sixth Street closed in
1994. CSz already has a new home in mind and will announce it soon, once
details are finalized. In the meantime, the group is staying busy with private
bookings. More info may be had via the ComedySportz Hot Line: COMEDY -7.
Salon Success for ACoT
The Austin Circle of Theatres held a low-key fundraiser this past Sunday: asalon reading of Harold Pinter’s Old Times, featuring Joe York, Babs George,
and Karen Kuykendall, directed by ACoT Executive Director Ann Ciccolella, in
Kuykendall’s home. As the event was held in a residence, attendance was limited
and the final tally was only $660, but the level of interest astonished ACoT.
“We sold out a week in advance,” said Ciccolella, “and could have filled the
house three times over.” Given the reponse, ACoT has decided to reprise the
event January 31, same cast, again in Kuykendall’s home, with a salon series
perhaps to follow. Former Board President Bill McMillin is considering a
reading of Shaw’s Saint Joan at his home in February. Six hundred bucks may not
seem much in some ways, but, as Ciccolella notes, “For us, that`s a painless,
enjoyable chunk.” n
This article appears in November 10 • 1995 and November 10 • 1995 (Cover).