Austin will indeed host some gathering of independent theatre companies and
artists in August. Seventeen people attended a meeting at Hyde Park Theatre on
February 3 to discuss the idea and their conclusion was, “Let’s do it!”
Playwright Erik Ehn, a seminal force in developing a network of regional
alternative theatres — aka RAT — suggested that, instead of a
traditional conference, the event be an exploration of ways of working, with
perhaps open rehearsals by some attending groups. Austinites are needed to
provide hospitality, in the form of transportation, meals, beds, etc., for
out-of-towners. Salvage Vanguard Theater artistic director Jason Neulander
agreed to be point man for contacts. Try him at salvage@mail.eden.com or
912-0331.

Serious Comedy

With this week’s official Grand Opening of the Capitol City Comedy Club (the
club has been open under the CCCC name since December), owners Colleen Buchanan
and Bruce Barshop have plenty to sling champagne over: successfully revamping
the Laff Stop; booking A-list comic Jeff Cesario to headline, even tapping
Mayor Bruce Todd to “throw out the first joke” (albeit via video). But word
arrives that they’ve cause to uncork yet another bottle: They’ve added a new
club to what is a rapidly growing stand-up empire: The Tulsa Comedy Club.
Cheers!

Symposium Rescheduled

If you were worried that last week’s snow and ice made you miss Setting Our
Agenda: A Symposium for African-American Theatre Artists and Their Allies,
worry no more. The Progressive Arts Collective postponed it because of the
weather. The event has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 23, at the
Austin Community College Rio Grande campus, 1212 Rio Grande. Call 447-5343 for
info.

Worthwhile Causes

On Saturday, February 10, La Pe�a gets to the heart of the matter with
its Valentine’s auction of small wooden hearts decorated by U.S. and Mexican
artists, including Amado Pe�a, Isabel Allende, and Tish Hinojosa. A
preview of the works begins at 4pm ($10); the auction is 6-8pm (free), at the
Reynolds-Penland Building, 721 Congress. Proceeds benefit La Pe�a. Call
477-6007 for info… Georgetown’s Palace Theater marks its 70th birthday with a
week of special events: screenings of Wings (Sat, Feb 10) and An
Affair to Remember (Wed, Feb 14), concerts by the Southwestern University
Jazz Ensemble (Mon, Feb 12) and area country bands (Fri, Feb 16), and The
Palace Theater of the Air, a live version of a Forties radio broadcast,
with Karen Rush Hill in Sorry, Wrong Number, comedy, and ads. The fun
winds up Saturday, February 17, with a Big Band Ball on a Casablanca theme. All proceeds benefit the Palace. For more info, call 512/863-3658.

Send news on the local literary, performing, and visual arts scenes to:
“Articulations,”

PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765 or e-mail to: onstage@auschron.com

This article appears in February 9 • 1996 and February 9 • 1996 (Cover).

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US