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

This article appears in September 20 • 1996 and September 20 • 1996 (Cover).

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