HELP! My Vagina Is Trying to Kill Me
Through March 22, Hyde Park Theatre
Any vagina-having person has felt this title’s truth. (Or knows its cousin, “My uterus is trying to kill me.”) Finally, Yola Jean Lu is putting words to this universality, curing that vagina pain with healthy doses of laughter and sobs. This one-woman show broke barriers at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and just this past month won over audiences at Austin’s own FronteraFest. If you think you can’t giggle over genitals, buckle up. Lu faces off against STIs, HPV, miscarriages, and the overall dismal state of women’s health in general. – Cat McCarrey
OUTsider Fest
Thursday 20 – Sunday 23, the Vortex
OKAY, so the event actually started yesterday, Feb. 19, but there’s still four more days as of our distribution date for you to enjoy all the real weirdos making art over at Butterfly Bar and the Vortex. Last week’s issue featured a fantastic piece from writer Genny Wood on OUTsider’s 2025 Legacy Award winner Julie Tolentino, and that’s only ONE of MANY all-star outsider artists on the lineup. Try local hypno-hype woman Erica Nix’s fest-long hypnosis sessions performed alongside fellow THIS IS NOT A CULT creator Sawyer Stoltz, or this Thursday night’s mega multimedia performance from 2024’s Best Electronica artist p1nkstar – although tonight she goes by her true title Maria Rivera Felizardo. Maybe you wanna catch interdisciplinary artist Lu Coy in their lunar song cycle Becoming the Moon on Friday, or MoHA event programmer Jay Roff-Garcia’s audio-visual performance Revolca’o on Saturday, or even close out the weekend with Kaya Te for a Perreo Combativo Healing Party. Whatever weirdness you want, it’ll be on Manor this weekend. – James Scott
Nosferatu Festival
Friday 21 – Sunday 23, DoubleTree Hilton and Kick Butt Coffee
If you’re still thinking about Robert Eggers’ recent hit Nosferatu, or perhaps Werner Herzog’s 1979 Nosferatu the Vampyre, or maybe even F. W. Murnau’s 1922 original, look no further than Austin’s seventh annual Nosferatu Festival. In celebrating the menacing Count Orlok and all things horror, there will be vendors selling an array of spooky items, a vampire short film contest, a vampire look-alike contest, and live music from bands like Zombeast and Ghoultown. No need to wait until October to start lurking in the shadows with like-minded friends. – Mattea Gallaway
Say That Again
Thursday 20 – Friday 21 & Thursday 27 – Saturday 1, Dougherty Arts Center
Dance collective Early Era return their hip-hop celebration from 2024 with a new 26-artist-strong show. Producers Stephanie Patrick and Daniel Broxton head up the performance, blending street and contemporary dance into a story told through spoken word poetry by local writers Ife Neuro and Soup Makes It Better. Their hope, as written in Early Era’s event copy, is to show “where movement, rhythm, and words come together to tell bold, unapologetic stories of culture, identity, and community.” – James Scott
Fresh Squeezed Ounce of Opera
Through March 2, dadaLab
After wading through 50 micro-operas submitted to the local company, the crew at One Ounce Opera chose three to include in their annual Fresh Squeezed performance. The show includes a tale of Ray Bradbury’s childhood, a day in the life of a food truck, and a look at the future of humanity – all told in OOO’s trademark mix of technical prowess and a focus on approachability. It’s the perfect chance to get introduced to opera or just enjoy some top-notch vocal acrobatics. – James Renovitch
Sarah Squirm
Friday 21 – Saturday 22, the Creek and the Cave
Okay, so every show current SNL star Sarah Sherman, aka Sarah Squirm, is performing in our little big town has sold out. No wonder, given her alt appeal as a gross-out artist comic whose clowning around involves bodily fluids and her strong Long Island accent saying the most goofy biz you’ve ever heard. My advice? Check the secondary market to see if anyone is hawkin’ Squirm tix at a 500% markup or arrive day-of at the C&C box office. You never know; you might get lucky! – James Scott
Murdering the Devil
Friday 21 – Saturday 22, AFS Cinema
Ester Krumbachová was a cinematic powerhouse of the Sixties, a Czech New Wave multihyphenate writer, art director, costume designer, and eventual director of her own film, 1970’s Murdering the Devil. She was banned from working during the Eighties by the Czech communist party because of her involvement in A Report on the Party and the Guests, a 1966 political satire directed by Jan Nĕmec, who was ultimately ousted from Czechoslovakia altogether. Krumbachová’s only film, co-written by Nĕmec, is a farcical take on a date from hell, wherein a fortysomething woman decides to romance an old childhood friend who turns out to be (perhaps literally) the devil. – Lina Fisher
Tomás and the Library Lady
Through March 2, Austin Playhouse
We love true-story stagecraft here at the Chron, such as this play based on Mexican American author Tomás Rivera. Based on the children’s book of the same name by El Paso’s Pat Mora, the play tells of Tomás’ storytelling love developed over years listening to his grandfather tell tales in the fields from Texas to Iowa. After encountering “the Library Lady” during a visit to the Carnegie Library, Tomás and she engage in mutual learning as she encourages him to read and he teaches her Spanish. – James Scott
Cry-Baby
Friday 21 – Sunday 23 & Tuesday 25, Alamo Village, Slaughter Lane & Lakeline
You never forget your first Waters. This throwback Fifties feature was mine, shown to me by my self-proclaimed “weird mom.” A spoof – as John Waters loves to do – of juvenile delinquent tales and Elvis film vehicles, I remember being mesmerized specifically by Traci Lords’ tough-talking Wanda; her red-lips in a perpetual sneer triggered a lifelong love for mean girls. Obviously, there’s a lead-character-shaped elephant in the film whose more recent legal troubles make his bad-boy performance feel … odd, but your mileage may vary vis-à-vis Depp perception. Alamo Drafthouse screens the cult classic through the weekend with an extra drop on Tuesday. – James Scott
Jugglefest
Friday 21 – Sunday 23, Navarro High School
Texas Juggling Society’s annual celebration of tossing and catching brings together object manipulators of all kinds, including some unique props like diabolos and kendamas. Open to all skill levels, the three-day festival includes workshops, competitions, and a silent auction on a variety of equipment. Just want to see some high-grade performances? Friday night at Brewtorium includes a free, open stage to show off the local skills. Saturday’s big showcase features renowned jugglers from all over the world. – Maryam Ahmed
“SideQuests” Live!
Friday 21, the Future Front House
Bias alert! I’ve seen this short film directed by Aira Juliet & Ben Weaver – which dropped in last year’s Front Fest screens portion – and it is an absolute riot. But don’t just take my word for it: Last week, while walking to Yellow Jacket Social Club after another great screening at Hyperreal Film Club, my friends and I were talking pre-movie shorts – which, if you’re a HFC repeat viewer, you’ve seen a zillion of before their repetory screenings. Therefore, I knew “SideQuests” was a total winner when my friend mentioned it alone out of the zillion as a standout. Catch it on 12th and Chicon this Friday, with a crew Q&A, a blooper reel, merch, cock/mocktails, and a live DJ to sweeten the deal. – James Scott
Tammy and the T-Rex + Horror Movie Trivia
Saturday 22, We Luv Video
What, like you were going to spend Saturday watching Jurassic Park? Puh-lease: Try watching a real dino movie, where Denise Richards kisses an animatronic theropod! Released the year following Spielberg’s prehistoric blockbuster, this rom-com sci-fi horror features the late Paul Walker for all of like five seconds before his character gets mind-swapped into a robo-Rex, who then attempts revenge on those who attacked him and his beloved. Enjoy the screening as well as Fangoria-hosted horror trivia, where killer prizes are waiting to be excavated. – James Scott
Stoplight Party
Saturday 22, Cheer Up Charlies
Third time’s the charm: LGBTQ event organizers Local Queer ATX pop up for their thrice be-thrown stoplight party over at Chups. “What’s a stoplight party?” you ask, my beloved yet clueless Reader. Color yourself with knowledge: A stoplight party is one where you dress in a color that acts as an intention signal to other attendees – you know, like a hanky code but less fetishistically specific. (Do NOT ask me what a hanky code is; just go watch Cruising!) Red means taken, yellow means poly, purple means one-night-stand seeking, and green means go – wait, sorry, it means single and ready to mingle. Obvi, LQ ATX also adds in fun like a Pitch Ur Bitch session, kissing booth, tooth gems, flash tattoos, and tunes spun by DJ Killgxrl. – James Scott
Carnaval Brasileiro
Saturday 22, Speakeasy
We might be in the middle of a cold snap, but that won’t stop Carnaval-goers from shedding a few layers and inhibitions in solidarity with the traditional Brazilian celebration with a dash of Mardi Gras for spice. The first floor features dancing all night, while upstairs Gisele Duque plays in between performances from the local samba school. Group costumes are encouraged, but a general sense of abandon is pretty much required to make the most of this 47-year-old tradition. – James Renovitch
ATX Open
Saturday 22 – Sunday 2, Westwood Country Club
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová returns to action at the hardcourt tournament’s third annual event. The bold, fast-serving Czech hasn’t competed on the WTA circuit since the 2023 China Open after taking time off to give birth to her first child. Other notable players currently entered include world No. 5 (the second highest American) Jessica Pegula, former Longhorn Peyton Stearns, and defending ATX Open champion Yue Yuan. Qualifying takes place this weekend before the main draw begins on Monday. – Derek Udensi
Winter Walkabout 2025
Saturday 22, the Yard
Spending an entire Saturday hanging out and day drinking with your friends is a simple adult pleasure few realize they can experience. All you gotta do, see, is call or text these “friends” – which I’m sure you, handsome and charming Chronicle reader, have in spades – and tell them you want to hit up Southside spot the Yard, where a whole line of delicious drinkeries outweigh the noxious vibes wafting off the Tesla dealership next door. Then you and your compatriots wander the various brewhouses, wine dealers, sake sellers, and seltzer slingers to enjoy their wintry specials for this year’s walkabout theme: By the Fire. Did I mention the overabundance of really, really good food trucks? Yeah, they’re in on the special theme, too. God: Isn’t being alive just great? – James Scott
Save Texas Schools Rally
Saturday 22, First United Methodist Church
Do you care about what happens in our state schools, or do you love kids’ education being underfunded? Because our Texas Lege has been cutting into public school funding for some time now, with an average of $1,300 per student lost since 2019 according to the Save Texas Schools coalition. This weekend, make a stand for public schools among other informed and politically active citizens at this indoor rally featuring speakers like AISD Board of Trustees President Lynn Boswell and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett. (Read more here.) – James Scott
Hyperreal Short Film Fest
Saturday 22, Hyperreal Film Club
Who doesn’t love to watch a movie that’s below the runtime for feature-length? I’m certainly a fan of the quick cinematic bite – although I prefer mine horizontal rather than vertical, sorry Mr. Katzenberg – and HFC has collected quite the spread in their several years of screening local short films ahead of repertory classics. This weekend you’re invited to enjoy 90 whole minutes of jury-selected narrative shorts, each one a special gift from someone’s brain to your eyes. Need to express how cool you find these filmmaker’s works? Hit up the Club on Friday for their opening night party, where you can toast these creators face-to-face while also partaking in a hot dog or two. – James Scott
A Peculiar Miscellany
Saturday 22, Curio Mrvosa
E is for Edward, the Goreyest artist, whose dourly Gothic comedic tendencies and Edwardian sensibilities remain as arch as the line of the bat wings he drew. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creator, writer, and illustrator of The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Haunted Tea-Cosy, and The Doubtful Guest with a new group art show at Taylor’s literary refuge for the wistful, mournful, and darkly inclined. As an extra-special tribute to the author and animal lover who once wrote “A book in my hand and a dog by my side … we belong together,” a portion of all sales will go to Texas Critter Crusaders. – Richard Whittaker
Ramadan Storytime with Madeeha Siddiqi
Saturday 22, BookPeople
While Ramadan doesn’t fall until next Friday, Feb. 28, it’s never too early to get into the spirit brought on by this season of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Author and second-generation Muslim American Madeeha Siddiqi reads from her new children’s book Goat in a Coat, which follows a cute li’l goat as they spread “generosity, empathy, and community spirit.” Each book also comes with a special toy goat as well as a “Deed of the Day” card deck that gives kiddos ideas for good deeds they can accomplish each day. Siddiqi will also be signing copies of her book at the event. – James Scott
The Piano Teacher
Saturday 22 – Sunday 23, AFS Cinema
Despite none of my friends being able to pronounce her name, I maintain Isabelle Huppert is one of our most important onscreen freaks. Who else can play aggressive repression with just as much verve as unleashed arousal? In two-time Funny Games’ director Michael Haneke’s erotic drama, aptly named for its lead character’s profession, Huppert makes a meal of slow simmering lust and its horrific consequences: her ill-fated affair with a young student rotting the once buttoned-up woman to her basest elements. Perfect for AFS’ Love Month series! – James Scott
Young Soul Rebels
Sunday 23, We Luv Video
With a soundtrack that features Sylvester and Parliament, you already can’t go wrong with Young Soul Rebels. Add in hot British gays, Vivienne Westwood, murder, romance, and intrigue – if you aren’t sold by now I don’t know what to tell you. This 1991 Cannes Critics’ Prize winner explores racial tensions between the Black, West Indian, and white British communities of 1970s London through the relationship of punk Billibud and “soulboy” Caz. Caz and his friend Chris try to balance promoting soul music on their pirate radio show amid the prevailing punk scene (which includes fascist skinheads) while also trying to solve their friend’s murder, which occurred while cruising. Amid these heavy, fraught subjects, the film manages to needle-drop true bangers like Roy Ayers’ “Running Away” and X-Ray Spex’s “Oh Bondage Up Yours!” Why choose between soul and punk when you can have both? – Lina Fisher
Vertigo
Sunday 23 – Monday 24, Alamo Drafthouse
Jimmy Stewart is the retired cop who becomes obsessed with a woman, then obsessed with another woman who bears a striking resemblance to the first. Comparing that logline to some of Alfred Hitchcock’s more obvious terrorizers – a serial killer with a kitchen knife in the shower, say – and Vertigo might not sound all that scary. Think again. A psychologically unnerving portrait of a man controlling and contorting a woman into his ideal version, Vertigo put a mirror up to old Hitch. Star Kim Novak herself drew the comparison to her director, who was known to fixate on his leading ladies’ exact shade of bottled blond: “The facade was everything to him.” – Kimberley Jones
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!
Through May 18, the Kleberg at Zach Theatre
Beep beep! Make way for this vehicular bird, who springs from author Mo Willem’s Pigeon picture books onto the Zach stage for this family-friendly musical. Originally commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the production is suitable for kids 3 years old and up – so a perfect pick if you’ve got antsy toddlers yearning to dance and sing during stageplays. Plotwise, this isn’t a challenging piece: When a bus driver disembarks from their seat, a mischievous fowl takes the wheel to expectedly chaotic results. Feathers will fly, I’m told. – James Scott
Want to see all of our listings broken down by day? Go to austinchronicle.com/calendar and see what’s happening now or in the coming week.
This article appears in February 21 • 2025.
