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for Fri., Nov. 24
  • A Christmas Carol

    Austin’s hottest holiday tradition returns with new music and surprises to ring in the season. ZACH’s adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a musical sleigh ride through rhythm and time, infusing the traditional Victorian story with a score that spans all genres.
    Nov. 17 - Dec. 31  
    ZACH Theatre
  • The Smartest Girl in the World

    They’ve got a plan. Leo and Lizzy Martinez want to be the smartest kids in the world! The children of hardworking immigrants, big brother Leo has convinced his little sis that being smart is the key to helping their family escape a tough, uncertain reality. The Smartest Girl in the World takes a look at the bonds of family and the key to facing life’s challenges together.
    Nov. 30 - Dec. 3  
    UT Theatre and Dance
Recommended
  • Arts

    Theatre

    A Christmas Carol

    Zach Theatre’s adaptation of the Dickens classic is a musical sleigh ride through rhythm and time, infusing the traditional Victorian story with a score that spans all genres and eras. "Celebrate the season with the loving Cratchit family and three soulful ghosts as they take Ebenezer Scrooge on a joyride to rediscover his heart and love for human kindness."
    Through Dec. 31. $25 and up.  
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Flatbed: Flatfile Sale

    Flatbed is celebrating its 34th birthday with a flash sale of prints from its deep inventory, a curated selection available for 25% off for one weekend only. (Note: Some editions are final impressions, so they'll go fast.) Prints can be purchased in person at Flatbed or online; the discount will automatically be applied to your Shopify cart at checkout. Ah – just in time for the gifting holidays!
    Fri.-Mon., Nov. 24-27  
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Miss Lulu Bett

    In Zona Gale's classic play – the first play written by a woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama – Lulu Bett lives with her sister's family and does all the cooking in the house. Spinsterhood seems to be her destiny – until an enthusiastic visitor proposes. Directed by Norman Blumensaadt for Different Stages.
    Through Dec. 9. Thu.-Sat., 8pm; Sun., 6pm. $15-37.  
All Events
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    Visual Arts

    Art & Parks Tour

    This sweet opportunity comes to us from the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Pease Park Conservancy, and Ride Bikes Austin – so we know it's a damned good thing indeed. Take the self-guided Art & Parks Tour to explore the best of what Downtown Austin art and parks have to offer through this selection of curated murals, artworks, and green spaces. You can sign up anytime, so click that URL and get ready to learn the most vibrantly visual parts of your city soon – live and in person.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Atelier Dojo: Remote Studios

    The local powerhouse of figurative painting, the art school that's the smart school for artists of all kinds, they've got a painting-along-at-home series going to help you keep your skills honed in these socially restrictive times, featuring live costumed models posing on camera and a thriving community of creatives rendering that lovely human biotecture from their separate studios. "Join us for a three-hour costumed-model drawing session. Use any supplies you wish, listen to music, share your work, chat with others. It’s a great way to stay connected with your art community!"
    Tuesdays, 1:30-4:30pm; Fridays, 6:30-9:30pm; Saturdays, 9:30-12:30pm. $5.  
  • Arts

    Dance

    Ballet Austin: Classes

    Learn your way to physical grace with a dance class at Ballet Austin. There are so many varieties to choose among – ballet, barre, contemporary dance, hip-hop, tap, cardio dance fitness, Pilates, and more – and all taught by professional instructors. See website for details.
    $3-7 per class.
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    Visual Arts

    Big Medium: Fuertes y Firmes

    The multidisciplinary artist José Villalobos grew up on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, and was raised in a traditional and religiously (Evangelical) conservative family. His work reconciles the identity challenges in his life, caught between traditional Mexican customs and American mores, as well as growing up with religious ideals that conflict with and condemn being gay.: Villalobos manipulates material through the context of self-identity as he examines gender roles within family culture, demonstrating that dismantling traditional modes of masculine identity centers an interstitial space where materiality softens virility.Recommendation: See this vivid show of highly resonant work, the inaugural exhibition in the new Big Medium space – from the folks who bring our lucky city the annual Austin Studio Tour.
    Through Dec. 2
    4201 S. Congress #323
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    Visual Arts

    Butridge Gallery: Access

    Witness, for your delight, Neal Flynn’s exhibition of mostly new assemblage, collage, and site-specific intervention exploring ideas relating to nostalgia, loss, violence, ownership, and modern Western culture.
    Through Nov. 25  
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    Visual Arts

    Cage Match Project: Attitudes of Humility

    In each of her installations, Maggie Jensen becomes involved in different systems or aesthetics of authority, whether the art institution, a natural history archive, or extractive resource infrastructures. She makes requests of a cultural archive or government agency to access data about particular objects, and the process informs artworks that reveal the paths and limits of the internal logics of these institutions.
    Through Feb. 4. Free.
  • Arts

    Comedy

    Cap City Comedy Club

    That's right: Cap City Comedy Club, the longtime cornerstone of Austin's comedy scene for nearly four decades is at a new venue in the Domain. And here's Valerie Lopez with a closer look at what's in store for the scene via the venue. Click for details!
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    Visual Arts

    Cloud Tree: The Weight of It All

    Graham Franciose fills the Cloud Tree gallery with delicate moments frozen in time. A prolific gouache and watercolor painter, his 40 original poetic works on paper will charm you with their delicate beauty and intricate details.
    Through Dec. 2
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    Comedy

    ColdTowne Theater

    ColdTowne's new brick-and-mortar place is totally open, and who knows what they'll shake this city with next? But one truth remains: ColdTowne is a designated den of gold, baby, sweet comedy gold.
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    Visual Arts

    Día De Los Muertos: Honoring Our Artists Who Have Already Departed

    This memorial exhibition features work by Rene Anguiano, Sam Coronado, Ray Gaytan, Marsha Gomez, Nivia Gonzalez, Lupe Lopez, Adolfo Mexiac, Arturo Rivera, Farah Rivera, Susana Santos, Pablo Taboada, and José Francisco Treviño, with an altar by Carmen Alvarez.
    Free.
  • Arts

    Comedy

    East Austin Comedy Club

    Founded by comedians Raza Jafri and Andre Ricks, this club that operates out of Tiger Den on the Eastside is the city's only BIPOC-owned comedy venue.
  • Arts

    Comedy

    Esther's Follies

    Esther's Follies – Austin's not-so-secret weapon in the fight against ennui – the comedy gem that still dazzles this growing urban hub – returns to the weekly live and in-person stage of their club on Dirty Sixth, the whole troupe bringing back old favorites and debuting a new program of hilarity with topical, ripped-from-the-headlines sketches and musical numbers. And you do need a laugh or two, right about this time, don't you, citizen? (And how about a margarita to go with that?) We'd add that the mind-boggling illusions of magician Ray Anderson are a bonus in the night's clever spectacle … but, the way that arch maestro conjures mystery and delight, "bonus" would be an insult.
    Thu., 7pm; Fri.-Sat., 7 & 9pm. $30-40.  
  • Arts

    Comedy

    Fallout Comedy

    This hotbed of local performance is carrying on even more than usual, with an eclectic mix of live, mind-rocking comedy from some of Austin's best, all week long. Hey! The place is our cover story, as reported by Valerie Lopez! And, srsly, who would ever disagree with the sentiment of Monday night's Fuck This Week show? Check the website for details.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Flatbed Press: Unfolding the Rainbow of Motherhood

    Kyle Hawley, founder and creative director of Letterpress PLAY, breaks the silence surrounding motherhood with her powerful exhibition, using the unique medium of monoprinting, to transform cloth utility accessories and garments that she designed for mothering into seven life-sized prints that are embedded with colors that recall the nostalgic colors of Kodachrome.
    Through Dec. 2. Free.
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    Visual Arts

    Forces of Nature: Ancient Maya Art

    From ceramic vessels to greenstone jewelry, 200 works of classical Maya art (250-900BC) depict the relationship between the royal courts of ancient Maya and their supernatural entities.
    Through Jan. 7. $8-15.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Harry Ransom Center: Art In Words

    Featuring collaborations between fine presses and artists, examples of typographic and concrete poetry, and experimentations in pop and surrealism, the exhibition puts prints by Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Ed Ruscha in conversation with works by Charles Henri Ford, Kristin Calhoun, David McGee, and others.
    Through Feb. 4. Free.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    If The Sky Were Orange: Art In the Time of Climate Change

    This two-part exhibition explores the history and contemporary urgency of climate-related issues. Curated by journalist Jeff Goodell, who has written extensively on the topic, it's the first exhibition at the Blanton to explore one topic across several of the museum’s temporary gallery spaces. See our review of the show right here.
    Through Feb. 11. $8-15.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Laguna Gloria

    This local treasure of a venue, run by those Contemporary Austin folks who also bring us the Jones Center shows Downtown, is all about the outdoors – which is perfect for these trickily navigated times of ours, n'est-ce pas? Recommended: Stop by and breathe in the air, enjoy the lawns and gardens and the many examples of world-class sculpture arrayed across the property, and (as Frankie used to say) r-e-l-a-x.
    Thu.-Fri., 9am-noon; Sat.-Sun., 9am-3pm
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    Visual Arts

    Landmarks: Self-Guided Walking Tour

    Use your smartphone to access self-guided tours of the outdoor public art sited by UT's award-winning Landmarks program any time you feel like it. BONUS: There's also a free, docent-led tour starting at Marc Quinn's "Spiral of the Galaxy" (1501 Red River) on Sun., Jan. 8, 11am.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Lora Reynolds Gallery: Spatial Moto

    New and recent work by Erin Shirreff, her practice rooted in the studio and in process: material translations from two to three dimensions (or from three to two) or from analog to digital (and vice versa) are what form her diverse but interrelated bodies of work.
    Through Jan. 13
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Lydia Street Gallery: Elemental Topography & The Color Of Words

    Erin Cunningham's works examine and portray intricacies within the female figure, delving into the subtleties of the body's external structure. Elsa Gebreyesus explores visual representation of poems and themes by poets or wordsmiths she's been inspired by.
    Through Dec. 17. Artist reception: Sat., Dec. 9, 6-9pm
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Martha's Contemporary: Hokey Pokey + What You See Is What You Get

    Here's a two-person exhibition that features painting, installation, videography, and sculpture by Moll Brau and Wes Thompson. It's a deep dive into a pool of loneliness, triumph, and rebirth. It's a forest of mazes where fireflies provide the light. It's a show of creations from a pair of terrific, hardworking local artists and you don't want to miss it.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Mexic-Arte Museum: 40 years of Dia de los Muertos

    This exhibit presents an impressive collection of relevant artworks created by artists with an intimate connection to the Mexic-Arte Museum and the Austin community.
    Through Jan. 7
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Museum of Illusions

    Enter the fascinating world of illusions in this new venue that boasts a stunning array of intriguing visual, sensory, and educational experiences among new, unexplored optical wonderments.
    11010 Domain #100
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    Visual Arts

    Northern-Southern: Others

    Laura Lit’s sculptures are like utterances of deep quiet made solid and real. These newest ones have been built over two years, with skeletons of wood, muscles of foam, tissues of paper clay. The forms are painted with acrylic and oil, adorned with feather-feelers of plastic or scales of dyed resin. Some of these sculptures are the size of rabbits; others loom like growing trees. Gentle suggestion: FFS, don't miss this magnificent show.
    Through Dec. 17
  • Arts

    Theatre

    Pierre Corneille’s El Cid

    This legendary work recounts the struggles of Spain's national hero, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, the famed el Cid, as he attempts to preserve his honor after being exiled by King Alfonso VI. Directed by Ann Ciccolella for Austin Shakespeare.
    Through Nov. 26. Wed.-Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 3pm. $20-45.  
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    Visual Arts

    PL in ATX: Polish Posters Show

    Here's an exhibition of posters by a Polish designer, Patrycja Longawa.
    Through Nov. 30
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    Visual Arts

    SAGE Gallery: Go to Your Room

    Journey into a pipe-cleaner wonderland via Montrel Beverly's immersive teenage bedroom straight out of the early Nineties, chock-full of everything from Lunchables to Ninetendos to Air Pressure Jordans, all made out of pipe cleaners.
    Through Dec. 9
  • Arts

    Comedy

    Snail Haven's Comedy Pregame

    This is a weekly stand-up comedy showcase to help you pregame your Friday night on the town. (Snail Haven also features music shows, film screenings, and general hangs. Best bet: Follow @SnailHavenShows on Instagram and DM them for event details.)
    Fridays, 8pm. Free.  
  • Arts

    Comedy

    South Austin Comedy Club

    South Austin’s first dedicated comedy venue is spearheaded by local comics Martin Henn, Andre Ricks, and Raza Jafri, and brings top-notch acts to South Austin every Wednesday through Saturday. Note: The upcoming comics – including nationally touring acts, local sweethearts, and everyone in between – will be listed on Instagram each night.
    Wed.-Sat., 7:30pm
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Stephen L. Clark Gallery: Kate Breakey

    This exhibition of new work by Kate Breakey showcases hand-colored photography of the natural world, particularly of Texan and Australian landscapes, animals, and insects.
  • Arts

    Comedy

    The Comedy Mothership

    Joe Rogan's new venue is open and packing in the comedy-craving crowds at what used to be the Alamo Ritz, bringing in some of the biggest names (Rogan himself among them) and rising stars in the business, all presented with the kind of provocative pizzazz that makes Dirty Sixth (and especially this Mothership) a destination seven days a week.
  • Arts

    Comedy

    The Creek and the Cave

    This snazzy spot for local and national stand-up acts has shows almost every night of the week.
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    Comedy

    The Hideout

    The diverse lineup of sometimes hilarious, always surprising improv shows continues, with Pgraph and Maestro and the Big Bash and more, for the most unexpected delights of in-person entertainment. For instance: Their annual New Year's Eve spectaculars will start your 2024 off right, baby! See the website for details.
    $10 and up.  
  • Arts

    Theatre

    The Thin Place

    In The Thin Place, the fragile boundary between our world and the other one is breached. With acuity and relentless curiosity, Lucas Hnath’s play transforms the theater into an intimate séance, crafting an unnerving testament to the power of the mind, which has a mind of its own. And here's our full review of the show.
    Through Nov. 26. Thu.-Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 2:30pm. $28 and up.  
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Umlauf Sculpture Garden: Apropos

    The Umlauf's famed Garden features expertly wrought sculptures, the bronze or stone cynosures from Charles Umlauf and others anchoring sight among the bright foliage and tree-towered paths. Bonus: "Apropos" is a juried group exhibition of contemporary art exploring an aspect or aspects of Umlauf’s work – featuring new pieces by Darcie Book, Janet Brooks, Nathan Burgess, Bella Cheng, Avery Connett, Matt Donner, Sarah Fagan, Leslie Kell, Ellen LeBlanc, Gary McElhaney, Jennifer Pate, and more.
    Through Nov. 26
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    Visual Arts

    Unchained.Art: Holiday Show

    In this curated collection, Unchained's family of 14 emerging and established artists – including photographers, sculptors, and painters specializing in a range of styles from abstract to figurative to ink on rice paper - have each selected their one favorite piece from their own portfolio.
    Through Jan. 7
  • Arts

    Comedy

    Velveeta Room

    The legend of Ronnie Velveeta lives on at this storied 'stablishment of a stand-up stage, where some of the country's hottest comics come to make the floorboards quake with laughter every weekend on Dirty Sixth. Brandie Posey: Sat., May 20, 8 & 10pm. Jake Flores: Sat., May 27, 8 & 10pm.
  • Arts

    Visual Arts

    Wally Workman Gallery: The Other Thing Is

    Malcolm Bucknall’s absurdist surrealism brilliantly muddles Old Masters with tidbits of cartoons, films, home photography, and many other fascinations to create his anthropomorphic creatures.
    Through Nov. 26
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    Visual Arts

    Women & Their Work: Eye Moon Cocoon

    Virginia L. Montgomery's new solo exhibition is a surrealist thought experiment about the philosophical praxis of atomic healing, featuring new video art, sound art, performance photographs, and sculptural objects that interweave psychoanalytic, mythological, and scientific textures. Bonus: luna moths!
    Through Nov. 30
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    Visual Arts

    Wyld Gallery

    This is Ray Donley's gallery of art by Native Americans, located in that company of artistic glory called Canopy and resplendent with creations from the original people of our struggling country.
    Call for appointment
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    Visual Arts

    Yard Dog: Complicated Characters

    This new show at Austin's finest bastion of folk art features mixed-media collaborations that combine Jim Sherraden's printmaking with Jon Langford's painting to brilliant, rockabilly effect.
    Through Nov. 30
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    Visual Arts

    Yard Dog: New Baseball Paintings

    Austin artist Will Johnson explores the history of baseball in a series of portraits of players. An avid baseball fan since childhood, he began creating these paintings in 2007 or 2008, wanting to pay tribute to some of his favorite players and stories — especially unheralded players — through folk art paintings.

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