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Amaging!
As program coordinator/“co-queerator” of aging-with-grace org Family Eldercare’s LGBTQ division Rainbow Connections ATX, World Famous *BOB* speaks about growing older so tenderly. An example: “I often say that hanging out with older people is like getting a postcard from your future, and who wouldn’t want to read that?” There’ll be “postcards” a-plenty at this three-show series, which features five older qmmunity members (between the ages of 65 and 91) sharing their stories onstage – with *BOB* in the director’s chair. To hear cast members Rev. Babs Miller, Glenna “Sparkle” Williams, Masha-Leah, Richard Rollin Gartner, and Anna Nguyen speak about their lives is to understand the incredible stories we’re all connected by. – James ScottMay 8-10 -
Arts
Dance
Ballet Austin’s Romeo & Juliet
Ballet Austin’s Romeo & Juliet? More like Stephen Mills’ Romeo & Juliet. Or rather, after 25 years of his tenure as the visionary behind the city’s premiere dance company, the two are in perfect harmony. Celebrate Mother’s Day and Sarah & Ernest Butler Family Fund Artistic Director Mills’ legacy with one of his signature works as a choreographer – the greatest tragic romance of all time – while Austin Symphony Orchestra fills the Long Center with the music of Sergei Prokofiev. – Richard WhittakerMay 9-11
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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
Visual Arts
“HOT: The Exhibit”
Over a million American women go through the change every year. Why do we still talk about it in such hushed tones? Andee Kinzy and Melissa Knight hope to eliminate the stigma around menopause with “HOT,” a multimedia exhibit that hosts an art show, a play, and several workshops and panels throughout the month of May. The gallery opens May 4, and Jennifer Connell Davis’ I Wanna Be a F*cking Princess premieres four days later. In between and beyond, catch medical experts dispel menopause misinformation and try your hand at consciousness raising at community storytelling events. Find the whole schedule at improvedarts.org/hot-the-exhibit. – Carys AndersonFridays-Sundays. Through May 25 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Personal Records”
One part of a greater track-and-field trio of shows, GLHF presents art from Brian Dulaney, Drake Konow, Gerardo Cisneros, Justin Leal, Tim McCool, Kevin Muñoz, Marissa Dunagan, Phillip Niemeyer, and Preetal Shah. All these pieces speak to their experiences while analog traveling – you know, using their legs rather than a car or skateboard. This show organizes under the banner of Artist Run Club, coordinated by Northern-Southern and focused on the quick-paced art intelligentsia of Texas.: – James ScottMay 3 - June 1 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Transcendence: A Century of Black Queer Ecstasy, 1924-2024”
Across politics and pop culture, depictions of queer Black life most often emphasize pain, if not patronization. “Transcendence: A Century of Black Queer Ecstasy,” a multimedia exhibition presented by UT-Austin’s Art Galleries at Black Studies, flips the script, offering a century’s worth of works that focus instead on Black joy. Organized around seven themes – Portraiture, Beyond Figuration, Dance and Movement, Spirituality, Sex and Sensuality, Black Queer Futures, and Altered States – the works of over four dozen artists remind us that even in the face of adversity, we can achieve transcendence. – Carys AndersonThrough May 9Christian-Green Gallery, 201 E. 21st St. & Idea Lab, 210 W. 24th St. -
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. -
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! -
Arts
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. -
Arts
Visual Arts
Dana Robinson: “The Middle Distance”
Ivester Contemporary, that purveyor of meticulously curated duo shows at its Canopy space on Springdale, offers a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Dana Robinson this spring, featuring 12 delicate acrylic, ink, and fabric paintings with ironically punchy names. The surfaces almost recall a scrapbooking sensibility with neon pinks and collaged bits of hand-dyed cloth, but are blurred at the edges like memory. Contrasting Robinson’s strained sensitivity, Texas State alumna Sydney Guzman’s “Under the Moon’s Eye,” running concurrently, asserts a less abstract approach, offering painterly scenes of surreal nature, animals, and the artist herself while exploring similar themes. – Lina FisherThrough May 24 -
Arts
Theatre
Dirty Gold Theatre Presents: Venus in Fur
A seductive reconsidering of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s original novella, David Ive’s play gets reimagined once more by local theatre company Dirty Gold, who describe their work as “dynamic, provocative, character-based theatre that comments on contemporary society and our shared humanity.” What comments can they generate via Venus’ discussion of sexual power plays? You’ll just have to step into the metaphorical boudoir to find out. Special bulletin for Austin’s theatre pros: Wednesday, May 14, is Industry Night with promised ticket discounts both for presale and door tix. – James ScottThrough May 17 -
Arts
Theatre
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
In this, the doldrums of spring … is it just me, or are even the wildflowers less vibrant than usual? We could all use an escape. An evening in the French Riviera could fit the bill, especially while watching the exploits of two conflicting con men. First introduced in film by Michael Caine and Steve Martin, the titular Dirty Rotten Scoundrels of Austin Playhouse’s musical mayhem will perform literal tap dances around each other as they try to score big time. It’s almost, almost too wonderful to be true. Who will get the girl? Who will get the cash? Who will leave entertained (could it be you)? Shows start this Friday, April 11. – Cat McCarreyApril 11 - May 11 -
Arts
Theatre
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!
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 ScottThrough May 18 -
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
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
Theatre
FEAST.
Shrewd Productions brings playwright Megan Gogerty’s one-woman take on the Beowulf story to the Hyde Park stage. That one woman is repeat B. Iden Payne award winner Katherine Catmull. The tale is mythological but also runs up against modern culture and is described as both “immersive” and “visceral.” That sounds about right for a play that tackles the authoritarian moment we’re currently wrestling with. Laughs and rage are also promised, and that’s our baseline these days, so we’re looking forward to it. – James RenovitchApril 24 - May 17 -
Arts
Theatre
I Wanna Be a F*cking Princess
This show scores one point for an extremely cathartic title, one that seems ridiculously fun to scream across the room. It scores five more for tackling the emotional pressure cooker of bridal parties and – brace yourselves – bachelorettes. Let’s add 10 points for putting that within a fractured fairy-tale format. I’m picturing something as fiercely fanged as the recent gal pals in White Lotus, but maybe with literal wolves? And finally, heap on about a hundred points for integrating this into the peri/menopausal exploration of HOT: the Exhibit, adding a whimsical performance aspect to an already-informative examination of an overlooked ordeal. Let’s talk about the changes women go through! Whether literally transformative, or just emotionally so! – Cat McCarreyThrough May 24 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Jiab Prachakul: Sweet Solitude
Whoever says Austin isn’t a fine art town can get the hell out of here. We continually break artistic ground with innovative and international taste. The Contemporary once again adds to that rep by hosting artist Jiab Prachakul’s first solo museum show. Born in Thailand, living in France, and with a solid film background behind her, Prachakul’s work has a bold style and clear point of view. Heavy graphic lines and soul-stirring colors fill her art. Each moment could be a film still, each stroke staking her claim on a far-too-Western art world. Widely accessible but intensely intimate, Prachakul’s scenes beg for close inspection. Join the Contemporary, and the artist herself, in examining her offerings during Friday’s opening night festivities or in conversation on Saturday, Feb. 1. – Cat McCarreyThrough August 3 -
Arts
Theatre
La Fenice Presents Adventure Party TPK
Roll a 20, double-tap the X button, then step away from the tabletop or controller. Entire a tangible world of action with immersive theatre company extraordinaire La Fenice, presenting a fantasy adventure the likes of which exist only in the annals of imagination. Billed as Ren Faire meets D&D, these actors will embody what Artistic Director Kate Meehan calls “live action Adult Swim cartoons.” I’m picturing irreverent orcs and sarcastic squires – maybe a saucy wench or two if we’re lucky. And that could change with every performance! If it’s anything like La Fenice’s other works, each night will have an individual experience, led by the viewer themselves. A choose-your-own-adventure book come to life: What could be better than that? – Cat McCarreyThrough May 17 -
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
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
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.$20-24.11010 Domain #100 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Old Bakery Gallery: Fantastical Flora
This multimedia exhibition is a comprehensive exploration of the beauty of botanical forms, expressed realistically and in the abstract, featuring the work of local artist Francine Funke.Opening reception: Sat., Jan. 20, 1-4pm. Free. -
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 Creek and the Cave
This snazzy spot for local and national stand-up acts has shows almost every night of the week. -
Arts
Comedy
The Hideout
The diverse lineup of 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.$10 and up. -
Arts
Visual Arts
UT 2024 MFA Studio Art Thesis Exhibition: “Acceleration Without Arrival”
I’ve said it before, and even if I risk sounding repetitive I’ll say it again: AUSTIN HAS A GREAT ART SCENE. But it’s not necessarily in museums or vaulted halls: It’s emerging from the embryonic chrysalis of our punk underground and yes, even our academic towers. UT’s MFA students have already made waves on the local gallery circuit, whether through Britt Moseley’s video soundscapes at MASS Gallery or through Katherine Vaughn’s work at shedshows. But they’re just one-seventh of the talent presenting at “Acceleration Without Arrival.” Experience all the up and coming glory in one place through the next few weeks. Celebrate with the department at April 18’s opening night, or take a guided tour with the artists the following day. These creators mix subject matter and artistic medium in ways that blow past the edges of what can be. Enter the future with their new works. – Cat McCarreyApril 18 - May 10 -
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.$10. -
Arts
Theatre
What the Constitution Means to Me
Director Jenny Lavery’s work has often had a political tinge, but her most recent productions have been unrelenting in how they push the audience to engage with the forces that endanger and shape society. After her long-delayed and critically lauded production of abortion drama Roe, now she takes on the Pulitzer-winning political conversation between one woman at two points in her life. Best known to non-theatre audiences as the overly loyal June Thompson for Boardwalk Empire, Nisi Sturges dons the signature yellow jacket of Obie-winning playwright Heidi Schreck as she contends with the potential and the limitations of one of America’s most important documents. – Richard WhittakerThrough May 11 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Words and Wonder: Rediscovering Children’s Literature
One of the pleasures of having a first-rate research center and archive in town is how the Harry Ransom Center will regularly comb through its own vast holdings and hand-pick gems to present in a new context. Hence the HRC’s latest exhibit, “Words and Wonder: Rediscovering Children’s Literature,” which pulls from its manuscript, art, photography, film, and performing arts holdings to spotlight early 20th-century authors and illustrators catering to a young readership. The exhibit includes magic lantern slides from Aesop’s Fables, John Tenniel’s illustrations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Ernest H. Shepard’s indelible images from the Hundred Acre Wood, among other treats. Runs through August 17. – Kimberley JonesThrough August 17 -
Arts
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 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Yard Dog: Paul Rodriguez
Yard Dog presents the vibrant works of Paul Rodriguez, a printmaker from San Miguel de Allende. "And some very cool new paintings by Harry Underwood."Opening reception: Fri., Jan. 19, 7-9pm