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Jersey Boys
When making a jukebox musical out of the memorable back catalog of American pop sensations the Four Seasons, the easy choice – the lazy choice – for Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice would have been to just concentrate on Frankie Valli. After all, he was the most famous member and voice of the Garden State quartet, their success spurred by the falsetto vocals on “Big Girls Don’t Cry” through a decade of hits like “What a Night” and “Sherry.” But what makes the Tony-winning Jersey Boys really stand out from its paper-thin stage biography peers is how all four of the seasons – Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, Nick DeVito, and Valli – get to tell their complicated and sometimes contradictory versions of the history of America’s riposte to the Beatles. – Richard WhittakerThrough March 2 -
Arts
Theatre
Tomás and the Library Lady
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 ScottThrough March 2 -
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
Theatre
Fences
August Wilson made plays about Black lives with the deliberate purpose to show white America that the idea that their Black neighbors were impossibly different was an illusion. At the same time, his work was deeply rooted in exploring how that illusion damaged Black people, and nowhere is that more painfully clear than in Fences, the defining work of his 10-part Pittsburgh Cycle. In Troy Maxson, the big man of the neighborhood, white audiences could see the frustrations and pride of a man who made the best he could of being a garbageman, a job any of them could have. At the same time, Wilson embedded his story in the injustices of the Negro baseball leagues and racial profiling. This new production by Austin-based director Jeremy Rashad Brown promises to prove both the power of Wilson’s work and the tragedy that it’s still agonizingly relevant. – Richard WhittakerThrough March 16 -
Arts
Theatre
Fresh Squeezed Ounce of Opera
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 RenovitchFeb. 21-23 & Feb. 28-March 2 -
Arts
Theatre
Mahabharata Tales
Pushing past the Bard to a storied storyteller of another era altogether, Austin Shakespeare presents an original production drawn from the Mahābhārata, the epic poem drafted by Vyasa more than two millennia ago. Adapted by Austin Shakespeare Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella, this new staging dramatizes the war of succession depicted in the original Sanskrit text with dance and fight choreography and original music by Nagavalli along with improvised live music by Venkata Surampudi. Condensing the original work – about 1.8 million words in total – down to an evening’s entertainment? That’s an epic achievement in and of itself. – Kimberley JonesThrough Feb. 23 -
Arts
Theatre
Nunsense: The Mega Musical
Hungry for more Catholicism after watching Best Picture nominee Conclave? Or maybe you, like many, wished there was more habit hijinks than cardinal chaos in the film. Either way, you’ll be pleased to attend Dan Goggin’s story of a convent in crisis being put on under the direction of C. Patrick Gendusa at St. Edward’s University this winter. When the Little Sisters of Hoboken find their coffers empty following a “culinary disaster,” they band together for a fundraising variety show with tap dancing, comedy, an audience quiz, and special guest chef Sister Julia, Child of God. Be there or you will never be Pope! – James ScottThrough Feb. 23 -
Arts
Theatre
Ordinary Days
Love a multi-POV story – that’s point-of-view to all y’all TikTokers – and Adam Gwon’s new musical provides just that. Four New Yorkers crisscross each other’s lives in pursuit of life, love, and a taxi ride through this singsong stage play, which first ran at Penfold a little over 10 years ago. The Round Rock cultural hot spot calls this their big return to “chamber musicals,” aka small-scale stagecraft with a big impact. Perhaps this can serve as your revisitation of the genre – and Austin’s northern town neighbor – as well. Attend opening night on Friday, Feb. 7, or enjoy their First Saturday Soiree on Feb. 8 for hors d’oeuvres & bevs with the cast & crew. – James ScottThrough March 1 -
Arts
Theatre
The Secret Garden
I understand that not everyone grew up in a twisted version of Glee, where show choir reigned supreme and no one cared about the football team. So some folks don’t know the heart-melting whimsy of hearing teenage tenors get girls through duets of “Lily’s Eyes” during choir showcases. Such a shame. But thanks to that experience, The Secret Garden musical will always stand out as a paragon of my dorky high school bliss. It takes the lovely simplicity of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s children’s book about a lonely orphan transformed by the power of nature, and pads it out with soap opera hijinks and ghostliness galore. What’s not to love? If you’re lucky, maybe one of the male leads will look your way during “Lily’s Eyes.” Sigh. – Cat McCarreyThrough March 2