Inaugural Austin Theatre Critics Awards Drop 2024-2025 Nominees

Delicious drama of awards anticipation

"...Time to believe in miracles. Behold, the resurrection of..."

May 21, 2025 Arts Post by Cat McCarrey

Theatre Review: The VORTEX’s Rabbits

Timely production tackles life in a dystopian landscape

"...but who somehow manages to present endearing innocence over annoying ignorance. She offers a delicate, open-hearted affection for the..."

Feb. 7, 2025 Arts Feature by Cat McCarrey

Review: Different Stages’ The Art of Martyrdom (A Comedy)

For one of the season's best comedies, get thee to a nunnery

"...Martyrdom sounds like a welcome addition to the History Channel lineup. But the play is a noticeable nod to..."

June 30, 2023 Arts Post by Bob Abelman

Austin Film Festival Announces 2020 Lineup

Dave Not Coming Back, Golden Arm this year's headliners

"...women's arm wrestling drama Golden Arm - as they announce the full lineup this morning...."

Oct. 1, 2020 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

SXSW Film Gets Latest Apatow, Snowpiercer Premiere

Huge lineup includes new docs on St. Vincent, Ozzy, Zappa

"...looks like no exception as the festival has just announced The King of Staten Island as one of its..."

Jan. 15, 2020 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Different Stages' Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Like the separate parts of the Creature's body, the technical and performance aspects unite to create a delightfully provocative production

"...While Ann Marie Gordon's set is indeed modest, it'd be inaccurate..."

Dec. 6, 2019 Arts Review by Trey Gutierrez

Ethos' :Humpty

Melissa Vogt and Chad Salvata's musical takes the childhood rhyme into adult territory, balancing lighthearted elements with macabre darkness

"...stage's backdrop, actors render words unnecessary through unnerving characterization. Mannerisms like the sick rictus of King Koray (gleefully portrayed..."

Sept. 27, 2019 Arts Review by Trey Gutierrez

The Vortex Repertory Company's Heartland

Gabriel Jason Dean's new drama makes a sensitive study of three people in two different countries and where they belong

"...Afghanistan. Ramirez stages this all in one space – Ann Marie Gordon's set efficiently draws on both Midwest living..."

Feb. 8, 2019 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Pet Sematary Remake to Close SXSW Film

Midnighters, Festival Favorites, plus shorts all announced

"...horror at the end: After SXSW Film (March 8-17) announced that Jordan Peele's eagerly awaited doppelganger chiller Us will..."

Feb. 6, 2019 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Different Stages' Great Expectations

In this retelling of the Charles Dickens novel, a visible love of narrative is the show's greatest strength

"...misused. And no one here misuses him better than Annie Nicole Merritt's Estella. The pride ascribed to this object..."

Nov. 30, 2018 Arts Review by Robert Faires

2018 B. Iden Payne Award Winners

Top honors go to Drowsy Chaperone and Fixing Troilus

"...of the B. Iden Payne Theatre Awards. The 44th annual awards ceremony was held at the Austin Scottish Rite..."

Nov. 7, 2018 Arts Post by Robert Faires

10 Recommended Arts Events This Fall

So much creative energy flowing to quench your cultural thirst

"...on the ATX for the seven days of this annual festival of staged shenanigans. Shows? Well, yes! But workshops..."

Aug. 31, 2018 Events Post

The Vortex's Performance Park

Whatever you want to call this play/scavenger hunt/immersive live roleplay, it’s a one-of-a-kind, wonderful theatrical experience

"...itself is an exceptionally lofty undertaking. Scenic design by Ann Marie Gordon and Griffon Ramsey transforms the entire property,..."

May 4, 2018 Arts Review by Shanon Weaver

Performance Park Takes Over the Vortex

Bonnie Cullum’s dream wakes the Tarot into life in her company’s immersive theatrical experience

"...stuck somewhere and end up playing longer than they planned. Maybe they'll be on the Midway. Or they'll get..."

March 23, 2018 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Different Stages’ The Member of the Wedding

This staging of the coming-of-age drama evokes the small-town South with vivid design work and a rock solid ensemble

"...the production is cast against age in a similar manner. The choice to do this adds a kind of..."

Dec. 1, 2017 Arts Review by T. Lynn Mikeska

The Vortex's Vampyress

Chad Salvata’s gothic opera is the perfect treat for the season of ghouls, sensual and spooky

"...If Ann Marie Gordon's set design is the show's body, Jason..."

Oct. 13, 2017 Arts Review by Shanon Weaver

Vortex Repertory Company's Storm Still

Gabrielle Reisman's script refashions King Lear into the daughters' story, and the Vortex stages it with admirable heart

"...benefit of a script to read along with and annotate, it's best just to roll with it...."

Sept. 15, 2017 Arts Review by Elizabeth Cobbe

Different Stages' The Dresser

Different Stages’ The Dresser shows where to find the juiciest drama in the theatre: backstage

"...version of The Dresser includes a solid ensemble cast, Ann Ford's well-curated costumes, and a notable set design courtesy..."

July 7, 2017 Arts Review by T. Lynn Mikeska

Color Arc Productions' A Girl Named Sue

A melting pot of creative talent brings to life this cross-cultural coming-of-age story

"...filled with slam poetry, youthful exuberance, and sweet nostalgia. Ann Marie Gordon's spot-on interpretation of the Coffee Club is..."

March 10, 2017 Arts Review by T. Lynn Mikeska

Vortex Repertory’s A Perfect Robot

Sarah Saltwick’s timely script elegantly explores the tension between idealized automatons and messy humans

"...to end, A Perfect Robot is a perfect production. Ann Marie Gordon's sleek, spartan set gives way to captivating..."

Jan. 27, 2017 Arts Review by T. Lynn Mikeska

Pleasure of the Paynes 2016

Annual theatre awards think Terminus is the living end

"...show's designers weren't ignored either, with awards going to Ann Marie Gordon for her set, Patrick Anthony for his..."

Oct. 27, 2016 Arts Post

The Vortex's Privacy Settings: A Promethean Tale

Ancient myth meets modern surveillance memorably in this devised work at the Vortex

"...As I quickly scanned the release form I was asked to sign before..."

June 10, 2016 Arts Review by Shanon Weaver

Different Stages' 4000 Miles

The grandmother in the tiny Manhattan flat is the heart of the quiet, thoughtful 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog

"...who'd answer the door at 3am and embrace an unannounced houseguest. The matriarch in Amy Herzog's play 4000 Miles..."

March 25, 2016 Arts Review by Elizabeth Cobbe

SXSW Film Adds Midnighters and More

Horror lineup announced, plus shorts and more

"...down to about 150 titles. Now the Fest has announced 10 of the most eagerly awaited movies: the gory,..."

Feb. 9, 2016 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Different Stages' Dracula

Despite atmospheric design work and some strong acting, the production never quite realizes the sensuality and lyrical ferocity in Steven Dietz's script

"...sharp exteriors on a window/scrim to the rear of Ann Marie Gordon's creative and functional set, which includes hidden..."

Dec. 4, 2015 Arts Review by Shanon Weaver

The Grand Designs of Ia Ensterä and Jason Amato

"...concert lights, twisting and twirling pop art patterns across Ann Marie Gordon's crystal-columned starship bridge stage (which appears to..."

July 17, 2015 Photo Gallery

When the Rain Stops Falling

Strong writing and a robust cast make Different Stages' production stay with you

"...the girth to plumb its depths. Similarly streamlined is Ann Marie Gordon's set, which smartly provides everything needed to..."

July 10, 2015 Arts Review by Adam Roberts

Art Par Excellence

The nominees for the 2014-15 Austin Critics Table Awards

"...visual art, and theatre in the past year and announced the nominees for the 2015 Critics Table Awards...."

May 20, 2015 Arts Post

Pythia Dust

The Vortex's star-spanning musical is out of this world, but it doesn't really go anywhere

"...hypernauts: Captain Aranzia, navigator Sintela, and science officer Hypernica. Ann Marie Gordon's scenic design is composed of various gizmos..."

March 6, 2015 Arts Review by Elissa Russell

Changelings

The Vortex's staging of Reina Hardy's magical new play, Changelings, casts a uniquely compelling spell

"...movement chorus: Winnie Hsia, Jonathan Itchon, Melissa Treviño, and Joanna Wright, many of whom have previous acrobatic experience, which..."

Jan. 23, 2015 Arts Review by Elissa Russell

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