Kiss Me, Kate

Cole Porter's 'Kiss Me Kate' is revived by the Austin Playhouse in such an atmosphere of fun (and ever-so-slightly wicked humor) that the production is rather endearing

"...Lilli Vanessi, the pair of cross, star lovers, Tim Blackwood and Jill Blackwood are delightful (yes, they're husband and..."

March 19, 2004 Arts Review by Robi Polgar

Payne Pleasures 2005

Drama with a Gothic flair scored high in the nominations for the 2005 B. Iden Payne Awards, as announced by Austin Circle of Theatres on August 15

"...Theater and nominations for the performances of Rick Roemer, Jill Blackwood, Jacqui Cross, and Michael Stuart...."

Aug. 19, 2005 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Aida

Zachary Scott Theatre Center's Aida' delivers some memorable moments, but not all sides of the musical's romantic triangle are in balance

"...Amneris, makes an equally strong impression here, thanks to Jill Blackwood. Initially, she has a splendidly crafted comic role..."

Feb. 11, 2005 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Xanadu

The stage version of the 1980 film is ridiculous – and a ridiculous amount of fun

"...is not bad at all. It's about a Muse (Jill Blackwood) who descends from Olympus and scoots around on..."

Aug. 10, 2012 Arts Review by Elizabeth Cobbe

Nominations for the 2004-2005 B. Iden Payne Awards

A complete list of all Payne Award nominees.

"...Jill Blackwood, Aida..."

Aug. 19, 2005 Arts Feature

Applause! Applause!

Austin Critics Table nominations, 2004-2005

"...Jill Blackwood, A Midsummer Night's Dream..."

May 27, 2005 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Carousel

TexARTS' staging of Carousel found the humanity in this unusually dark musical, bringing us close to even the cruelest characters and taking them to a place of comfort and light

"...hearts of their characters and fanned them into flames. Jill Blackwood imbued Julie with an unfathomable yearning. As she..."

June 29, 2007 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Invasion of the Kiddie-Lit Plays

Characters from children's literature storm Austin-area stages in July.

"...Musical Theatre's Bye Bye Birdie) directs a cast starring Jill Blackwood, Tim Blackwood, Mary Alice Carnes, Huck Huckaby, Coty..."

July 5, 2002 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Zach Theatre's Sunday in the Park With George

Zach relalizes the Sondheim musical with near flawless execution but has little in the way of emotional reward

"...just how versatile and skilled a performer he is. Jill Blackwood imbues Dot with notable heart for a character..."

June 15, 2018 Arts Review by Elizabeth Cobbe

Zach Theatre's Mary Poppins

Great singing and dancing make Dave Steakley's staging soar, but a spoonful of calm would help the spectacle go down

"...every way," which also describes the decision to cast Jill Blackwood in the part. Blackwood brings a welcome effervescence..."

Aug. 5, 2016 Arts Review by Elizabeth Cobbe

Top 10 Dramatic Turns of 2013

A look back at some of the year's most gripping performances

"...3) JILL BLACKWOOD IN 'LES MISERABLES' (Zach Theatre) As Fantine, Blackwood..."

Jan. 3, 2014 Arts Feature by Adam Roberts

A Minister's Wife

This musical version of G.B. Shaw’s ‘Candida’ is exactly the right size for Austin, cozy with room for plenty of nuance

"...he is known shines through them. Greg Holt and Jill Blackwood star as James and Candida Morell, the minister..."

April 5, 2013 Arts Review by Jillian Owens

Full Circle

Pointedly political, yes, but Charles Mee's update of Brecht is also wildly entertaining

"...government collapses. Pamela – played superbly by the ever-precise Jill Blackwood – is the kind of woman who flies..."

Oct. 5, 2007 Arts Review by Avimaan Syam

Bad Dates

Theresa Rebeck's Bad Dates is a guilty pleasure, offering reflections on relationships, jobs, fashion, and dating through genuinely captivating monologues

"...with the eminently talented, precise, and delightful machinations of Jill Blackwood in the single (pun intended) role?..."

April 21, 2006 Arts Review by Heather Barfield Cole

Urinetown: The Musical

'Urinetown: The Musical' may wallow in a sordid premise and have an awful title, but Zach's production is always making you happy, if not downright giddy

"...that he has precious little room left for brains. Jill Blackwood's Hope is, if possible, even dimmer – until..."

Feb. 10, 2006 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Culture Flash!

City arts funding revisions get a thumbs-up from council, theatre artists sing for cancer charities, and local playwrights meet and greet

"...for Life features familiar and not-so-familiar songs performed by Jill and Tim Blackwood, Sarah Collins, Jacqui Cross, Amy Downing,..."

Aug. 26, 2005 Arts Column by Robert Faires

Top 10 Performances of 2004 That I Ruminate Over After the Dust Has Settled

Heather Barfield lists her favorite stage performances of 2004

"...9) Jill Blackwood in Cabaret (Zachary Scott Theatre Center) Blackwood's posturing..."

Jan. 7, 2005 Arts Feature by Heather Barfield Cole

Personals

While the material in Personals, a revue built around the ads placed by men and women desperately seeking soul mates, suffers somewhat from age, Naughty Austin's production makes a fine match with a cast that is exceedingly appealing and extremely adept at musical comedy.

"...Cathie Sheridan, Paul Parkinson, Kristen Ensrude, and Tim and Jill Blackwood take the material and alternately smooth out the..."

Feb. 7, 2003 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Nunsense: Amusing Grace

The State Theater Company's production of Nunsense is long on laughs if short on story, according to Chronicle writer Skipper Chong Warson.

"...Hubert (Jacqui Cross), aspiring ballerina novice Sister Mary Leo (Jill Blackwood), Sister Robert Anne (Shoshana Gold), and Sister Amnesia..."

July 21, 2000 Arts Review by Skipper Chong Warson

More Places at the Table

The Austin Critics Table is about to hand out its annual awards for achievement in the arts for the 10th year, and the list of nominees is longer than ever.

"...Keri Safran, As You Like It/Changes of HeartActress, MusicalJill Blackwood, The Gifts of the Magi..."

May 24, 2002 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Elizabeth Cobbe's Top 10 Arts Entrances of 2019

It was the onstage arrivals – some creepy, some hilarious, all welcome – that made this year distinctive

"...2) By the time JILL BLACKWOOD arrived onstage as the perfectly pitched third sister..."

Dec. 20, 2019 Arts Feature by Elizabeth Cobbe

Capital T Theatre's It Is Magic

This captivating staging of Mickle Maher's comedy debates theatre's enchantments where Macbeth meets "The Three Little Pigs"

"...woman who "smelled" the audition flier at the Y (Jill Blackwood, deliciously freaky). Her presence shifts the balance of..."

Nov. 15, 2019 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Austin Playhouse's The Mystery of Edwin Drood

This musical production makes for an effervescent alternative to that other Dickens holiday show

"...company last staged the musical in 2005, and actors Jill Blackwood (as the victim Edwin Drood), Rick Roemer (as..."

Nov. 30, 2018 Arts Review by Bob Abelman

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play

Anne Washburn's inventive play shows how, after the apocalypse, we still cling to Springfield

"...In this Mary Moody Northen Theatre staging, seasoned actors Jill Blackwood and Marc Pouhé lead a phenomenal ensemble of..."

Oct. 2, 2015 Arts Review by Shanon Weaver

Top 10 Theatre Duos & Trios of 2014

Remembering a year in theatre in which performers distinguished themselves in twos and threes

"...1) JILL BLACKWOOD & AMY DOWNING IN IN THE NEXT ROOM,..."

Jan. 2, 2015 Arts Feature by Adam Roberts

The King and I

In a new staging of The King and I that's long on Asian authenticity, audiences are "getting to know" this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic in a most personal way

"...his hand to take hers. As the female lead, Jill Blackwood – returning to 19th century garb after last..."

Oct. 10, 2014 Arts Review by Russell M. Dembin

In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play

The development of electricity prompts questions about intimacy in Sarah Ruhl's play

"...of the good doctor's closed office door, his wife (Jill Blackwood) suffers herself, feeling inadequate because her milk is..."

Feb. 14, 2014 Arts Review by Stacy Alexander Evans

Goodnight Moon

Zach Theatre's production pleases and would be as pleasing to return to as Margaret Wise Brown's book

"...vivacity of a kindergartner. He's a spirited handful for Jill Blackwood's mother bunny, whose genteel exasperation is as amusing..."

March 22, 2013 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Top 10 Ensembles of 2012

The year's most memorable groupings in classical music, dance, and theatre

"...7) JILL BLACKWOOD, MARTIN BURKE, JASON CONNOR, AND AMY DOWNING IN..."

Jan. 4, 2013 Arts Feature by Adam Roberts

Ragtime

Zach Theatre renders the musical with a sweep befitting its grand scale

"...to these figures, in all their complexities and contradictions. Jill Blackwood plays a sheltered woman of privilege whose eyes..."

Nov. 2, 2012 Arts Review by Robert Faires

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