Recent Reviews
Review: A Soundpainting Collaboration by Andrea Ariel and Austin Unconducted
by David Glen Robinson
Published on February 08, 2026
Andrea Ariel's subtle gestures conducted musical ensemble Austin Unconducted in the creation of three unpredictable, memorable soundscapes.
Austin is blessed. I’ve written that before. But some new event always seems to bring that sensation and thought back to the fore. The latest event is the hybrid music/performance show Austin Unconducted and Andrea Ariel: A Soundpainting Collaboration. Part of KMFA's "Offbeat Series," the show at the upstairs Draylen Mason Music Studio was one of spectacular music, composed and performed on the spot through the improvisational technique known as Soundpainting. Three musical pieces formed …
Review: Fiddler on the Roof by Austin Opera
by Michael Meigs
Published on February 08, 2026
Sweeping, beautifully produced and sung, Austin Opera's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF packs Dell Hall.
It’s a sweeping, beautifully produced and beautifully sung work, done before packed houses at Austin Long Center’s Dell Hall. Most of the leads in Austin Opera’s Fiddler on the Roof have lengthy national and international resumes, so of course the quality of the acting and song is superb. For example, Steven Skybell, as Tevye, was recognized with a 2019 Lortel Award for performing the same role in Yiddish, directed by Joel Grey, and he was …
Review: Murder on the Orient Express by Zach Theatre
by Hannah Neuhauser
Published on February 03, 2026
This stunning midnight blue train is the gorgeous setting for an evening of comedy entertainment that begins with tragedy and ends with an ethical challenge. Were we doing the right thing?
Join Steven Pounders as Hercule Poirot and his infamous mustache - seen from any seat! – as he recalls a murder case and a difficult ethical decision upon the luxurious steam train the Orient Express. No more serious spoilers from me – if you know, you know, whether from Kevin Branaugh's 2017 film or the twelve other productions across Central Texas since 2019. Just go see the show! You don’t need my seal of approval …
Review: Hamlet by Gaslight Baker Theatre
by Violet del Mar
Published on February 02, 2026
In GBT's HAMLET tragic inevitability remains intact, while the production is easily accessible, infused with playfulness and visual ingenuity. Confident, compelling, memorable, and engaging for both performers and adiences.
As a performer, I approached my first viewing of this Hamlet with curiosity and cautious anticipation. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, and no judgments needed. I was pleasantly surprised. While the narrative’s tragic inevitability remains intact, this production infused the evening with playfulness and visual ingenuity. Humor surfaced at unexpected moments, and the staging embraced bold theatricality. Most striking was the towering puppet of the ghost of Hamlet’s father, a spellbinding visual centerpiece that …
Review: Rara Avis by Ishida Dance Company
by David Glen Robinson
Published on January 26, 2026
After the luscious and exciting evening of "Rara Avis," we're past welcoming Ishida Dance to Austin; now we're begging Ishida Dance never to leave.
Ishida Dance returned to Austin with thier new show Rara Avis and a plan for partial basing (with Houston) right here in river city. The show is fresh, indeed, with four dances, one of them popular in Europe, and three world premieres. Concept, choreography, staging, and performance were brilliant, without the lighting and sound glitches that plagued last year’s show at St. Andrews in west Austin. Dell Hall at the Long Center is a mighty …
Review: SIX, the musical by touring company
by Brian Paul Scipione
Published on January 24, 2026
SIX of them. Diva queens, fast and funny, sometimes hard to follow, deliver goose-bump-inspiringly musical performances to create the soundtrack for thousands of future sleepovers.
Like most touring shows, SIX, created by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, is a powerhouse production with a giant fan following and a slew of awards including Tonys for Best Costume Design in a Musical and Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics). Marlow and Moss wrote SIX during their final year at Cambridge to offer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Inspired in part by a Beyoncé performance, Marlow proposed a retelling of the lives of …