Austin Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations

Review: PETER PAN at Bass Concert Hall
by Sabrina Wallace - December 12, 2024

Peter Pan dazzles with stunning sets, magical flying effects, and catchy new songs. This Peter Pan may never want to grow up, but it certainly deserves to be part of the conversation on how we tell timeless stories for modern audiences....

Review: RECKLESS at City Theatre Austin
by Sabrina Wallace - December 12, 2024

City Theatre’s Reckless explores absurdity and loss but falters with sluggish pacing and a script full of gaps. Stellar performances by Eric Kessler and Tracy Hurd shine, yet the dark humor doesn’t fully connect on a cold winter night....

Review: FALSETTOS at Ground Floor Theatre
by Sabrina Wallace - December 12, 2024

GroundFloor’s production of Falsettos masterfully walks the fine line between comedy and tragedy, presenting William Finn and James Lapine’s poignant musical with a bold, albeit occasionally polarizing, emphasis on its absurd humor....

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Zach Theatre
by Sabrina Wallace - December 03, 2024

ZACH’s A Christmas Carol is a joyful celebration of the classic tale of redemption, making it the perfect way to embrace the holiday season alongside the entire family. #ATXTheatre #BroadwayWorld...

Review: A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED: A MISS MARPLE MYSTERY at Different Stages
by Sabrina Wallace - November 29, 2024

Settling into the cozy intimacy of The Vortex, Different Stages' A Murder is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery offers an evening brimming with suspense, charm, and delightful surprises. Perfect show for a chilly evening in the ATX!...

Review: SISTER ACT at Texas State University
by Sabrina Wallace - November 27, 2024

Texas State University’s Sister Act was a vibrant celebration of resilience, friendship, and sisterhood. With standout performances, powerful music, and magnetic energy, the show soared uplifting the collective human spirit....

Review: BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY at Austin Playhouse
by Sabrina Wallace - November 26, 2024

Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, now delighting audiences at Austin Playhouse, is a theatrical romp that blends the logic of a classic whodunnit with the absurdity of over-the-top comedy. It is a good laugh!...

Review: THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO at City Theatre Austin
by Sabrina Wallace - November 19, 2024

At City Theatre Austin, Payton Trahan (dir) captures the heart of “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” with precision and empathy, offering audiences a compelling reminder of the cost of exclusion and the beauty of embracing one’s roots....

Review: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET at The Wimberley Players
by Sabrina Wallace - November 18, 2024

Valentine Davies' 'Miracle on 34th Street' has charmed audiences since its debut as a 1947 film. The Wimberley Players production captures the nostalgia of the era providing a heartfelt exploration of themes that resonate deeply, even today....

Review: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Mary Moody Northen Theatre
by Sabrina Wallace - November 11, 2024

If you’re a fan of slapstick, quick-witted humor, and clever theatrical twists, Mary Moody Northen's production of “The Play That Goes Wrong” is the perfect play for you. Don’t miss it! #ATXTheatre...

Review: JANE EYRE at Austin Shakespeare
by Sabrina Wallace - November 11, 2024

Austin Shakespeare’s production of Jane Eyre offers a strikingly modern and feminist take on the iconic story of a woman’s resilience against the oppressive forces of her time. With music, movement, and a thoughtful focus on Jane’s journey as a woman rather than just her romantic entanglements, this...

Review: COPENHAGEN at Sterling Stage Austin
by Victoria Schwarz - November 06, 2024

What did our critic think of COPENHAGEN at Sterling Stage Austin?...

Review: JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH at UT Department Of Theatre And Dance
by Sabrina Wallace - November 03, 2024

The UT Department of Theatre and Dance’s delightful adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale, James and the Giant Peach, provides a whimsical escape into a world where adventure and imagination flourish, leaving audiences with smiles and warm memories. #ATXTheatre...

Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at UT Department Of Theatre And Dance
by Sabrina Wallace - October 29, 2024

UT’s Department of Theatre and Dance production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' breathes fresh life into the classic play, brilliantly balancing the whimsical with the profound, making it a delightful experience for both seasoned Shakespeare enthusiasts and newcomers alike. #shakespeare #ATXTheatre...

Review: OH TO BE PURE AGAIN at Texas State University’s Department Of Theatre And Dance
by Victoria Schwarz - October 29, 2024

What did our critic think of OH TO BE PURE AGAIN at Texas State University’s Department Of Theatre And Dance? Texas State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance’s performed Kira Rockwell’s award-winning play (Gene Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award 2023), OH TO BE PURE AGAIN from October 17-26....

Review: WAIT UNTIL DARK at Bastrop Opera House
by Victoria Schwarz - October 23, 2024

From October 18 to 27, 2024, Bastrop Opera House presents Frederick Knott’s enthralling play, WAIT UNTIL DARK. The story follows Susy Hendrix, a blind woman living in New York City, who unwittingly becomes the target of criminals searching for a doll containing hidden heroin. ...

Review: KING LEAR by The Baron's Men at The Curtain Theater
by Sabrina Wallace - October 17, 2024

The Baron's Men have delivered a haunting and deeply resonant production of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' at the Curtain Theatre, capturing the play's raw emotional depth and complex themes of power, madness, and familial discord. #shakespeare #ATXTheatre...

Review: A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN NOVEMBER... at UT Department Of Theatre And Dance
by Sabrina Wallace - October 17, 2024

UT's production of Kate Benson’s play 'A Beautiful Day In November On The Banks of the Greatest of Great Lakes' is a wild, chaotic celebration of the quintessential American Thanksgiving, but through a lens that’s anything but traditional. #ATXTheatre...

Review: MISERY at Gaslight-Baker Theatre
by Victoria Schwarz - October 15, 2024

From October 11-26, 2024, Gaslight-Baker Theatre in Lockhart, sponsored by Haunt Happy Books, is presenting Simon Moore’s MISERY, based on the book of the same name by Stephen King....

Review: SWEENEY TODD at Georgetown Palace
by Sabrina Wallace - October 07, 2024

Georgetown Palace’s production of Sweeney Todd masterfully captures the dark, unsettling themes of Sondheim’s iconic musical, offering a chilling yet entertaining experience. With standout performances by Damon Brown (Sweeney) and Sarah Jordan (Mrs. Lovett), the show balances moments of horror with ...

Review: SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER at Filigree Theatre
by Sabrina Wallace - October 06, 2024

One of America’s most controversial and acclaimed dramatists, Williams masterfully weaves themes of pederasty, lobotomy, and even cannibalism into this harrowing tale of memory, obsession, and control. Filigree’s production of “Suddenly Last Summer” honors the complexities of Williams’ text while gi...

Review: THE FLICK at Gaslight Baker Theatre
by Victoria Schwarz - October 02, 2024

What did our critic think of THE FLICK at Gaslight Baker Theatre?...

Review: NOW & THEN at The Wimberley Playhouse
by Victoria Schwarz - October 02, 2024

What did our critic think of NOW & THEN at The Wimberley Playhouse?...

Review: Benny's Cabaret's SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME at Sterling Stage Austin
by Sabrina Wallace - September 25, 2024

Benny's Cabaret delivers a nostalgic throwback with 'Someone to Watch Over Me'—a charming musical full of 1950s romance, comedy, and classic Hollywood flair. Noah Wood channels Gene Kelly with effortless charm, while the whole cast brings heart and fun to the stage. #ATXTheatre...

Review: INTO THE WOODS at City Theatre Austin
by Sabrina Wallace - September 17, 2024

City Theatre Austin’s production of Into the Woods is a captivating exploration of fairy tales and human desires. Weaving well-known fairy tale characters, the musical delves into the complexities of choice and consequence but also explores Sondheim’s idea that we can find strength in our community,...