ZACH’s opening night for the Flaming Idiots was chock full of face-hurting good times. So funny, in fact, that we’re already experiencing sell-outs throughout the short run. Don’t fret: Tickets are available at www.zachtheatre.org or through our box office at (512) 476-0541, ext. 1.
Here’s what audience-members had to say at Saturday’s Champagne Opening:
Gyro, Pyro and Walter. Photo by Michelle Bates.
People ask us … “Why are you guys doing a reunion tour?” This question is asked of us from theater critics, morning television news anchors and fans who thought they’d never have to buy a ticket to one of our shows again. The road to the answer is simple, but I will take scenic detours and bathroom breaks.
We did the show for twenty years, from 1984 to 2004, which apparently isn’t exactly twenty years because you count the first year, thus making it twenty-one years. My friend Jose pointed this out to me, and I nearly wept. But fine. Twenty-one years. The show is legal to drink. We had all lived in Austin for most of those twenty (one) years, and after retiring the show, we each left to seek new adventures in new states with one of us in beautiful California, one in the less beautiful Louisiana and one in the god forsaken ice hole that is Minnesota. After five years of never seeing each other, we agreed a few shows would allow us to get together, laugh and enjoy the old material
one more time. We thought we would only do a few shows, but you can’t own a Tribble, you can’t feed a Gremlin after midnight, and you can’t just do a couple of Idiot shows. The final decision was to go back to the significant and fun places from our long journey. We returned to Edmonton last summer for the best street performing in the world; the holidays took us to The New Victory, our home on Broadway, and now we return to our real hometown, the place we all love more than a zombie loves your brain.
ZACH Theatre was the theater that made us a theater show. We left the Renaissance festivals and comedy clubs with only a rough idea of what would it would take to juggle in a place devoid of drunken hecklers or hobbits. ZACH is a regional theater. Regional theaters don’t work with acts like ours. Let me repeat that with some caps. Regional theaters DO NOT work with acts like ours. So why did Dave Steakley bring us in from the cold? You’d have to ask him, but it made all the difference. The creative team at ZACH gave us many gifts. We toured beautiful theaters across North America for years using the costumes designed by Leslie Bonnell, the set designed by Heyd
Fontenot and the music written by Allen Robertson. More than any other town in America, this is our town, and more than any other theater in America, this is our home theater, this is our theatrical family and this is our family reunion.
Our thanks to everyone on staff here, new and old, for efforts that go beyond a paycheck – and artistry that goes beyond compare. We will be hanging up the clubs again after this little tour, and we promise to only get back together again when the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and the magic goat horn is blown to summon once more, The Flaming Idiots.
- Rob Williams
Christmas games at the ultimate ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS PARTY? Naturally, ZACH has ‘em and they’re the most fun in town … Santa’s got 2 free tickets to see THE FLAMING IDIOTS for contest winners!
Almost there, just by a nose ...
Clearly, she's done this before.
ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS PARTY actresses Felicia Dinwiddie and Tiffany Mann stopped by ZACH today to talk with staff about their experience with the totally revamped ROCKIN’ production.
Felicia, part the original cast returning to ZACH after corporate haitus, is glad to be back with the “same energy and same talent” as before — but is having a completely different experience: “We’re doing it on the Kleberg!” She’s excited about that. And excited, too, to be dancing on a whole new stage designed by set and costume designer Michael Raiford.
Tiffany, returning to ZACH from her performance in Caroline, or Change, lent staff members a whole new perspective on our Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley. All those moves you see on stage? Uh huh, a lot of them are his. Tiffany and Felicia are also taking notes from Judy Arnold, who commands the house with every performance. What a wonderful time of the year!
Evidence: Dave Steakley dancing in ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS PARTY rehearsal Photo: Kirk R. Tuck
Michael Raiford's ROCKIN' new set design: The background is a multimedia screen that rolls vintage video clips and fantastic holiday visuals. There's even a full-on snowstorm during the show! Photo: Kirk R. Tuck
Judy Arnold showing her moves. At first, it's hard to believe a 4'11" woman can command such a mammoth crowd -- and then you see her do it. Photo: Kirk R. Tuck
Bernard Davis returns to ZACH's stage for this year's ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS PARTY
OK, SPELLING BEE fans, ZACH’s brought Bernard Davis back to stage for ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS PARTY.
But Bernard’s holiday fantasy Christmas to have a Johnny Matthis-type TV holiday special keeps get interrupted by all the girls! Including, Tiffany Mann singing “Bust Your Windows Out Your Car” while busting up Bernard’s car with a crowbar. Ah, only at ZACH!
The crowd falls to floor, but Bernard stays standing and sings hits like “Let the Good Times Roll” and “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” He brings down the house with his rendition of Joe Cocker’s version of “I Get By With A Little Help from My Friends” — truly a version that reminds Austin that the best live music in country is still here in town.
ZACH audiences got a brief glimpse into the soulful voice of Bernard in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, but you haven’t seen anything yet! This is the zaniest, most audience pleasing Christmas Party we’ve ever thrown — and Bernard is the perfect host to bring all the ladies together.
Seasoned set designer Michael Raiford brings unique holiday cheer to Austin this year with the ultimate holiday pop-up book, a brand-spanking new Robert Sabuda inspired set design for Rockin’ Christmas Party. Happy Christmas:
The Ultimate Holiday Pop-Up Book: A New Set for the Rockinest Party of the Year
Turns out, Robert Sabuda also has a gift on his site: Create your own pop-up art.
Springtime weather in November makes it hard to believe the holidays are upon us. Well, here’s a reality check: Thanksgiving is next week.
Take a deep breath. In. Out. In. Out … Don’t fret. ZACH’s giving you a gift your family and friends can share right away.
You’re invited to the rockinest Rockin’ Christmas Party we’ve ever thrown. Of course, a holiday party in Austin would hardly rock without featuring our town’s best live music, so, this year, director Dave Steakley used an inspired new song list to bring Austin’s most talented artists back to Austin.
Felicia Dinwiddie appears in ZACH's 2009 ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS PARTY
Felicia Dinwiddie is on the guest list, and this might be one of Austin’s last chances to watch her over-the-top, joyful live performance in an intimate setting like ZACH. Appearing in an upcoming episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live as Oprah Winfrey, Felicia’s a star. She just makes the holidays — and anytime — fun.
She made ZACH’s 75th Anniversary Concert a blast. In Little Shop of Horrors, Jelly’s Last Jam, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Schoolhouse Rock, Blues in the Night, The Gospel at Colonus, Das Barbecü, Beehive, Dreamgirls , Falsettos, Nunsense and Once on This Island, Felicia coupled her magnetic talents with ZACH’s unique, imaginative productions to entertain, inspire and educate Austin audiences. We’ll never forget.
Now she’s entertaining the world — appearing on television in Boston Public, Scrubs, Stories of the E.R. and Strong/Medicine — but, luckily for us, she is bringing her talents home to ZACH Theatre for the holidays.
Get ready. Felicia is back. And so, too, is Austin’s best holiday party — at its very rockinest.
Robert Sabuda at the 25-year celebration for the Mazza Museum, the world’s first and largest teaching museum devoted to literacy and the art of children’s picture books.
From Dave Steakley, Producing Artistic Director:
As a kid, Santa always filled my stocking with a Lifesavers candy book, gold foil covered chocolate coins, and a “surprise ball,” that would unravel into yards and yards of brightly colored crepe paper before arriving at the tiny toy inside!
My favorite gift was a new pop-up book; I can get lost for hours in the magical, imaginative paper displays which come to life as you turn each page.
Michael Raiford’s new Rockin’ Christmas Party set, on stage in this year’s Rockin’ Christmas Party, is inspired by those delicious winter wonderland pop ups, particularly the frosty white cutouts created by Robert Sabuda.
My most treasured pop-up book is Galileo’s Universe. It was given to me by beloved ZACH actress and Austin legend Karen Kuykendall, during her final Christmas. On the first page is a shuttered window, and when you open the shutters, the universe is revealed.
Galileo's Universe - By J. Patrick Lewis and Illustrated by Tim Curry.
Thinking of Karen always conjures Auntie Mame, who knew we needed a little Christmas, right this very moment: “Wake up every morning and pull aside the shutter, And promise me that these’ll be the first words that you utter: Open a new window, travel a new highway that’s never been tried before; Before you find you’re a dull fellow punching the same clock, walking the same tight rope as everyone on the block. The fellow you ought to be is three dimensional, soaking up life down to your toes. Whenever they say you’re slightly unconventional, just put your thumb up to your nose, and show ‘em how to dance to a new rhythm, whistle a new song, toast with a new vintage. The fizz doesn’t fizz too long. There’s only one way to make the bubbles stay. Simply travel a new highway, dance to a new rhythm, open a new window every day!”
I am reminded of the opportunity for discovery that window symbolizes — a new year, when we shake off the old habits, and invite the new.
Wishing you a Happy Holiday and a reNEWal Year!
Espie Randolph stars in ZACH's production of THE SANTALAND DIARIES, opening November 27, 2009
In 1992 David Sedaris was vaulted to stardom after reading his essay entitled, “The Santaland Diaries,” on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Sedaris didn’t always lead such a charmed life and after graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1987 he worked a series of dead-end jobs while trying to make a name for himself as a writer. Eventually, Ira Glass, a Chicago radio deejay who went on to host This American Life, discovered Sedaris at an open-mike night during which he was reading his diary aloud to a room full of strangers. Realizing his sharp wit and truthful humor, Glass immediately brought Sedaris onto the radio show Wild Room and his career took a fairytale turn after that.
Mr. Sedaris has published six essay collections; Barrel Fever, Naked, Holidays on Ice, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and his latest, When You are Engulfed in Flames (2008) each of which ended up on the New York Times’ Best Sellers List. In 2004, Mr. Sedaris won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for his audiobook, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and was also nominated for a second Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for his recording Live at Carnegie Hall.
Mr. Sedaris classifies himself as a non-fiction writer and draws on his everyday experiences in order to craft a story that delights audiences across the world. The truth of his humor is what brings people back to his work over and over again. Time Magazine named Sedaris the, “Humorist of the Year,” in 2001 following the publication of Me Talk Pretty One Day, and he’s lived up to the title ever since.
