ZACH Theatre – An Austin Theatre Blog

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.

ESPIE RANDOLPH of ZACH’s Shear Madness and Austin’s Esther’s Follies Stars as The Little Macy’s Elf this Season!

We thought you might like to ready the director’s notes for THE SANTALAND DIARIES opening Thanksgiving weekend at ZACH Theatre. Director Dave Steakley says …

“Austin’s love affair with writer David Sedaris is nothing short of rapturous! There is something about his offbeat, irreverent humor which connects deeply to our citizens on a primal, funny bone level. If you have ever gone to one of the annual readings that Sedaris does in Austin, you know what I mean. Almost every line is met with gales of laughter, prolonged cheering and thunderous applause. It also happens when Margaret Cho and Kathy Griffin are in town — these evenings become events not to be missed.

Austin, in my opinion, has the greatest audiences in America. I think the live music scene and the contagious fervor at UT Longhorn games has trained us to respond with our full enthusiasm regardless of the arena in which we find ourselves — whether in a concert hall or at the Broken Spoke, Austinites let you know how they are feeling. It is the thing I cherish the most about making theatre in Austin. ZACH’s Santaland is a glorious celebration of the Austin audience.

In a season devoted to CHANGE, I am delighted that Espie Randolph, an endlessly inventive and funny Austin actor, is joining us this year for his first time as the little Macy’s elf. To my knowledge he is the first African-American actor to ever play this role — perhaps a timely change — but really for me it was about finding the funniest person I know to take on this Austin tradition. However, if you are a returning Santaland fan you are going to find several new humorous discoveries because the lens through which we experience Sedaris’ humor has changed. I love it when that happens. The opportunity to experience something well known through Espie’s fresh perspective is a gift. And it is our good fortune that Meredith McCall and Jason Connor join Espie to whip up the merriment for their 11th rib-tickling year! Have a great time!”

Tickets for the show are available online or call ZACH’s box office at 476-0541, x1.