Suzan-Lori Parks in rehearsals for THE BOOK OF GRACE, Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

The twists and turns, suspense, mystery and intrigue in Suzan-Lori Parks’ THE BOOK OF GRACE will evoke priceless reactions from Austin theatre audiences. Very rarely does a new theatrical work of this riveting caliber come to town. It’s even more rare to have the opportunity to watch it begin here – with the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright directing the show she authored.

Kicking off rehearsals two weeks ago, Suzan-Lori Parks set up an online Book of Grace straightaway on ZACH Theatre’s website, inviting Austin to post photos and stories of their moments of happiness to share: “What’s in Your Book of Grace?”

Suzan-Lori Parks, Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

THE BOOK OF GRACE is the story of a South Texas bordertown family that comes together when Buddy  returns home, where his stepmother Grace and father Vet live. Grace, a writer composing “The Book of Grace” with various evidences of good things in life, and Vet, a border patrol agent, discover that the familial borders they live with are even more harrowing than the fence between Mexico and the States.

“The physical border and boundaries between people, the whole concept of us and them – these are core concepts in the play.

Suzan-Lori Parks laughs with cast members Shaun Patrick Tubbs (Buddy) and Nadine Mozon (Grace), Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

It’s about what makes us who we are, and the characters have a constant dialogue with the audience,” Suzan-Lori Parks said, “Each has a different point of view, each has an imaginary audience.”

“Of course, in the world of theatre, the imaginary is real.”

Rehearsal are full of action and movement, constantly adapting to new pages and script adjustments, and it’s unique and extraordinary, Suzan-Lori Parks says, to watch it play out in the intimate Whisenhunt theatre-in-the-round.

Suzan-Lori Parks gives direction, Eugene Lee (Vet) and Shaun Patrick Tubbs watch in the background, Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

“How do you move forward when you’ve been hurt? How do you forgive?”

Another cool tidbit: the final published version of THE BOOK OF GRACE will be the one that’s staged at ZACH.

Tickets start at $20 at www.zachtheatre.org or 512-476-0541 x1.

Special thanks to Kirk Tuck for photography.

Andrew Rannells, from ZACH's Hedwig and the Angry Inch, currently stars in the Book of Mormon on Broadway

Andrew Rannells (who played Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angy Inch for ZACH Theatre in 2001) received a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for The Book of Mormon. This comes as no surprise to folks at ZACH. Andrew opened the run of Hedwig on ZACH’s Whisenhunt Stage, which was converted to a proscenium theatre for the show. Austin audiences loved this production so much they couldn’t bear to see it close. In fact, it ran for nearly 9 months, one of the longest runs in ZACH’s history.

Here is Andrew’s first reaction when he received the news: “I’m having a good morning! I was actually watching the announcements on NY1 this morning- I’m not gonna lie, or try to be cool about that. I’m just so thrilled for the show. We really couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. I’m so thrilled by all of the nominations the we got today, but I’m not surprised. We’ve always been thrilled doing the show and it’s great that everyone’s hard work is being recognized. Just working with the cast every night has been an absolute dream. To have so many of us nominated has been amazing. Particularly the fact that both Josh and I were nominated is amazing. We’re both over the moon about the whole thing. The rest of the day I’ll be making phone calls and sending emails. Later Scott Rudin has a little get-together planned, so there will be a celebration tonight!”

Actress Barbara Chisholm reminisces, “Andrew was so capitivating and charismatic as the outlandish Hedwig. He made that character approachable and sympathetic.”

Colman Domingo as Mr. Bones and Forrest McClendon as Mr. Tambo in The Scottsboro Boys (Photo: Paul Kolnik)

Also up for a Tony Nomination this year is Forrest McClendon. Forrest played the Foundling Father in The America Play. Last week, he received a Tony nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for The Scottsboro Boys — which closed last December on Broadway. Their he played Mr. Tambo, one of the characters in the minstrel show from the play, as well as a handful of other characters.

One of his most lauded characters was his role as the New York lawyer Samuel Leibowitz: “Back in Manhattan ask anyone:/There’s no bigger voice for equal rights than me/ I Fight for it!/I live for it!/Just ask my cook, Jemima/ Just ask my chauffeur Rufus/ Just ask our colored laundress/and I’m sure they’ll agree …”

Congrats to both former ZACHtors for their nominations.

The 2011 Tony Awards air Sunday, June 12 at 7pm on CBS.

Greg Baglia plays Steve Heidebrecht in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY live at ZACH Theatre. Photo by Kirk R. Tuck

“Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?”

- STEVE HEIDEBRECHT

Karen’s fiancé, Steve is a “businessman” in Florida, who definitely doesn’t turn off his cell phone when going to the theatre. He’s got a dirty little secret that brings out the full arsenal from the Westons – and probably even Interpol.

Live on Stage at ZACH Theatre!

This scathingly hilarious tragicomedy of cataclysmic proportions is one bitch of a family reunion!

When Dad unexpectedly vanishes into a sweltering Oklahoma summer night, the rest of the Weston clan rushes home to figure out what the hell happened. No easy feat with their serpent-tongued matriarch whose prolific pill-popping only sharpens her vitriolic outbursts.

And if mama ain’t happy … she’ll make sure you’re worse! Perfectly subversive, this entertaining turbo-charged saga shocks with each new diabolically funny bombshell that’s dropped. (Read more.)

Buy tickets online or call ZACH’s Box Office at (512) 476-0541, x1 – Open Monday-Saturday, 12 noon-7pm.

Special thanks for photography by Kirk R. Tuck.

Thanks to everyone who attended ZACH’s annual gala, Red, Hot & Soul “You Can’t Stop the Beat” on April 16, 2011 at the Hilton Austin. Photos below are courtesy Tony Spielberg. Feel free to share, tweet, repost these photos, but please credit Tony wherever they appear.