fronterafest - gladsome week #1

Welcome to the first of my five weekly FronteraFest 2007 newsletters. Last year ice ice baby forced us us cancel performances the first week. But this year nothing stands in our way, and the festival starts tonight! (And if you like, skip all my verbiage and go straight to the full week's schedule at the end of this email).

As ever since the dawn of time, we begin and end the festival with the Short Fringe. That's the unjuried free-for-all of performance, song, dance, comedy, and assorted madness at the Hyde Park Theatre. This week includes dog comedy improv, a ballet for a dog and red-haired girl (possibly no real dog involved in that one, I don't know), several pieces in which people do or do not speak to various body parts (yes including the ones you are thinking of), a meta-murder mystery, a Gnostic goddess, and WAY more. Admit it, you're intrigued! I can guarantee that every night will be unpredictable--come check it out.

And oh by the way you're invited to our justly renowned opening weekend party: Pink Avocado Catering (another fine sponsor) promise some luscious eatables this Saturday night after the Best of Week show (so beginning around 10:30p). We'll have good things to drink as well, so come on down to meet the artists and staff--it's always a great time.

Online tickets: thanks to our sponsor 4thwalltickets.com you can buy tickets online at www.hydeparktheatre.org (online is the ONLY place we can accept AmEx, by the way). You can also call 479-PLAY (7529)--or take your chances at the door, if you're feeling lucky. But many Short Fringe performances do sell out.

Finally, once again this year: You be the judge. Of the five shows that move on to Best of Week each week, four will be chosen by a panel as usual, but the fifth will be determined by audience vote.

No, wait, one more thing: evening covered parking is now available for HPT patrons in the lot at 4315 Guadalupe Street, just north of The Parlor (The Parlor is directly across 43rd street from the theater). You can reach the covered parking by driving through The Parlor's parking lot (just don't park there). Stop by The Parlor before or after the show for a slice of excellent pizza and a beer!

As ever, evening parking is also available at Kenneth's Hair Salon, just south of the theater, and at the Hyde Park Church of Christ on the northeast corner of 43rd & Avenue B. Once again, we are grateful to them both for their generosity.

HPT is located at 511 West 43rd Street.

For an up-to-the-minute schedules for all events and to buy online tickets--check out

http://www.hydeparktheatre.org

And all gratitude to our endlessly excellent sponsors:
The Austin Chronicle
KGSR
4thwalltickets.com
Pink Avocado Catering
The Austinist.com
Worley Printing
The Pilates Center of Austin
Motorblade

Next week I'll tell you more about the Long Fringe (January 22-February 3) (if you can't wait, get all the details right now on our web page). But for now, just luxuriate in the full week #1 Short Fringe schedule below.

SHORT FRINGE THIS WEEK

NOTE: Pieces each night are listed in the order in which they will be performed.

Tuesday, January 15, 8:00pm ($12)
"Ballet for Dog and Red-Haired Girl," by Hank Schwemmer. An open window and a long way down. Directed by Emily Fordyce with Elizabeth Doss and David Yeakle.

"My Vagina And I Are Not On Speaking Terms," by Nettie Hartsock. Monologue from I'll take the husband and two kids with a vagina on the side to go (work in progress).

"Junky Central USA," by Elizabeth Krieg, choreographed by RAD. Incorporates dance, acting, and poetry: news report of the state of the nation through the eyes of our favorite junkies.

"The Weiner Chronicles," by Alex Garza (Blue Spot Theatre Co.). In this new collection of monologues, Alex Garza dares to solve the mystery and rationalize the enigma that is man's phallic dependence.

"Buddy Daddy" (Coldtowne). Arthur Simone, improvisational actor, is joined on stage by his dog, Robin Goodfellow. Hilarious & adorable. This is not stupid pet tricks.



Wednesday, January 16 8:00pm ($12)
"A Genuine Plea to My Insides," (Listrunk) by Kelli Bland. A dialogue between the performer and her body.

"Uprise! Productions Presents: Cry Havoc Stage Combat." Warriors explore revolution using ancient customs and modern displays of physicality.

"Stand" & "Son of the Lizard King," by Jason Tremblay (Theatre Silica). In the past two years, these pieces have captured 17 audience awards including the Double Gold Star in Prague and Velvet Oar in Sydney.

"My Junior," by Anne Boyd (Ujima). A young mother struggles to save her son from the future she believes his race predestines him to lead.

"Apocalypse," by Elizabeth Cobbe (ASW Commission.) The world is coming to an end. Oops!



Thursday, January 17, 8:00pm ($12)
"Lube It or Lose It," by Sue Bilich & Abby November with Sandy Simon and Mary Elizabeth. American Senior Sex Therapist Association Semi-Annual Conference: Living Better Sexuality After 60: "Sexuality from puberty until you plotz."

"Wayne’s Big Body Part," by Kelley Estes (Angry Little Theatre). A short piece about a big piece.

"This Dream Is Short But This Dream Is Happy," by Sean Tribe (Emily Fordyce). A monologue about Las Vegas, redemption, graduate school and a Gnostic goddess who makes it all possible.

"Trigger Happy Jack," by Timothy Braun. A dream that leaves a girl with a decision to make. First southwestern production. Directed by Jeanne Harris.

"Improv for Evil" by Mike Kinald, Nadine Latief, Marc Majcher, Bob Apthorpe, Matt Pollock, Jason Vines & Eric Heiberg. Scene-based improvised comedic piece inspired by audience suggestion.


Friday, January 18, 8:00pm ($12)
"Princess Press-On" (Allison Landa). When does a cross-cultural experience go wrong? Both paralyzing and funny, this story is more truthful than it is comfortable.

"Relativity and Mr. Underfoot," by Hal Fulton. A lab borrows Einstein's brain for research ... but as usual, things don't go entirely as planned.

"A Meta-Murder Mystery," by Patton Quinn & Kerri Lendo. Comedy Variety.

"Brain Big: Excerpts from a play about female body image," by Priscilla Sample. Monologue. Director: Jenifer Carsud.

"Kawaisoo (The Pity of Things)," by Jason Grote (Capital T Theatre Co.). Both humorous and tragic, this one-woman show explores America's tendency toward commodity fetishism in the aftermath of 9/11.


8:00pm Saturday, January 19 BEST OF THE WEEK ($14)
This week’s panelists will choose four of the five Best of Week selections. Also, every night, the audience will vote for the show they would most like to see again. The top vote-getter of the week will get the fifth Best of the Week slot. The chosen plays will be announced by midnight, Friday January 18, and appear online Saturday morning, January 19.

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