After almost year away from Austin, Texas, USA, we experience some of its drawbacks. Albeit, traveling for Global Hamlet has opened up the world. Still, there are things about Austin that we miss. Aside from the obvious, our ImprovEd Shakespeare Kids, tacos, and BBQ, we yearn for our Austin theatre. As we travel across the globe, I want to share with you a list of The Absolute Very Best Theatre Companies in Austin, Texas.
Although performance venues are dwindling rapidly, Austin nevertheless has many theatre companies. Below is a list of our very favorites. Not only do they produce outstanding work, but they also support ImprovEd Shakespeare. Thus, we love them. Therefore, we hope you will add The Absolute Very Best Theatre Companies in Austin, Texas, to your list of useful resources.
RUDE MECHS
Back when ImprovEd Shakespeare began, and we needed a space to rehearse, Rude Mechs stepped in to save the day. Even more, they offered low-cost rehearsal space at a price we could afford. Similarly, they never failed to lend a helping hand.
Furthermore, they present a fantastic array of world-renowned productions. Although not all are appropriate for younger audiences, however, the magnitude of ideas, including theatrical skills makes them worthy of a visit from you and your teenager. FYI: one of our favorites is the series called Fixing Shakespeare.
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AUSTIN SCOTTISH RITE THEATER
Luckily, our Rude Mechs connection brought us to another Austin gem, the Austin Scottish Rite Theater. Undeniably, ASRT has supported and encouraged our endeavors since our first association. To illustrate; we have rehearsed at ASRT, performed on their historical stage, and collaborated on their summer camp called Shakespeare Up!
Without reservation, we recommend their family series. They produce multiple award-winning shows every year. Moreover, their original productions place a high value on diversity and include the many cultures of Austin. Don’t miss Rosita y Conchita; it’s a heart-warming Dia de Los Muertos play in English as well as Spanish. The company presents this play each October.
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THE BARON’S MEN
The Baron’s Men provided us with valuable academic resources. Plus, they’ve allowed us to perform on the Curtain stage, Austin’s replica of an Elizabethan theatre. They continue to welcome our students, including others, at the educational pre-shows for their various performances. When possible, they also invite us to present at their annual Lysts on the Lake festival.
Given these points, you must attend one of their productions. These creations will specifically interest those who favor seeing highly researched and authentic Elizabethan period pieces. During these performances, you also see stunning period-perfect costumes. Occasionally, they offer camps for kids. Undoubtedly, we truly enjoy reading their blog too.
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GLASS HALF FULL
Without Glass Half Full, Austin would be an unfortunate place. Indeed, the sheer enormity of creative genius that comes out of GHF is staggering. By and large, we managed to snag their director, Caroline Reck, to lead a workshop for our ImprovEd Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar production. Together with sharing her innovative skills, Caroline regularly shares her network of creative resources.
Moreover, GHF offers a wide array of thought-provoking and family-friendly content. While using art to make a statement about the world and our times, GHF never fails to spark discussions, as well as the imagination. Appropriate for all ages, combining puppetry and performance, these are productions for your Bucket List.
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GROUND FLOOR THEATRE
Especially noteworthy is Ground Floor Theatre, co-hosts of our sister project, the Girl Improved Short Film and Theatre Fest. GFT seeks to carve out a voice for the under-served, including under-represented communities in Austin. Instead of traditional themes, they are willing to take risks on smaller companies with different points of view.
Whereas GFT is most widely known as a venue, they are steadily carving out a name for themselves mounting provocative productions for ATX. Highlighting theatre, music, and dance, you can always find the unsung heroes of Austin’s performing arts on their stage. Do yourself a favor and attend a performance.
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THE BACK PACK
Perhaps you’re sensing a common theme? Despite the generosity of the above companies, space is still at a premium. Hence, we found the Back Pack collective while seeking a rehearsal space, yet again. In light of the Back Pack’s generosity, our Witchcraft In Their Lips collaboration with Untamed Shakespeare was a great success.
Another critical point is that the Back Pack produces captivating shows. A troupe of four friends, they are a mix of art, mime, dance, clowning, video and more. In effect, it’s tough to describe their work. To put it another way, catch their next production, and then you too can struggle with defining this marvelous group.
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SHERWOOD FOREST FAIRE
Albeit this is technically outside of Austin, but it is only an hour drive to McDade, Texas. There, the Sherwood Forest Faire takes place annually in March-April. Sherwood Forest has invited us to present at the fair since almost the beginning of ImprovEd Shakespeare. Without a doubt, there is nothing more exhilarating to a student than performing at a Renaissance Fair. Admittedly, the setting for Sherwood is during a slightly earlier era.
Not only can you experience life in the medieval ages, but it exposes you to a multitude of incredible entertainment, delicious food, and a beautiful setting. A point often overlooked is their spectacular summer camps – for kids and adults. Although a bit bawdy, but simultaneously hilarious, the Washing Well Wenches keep us coming back for more. Furthermore, this is one of the only Renaissance fairs where you can see live jousting, as opposed to the staged version. That is someone can, indeed, get hurt.
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Finally, if you want to check out more photos of our involvement with these companies, visit our Past Productions page. We hope you find this review of The Absolute Very Best Theatre Companies in Austin, Texas, beneficial, and will add it to your list of resources.
SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL
Working with Shakespeare in education frightens many. Because Shakespeare experts, including professionals, surround us. Escaping them is difficult. This can be intimidating. Thus, feelings of dread usually accompany the act of presenting, but moreover be introduced to, the Bard.
For this reason, ImprovEd Shakespeare is here to help. Founder and Director, Andee Kinzy, offers the layman’s approach to Shakespeare.
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SHAKESPEARE FOR TEACHERS AND DIRECTORS
If you’re an English teacher, a theatre director, or a well-trained Shakespeare advocate, here you will find inspiration, as well as techniques, for making our favorite bard fun for Kids. Accordingly, we present old, new and improved ideas for introducing Shakespeare to youth for the non-Shakespeare-academic. Among them, we include theatre games, improvisation, tips, tricks, plus activities for using Shakespeare in education.
SHAKESPEARE FOR KIDS
Since 2011, ImprovEd Shakespeare has been exploring the Bard with youth through theatrical performance. Our signature scripts are a mix of modern narration plus original Shakespeare verse. With a focus on the story, including an abbreviated script length, our productions entertain all ages. Moreover, our catalog goes beyond the oft-used Midsummer Night’s Dream, or Romeo and Juliet. We’ve discovered that young people find much to their delight among many of Shakespeare’s works. Consider subscribing to our YouTube channel for family-friendly Shakespeare videos.
PERFORMANCES
Each fall and spring, ImprovEd Shakespeare develops a new production for live performance. In honor of the traditional Renaissance traveling troupe, during a period of a few weeks, we present Kid-friendly plays at various venues around town. Our Players, between 3rd-11th grade, gear themselves with playful, as well as engaging interpretations of works by the Bard of Avon. Suitable for all ages, each performance runs for about an hour.
Furthermore, these shows are always FREE. However, we gladly accept Donations! Additionally, visit ImprovEd Shakespeare, Shakespeare for Kids by Kids on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. And don’t forget to click on our BLOG for the stories behind these videos.
