A little bit of the Great White Way can be found deep in the heart of Texas. Like the movie studio which shares its name, this theater is grandiose and ambitious with 1250 seats available to host an estimated 160,000 people a year. The calendar features both visiting and local stage productions of musicals and dramatic plays, one-person acts, orchestral performances, children's shows, revivals of great old movies and (because this is Austin) the occasional visiting live-music act. A horn of plenty for theater, music and entertainment fans.
Constructed using sustainable technology, ACL Live at The Moody Theater is a state of the art facility hosts a variety of musical acts throughout the year. With a capacity to hold more than 2,700 guests among three levels of seating, this venue has drawn musicians such as Willie Nelson, Robyn, the Gipsy Kings and more. If you've ever watched Austin City Limits Live on television, you'll no doubt recognize this Austin staple.
Austin sure knows how to do movie theaters — between this place, the Alamo Drafthouse and others, if you can't find a suitable theater in this city then you simply don't like going to the movies. Violet Crown allows you to purchase your actual seats in advance, so you can show up just before showtime assured of sitting where you like. Before the show, order up some food and cocktails for your flick while you relax in the lounge awaiting their arrival. Intimate-sized theater rooms add a real communal feeling to the viewing experience. Check their website for showtimes.
Serving as the home for Austin's arts community, the multi-functional Long Center showcases a variety of performances throughout the year. With three performance stations, the Michael and Susan Dell Hall, the Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theater and City Terrace, audiences and performers are provided with ample space to share their passion for the Arts. Dell Hall is a massive 2,400 seat auditorium which features parterre, mezzanine and balcony seating. A variety of large-scale performances have performed here. The Rollins studio space, facilitates independent and community projects, as well as movie screenings and conferences. The City Terrace is there to provide space for any kind of performance imaginable, and the center invites all to take advantage of it. Check the website for information on tickets and performance schedules.
Zach Theatre, originally incorporated as the Austin Civic Theater, was rechristened in the 1970s to honor Zachary Scott, an Austin-reared actor with a successful film career. In 1993, the theater was recognized by its selection to participate in the National Endowment for the Arts Advancement Program. The theater has grown by building two stages, a costume shop, classroom, and rehearsal studio and expanding the box office, and now hosts some of the best performances in Austin. Past productions include Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, The Rocky Horror Show, The Flaming Idiots, and Tapestry: The Music of Carole King. The theater also offers children productions and a performing arts school for everyone.
Owned and operated by artists, the Vortex Theatre is home to the Vortex Repertory company which brings an eclectic mix of cutting edge performances. Founded in 1998, this non-profit organization has moved around town several times before settling in its location on Manor Road. This fabulous facility allows the Vortex to provide Summer Youth Theatre and the Vortex Acting Workshops in a brand new setting. Having received numerous local awards including The Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin Awards, the B. Iden Payne Awards, and Critics' Choice Awards, this is a theater company that can tickle your fancy for fun.
Part of what makes this theater company so appealing is its versatility. The company produces four to eight shows a year in various Austin theater spaces (they have even produced in a circus tent), expertly adapting to new environments and consistently winning the acclaim of local newspaper critics. Their venue near Chestwood makes for a space that is suitable for different kinds of theater events, with shows such as Church of the Friendly Ghost, Cinema41, Lucky Chaos Theater Projects having been held here, in addition to yoga lessons and workshops.
As the home of the Frontera Theatre company (which puts on the annual FronteraFest), this stage is the perfect place to catch a performance. Whether you like plays, dance, interpretive readings or even experimental projects, this theater has a show for you. The intimate environment (seats up to 80) is also often used for performances appropriate for children. Located in the middle of Hyde Park, one of Austin's more bohemian neighborhoods, the theater is a wonderful extension of the eclectic Austin way of life.