High School Musical Is A Hit With Audiences

Kids love it and parents do too! If you haven't taken your family to see High School Musical yet, this is what you are missing:








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Ann's Going Away Party Pics

We just got in the pictures from Ann Ciccolella's going away party. Ann was the Managing Director of ZACH before leaving to pursue the next leg of her life's journey. It was a lovely party, full of warm wishes, hugs, memories and laughs. We wish her luck in all her future endeavours, from all her friends at ZACH! Some pictures below:

An Almost Holy Picture OPENS!

Reserve your seats now for An Almost Holy Picture. Presented by ZACH on the Whisenhunt Arena Stage, An Almost Holy Picture is a breathtaking drama in which Samuel, a former Episcopal priest collides with the ultimate test of his faith when his wife gives birth to a beautiful baby girl -- born covered with downy white fur. As his daughter grows into a child of transcendent inner beauty, Samuel struggles to regain his faith.
Starring Jamie Goodwin – star of TV's Guiding Light, Another World, Sex and the City and ZACH's Urinetown, The Musical !

An Almost Holy Picture
By Heather McDonald
Directed by Robert Faires
July 19 - August 26, 2007
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 pm,
Sunday at 2:30
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Zachary Scott Theatre - Keeping The Faith

High School Musical Opens TONIGHT!

That's right! After weeks of rehearsal (pictured at right), the hit Disney Channel movie High School Musical is finally being produced by ZACH at the R.L. Davis Auditorium at the Texas School for the Deaf. Follow the antics of East High’s most popular students as they fall in love and secretly try to audition for the school musical. Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad and Taylor are all ready to sing and dance in this fun-tastic, family-friendly show!

(ZACH Executive Passes are redeemable for this show.)
July 20 - August 12, 2007,
Check our calendar for dates and showtimes!
A ZACH Performing Arts School production staged at
R.L. Davis Auditorium at The Texas School for the Deaf*
1102 S. Congress
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* Production not affiliated with Texas School for the Deaf.

There is wonderful coverage of the rehearsal process at Austin360.com. Check out the Austin360 Photo Gallery and the HSM Site.
Also, check out our Rehearsal Photo Gallery
Meet the Cast

SUPERSTAR HELD THRU AUGUST 12!

Critics around Austin are praising Jesus! Christ Superstar, that is. Now being HELD OVER thru August 12, there is still time for you to get tickets to this summer musical event!

Performance Times:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 2:30 pm

The Austin Chronicle says:
"The gospel vocals of ZACH regular Janis Stinson redefine soul music praising Jesus. Schrödinger's Cat singer John Pointer was born to play Judas; with the smile of a pícaro, he booms his a cappella bass vocals. Dressed like Frida Kahlo, Theresa Medina's Mary Magdalene woos Jesus with operatic undertones .... But then you can't avoid making Jesus Christ Superstar a bit sexy when you have Latino actors and passionate movements. Though dressed here as a migrant worker in head-to-toe denim, Jesucristo, as played by actor Joseph Melendez, has a forceful voice touched with just the right amount of humility. And he's not bad to look at either!" Read more...

Hear ZACH's cast sing on "Aielli Unleashed" on KUT!
http://kut.org/items/show/8823

Zachary Scott Theatre: Re-Inventing Faith

ZACH Announces '07/'08 Season!

Mainstage
Porgy and Bess
Music by George Gershwin, Libretto by DuBose Heyward, and Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Heyward. Based on Heyward’s novel Porgy and the play of the same name co-written
with Dorothy Heyward.

Directed by Dave Steakley
(Right: Photo from Trevor Nunn's production)

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces Musical Theatre program, George Gershwin’s majestic musical Porgy and Bess springs to life at ZACH next season! Director Dave Steakley and ZACH’s artistic team are creating a dynamic, re-envisioned staging of this classic in the style of the jazz and R&B recordings of legends Ray Charles, Cleo Lane, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Central Texas’ wealth of African-American singers will star, including Austin artists who have graced ZACH’s stages for the past two decades from Dreamgirls to Crowns.

This project has been made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius

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Doubt
By John Patrick Shanley (author of the film "Moonstruck")
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 4 Tony Awards!
(Right: Photo from original Broadway production)

A fast-paced game of cat and mouse is ignited when evidence of a priest’s wrongdoing comes to light. At a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, Sister Aloysius, a strict school principal, faces the decision of a lifetime: Does she openly accuse a priest and give voice to her fear of his actions, or does she bury her suspicions and leave room for doubt? This intense and personal power struggle between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn ultimately calls into question both faith and justice in the shadow of doubt. “A superb new drama ... an inspired study in moral uncertainty with the compelling structure of an old-fashioned detective drama.” –The New York Times.

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Revival of a Popular Broadway Musical
Directed by Dave Steakley
Choreography by Robin Lewis
ZACH is currently in negotiations for a hit Broadway musical soon to be announced for this slot. Rest assured that ZACH will certainly bring what the Austin Chronicle calls "the Best Razzle Dazzle in Town".

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The Clean House
By Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Dave Steakley
(Right: Photo by Joan Marcus)

Written by one of the most original new voices in American theatre, this 2005 Pulitzer Prize winner is a quirky and moving comedy about love, loss and the power of a good joke. Matilde, a latina housekeeper, is keen to stretch her funny bone, but can’t muster any elbow grease for her domestic duties. Her employers’ house isn’t in order and neither are their personal lives. In pursuit of the perfect joke, Matilde ignores the household dirt, only to be swept away by family affairs of the heart. Delicious language, seriously funny, and twists you won’t see coming make this a play that will hit you where you live. “Intelligent and thoughtful . . . a sharply funny, moving work!” – Washington Theater.

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Speeding Motorcycle
Conceived by Jason Nodler
Songs and concepts by Daniel Johnston

Directed by Jason Nodler
(Right: Photo by George Hixon)

This out-of-this-world rock opera takes its inspiration from cult figure Daniel Johnston, a singer, songwriter and artist who first gained recognition in Austin during the 1980s. Anyone who’s ever enjoyed Johnston’s music or drawings will want to catch this exuberant celebration of his unique creativity. The quirky love story coupled with Beatles-inspired music was a hit at Houston’s Infernal Bridegroom Productions. The New York Times said “At a recent performance of “Speeding Motorcycle,” scores of people were turned away at the door. Many moped around outside, hoping someone just might leave at intermission!”

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Holiday Extras
The Santaland Diaries
Written by David Sedaris, Adapted for the Stage by Joe Mantello

Directed by Dave Steakley
November 23, 2007 - January 6, 2008

Our little Macy’s elf knows a thing or two about faking the Yuletide spirit. But you won’t be faking a good time when your sides split during David Sedaris’ wickedly funny The Santaland Diaries. Now in its 10th hit year, the comedy tells the real-life story of Sedaris’ tour of duty as the elf Crumpet, and what it takes to juggle tots and tottering Santas during a painfully festive time of the year. A laugh ‘til you cry evening of merrily subversive entertainment to delight adult audiences.

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Rockin' Christmas Party
The Rock-n-Soul Musical
Created and Directed by Dave Steakley
November 23 - December 30, 2007

Rockin’ Christmas Party turns fourteen this year reigning as one of the longest-running Austin traditions of all time. Bigger, brighter and merrier than ever our award-winning cast sure knows how to put the Christmas spirit in your heart – and your booty! – as they shake, rattle and roll down Santa Claus Lane. It’s great fun for the whole family, but get your tickets early because seats go fast for this wildly popular holiday shindig. For all ages!

Now Booking Holiday Parties for
Plaid Tidings, Rockin' Christmas Party and
The Santland Diaries for 2007!
Call Amanda at 476-0541, x221 for
Group Rates & Priority Seating.

Free party facilities at the theatre with your group ticket purchase!

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Plaid Tidings
By Stuart Ross

Directed by Dave Steakley
November 30 - December 30, 2007

The four-part harmony, guy group holiday musical returns! Thanks to a heavenly phone call from Rosemary Clooney, Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie are returning to earth in the delightful Forever Plaid sequel, Plaid Tidings. This time the quartet tunes their heavenly harmonies on holiday songs and carols, along with a hilarious tribute to The Ed Sullivan Christmas Spectaculars featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and The Vienna Boys Choir. And, the boys whip up a Plaid Caribbean Christmas which puts the “Day-O” in Excelsis! Great fun for the whole family!

365 Days/365 Plays

ZACH is serving as the Austin hub for a marvelous new national theatre festival!

In November 2002, Pulitzer prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks (pictured at right) sat down and committed to writing a play a day for the next 365 days. The world premiere of this play cycle, 365 Days/365 Plays, will be performed as a yearlong national festival simultaneously in major cities and communities around the country. From November 13, 2006 to November 12, 2007, over 600 theaters in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, Minneapolis, the Carolinas, Mississippi River towns, and university campuses will create the largest theater collaboration in U.S. History.

As the Austin hub, ZACH is responsible for coordinating the production of the 52 "weeks" in the show. Theatre companies from around the Austin area will each be responsible for producing the seven short plays making up one week in the series. Already there have been some memorable productions, including the launch of the festival that took place on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge overlooking the river.

Please attend the next production:
Week #37 of 365 DAYS/PLAY
Renaissance Theatre Company
Directed by Paula Gilbert
Thurs.-Sat., July 26-28, 7:30 pm. The Dougherty Arts Center Gallery/Lobby (1110 Barton Springs Road)

Check our website often for information on the remaining productions left in the cycle.

ZACH's Spring/Summer 2007 Newsletter

ZACH has just released its "The Next Stage Newsletter" for Spring/Summer 2007. Click on either of the images below to see a full size image.

ZACH is Community-Acclaimed

ZACH is fortunate to have so many talented people grace its doorstep. In the recent 2006-2007 Austin Critics Table Awards, the following ZACH staff members were honored.

• ACT Award for Direction - Dave Steakley for I Am My Own Wife
  
• ACT Award for Lighting Design - Jason Amato for I Am My Own Wife
  
• ACT Award for Direction - Dave Steakley for Present Laughter
  
• ACT Award for Scenic Design - Cliff Simon for Present Laughter
  
• ACT Award for Costume Design - Susan Branch for Present Laughter
  
• ACT Award for Direction - Dave Steakley for Take Me Out
  
• ACT Award for Lighting Design - Jason Amato for Take Me Out

Other Recent Awards:
Zachary Scott Theatre Center's Homeschoolers recently took Third Place at the Private Schools Interscholastic Association (PSIA) State Competition!

ZACH's Performing Arts School just received the 2007 Austin Family Reader's Poll Favorite Award for Best Place to Study Acting!

Thanks for the love!