For the past few years, the folks at the Vortex have been producing performance pieces in the Elemental series, all of which have incorporated the elements themselvs; Air featured performers suspended in mid-air, Fire included actual fire, and Water had a waterfall. Now, the fourth installment in the Elemental series, Earth, will be staged on and in 17 tons of actual dirt, which was recently installed on the stage of the Vortex. Earth takes inspiration from centuries of poetry and art about the Earth itself, with an emphasis on conservation and spiritual connection. Like many performances at the Vortex, the show was conceived by Bonnie Collum but fleshed out and fully realized by the Vortex ensemble. Earth features original...
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Every now and then, the folks at Dystheatre will decide to have a Dysfunction, in which they invite all their friends and colleagues in the performing arts scene to come out and play. Their newest Dysfunction (presented with Lucky Chaos) is The Winter of Our Dyscontent, a veritable smorgasbord of Shakepeare-themed performance pieces by a dozen different Austin troupes. The show will feature all different takes on the works of the bard; there's a dog playing Hamlet, dancers reciting competing sonnets, a puppet Shakespeare lesson, a Noh-inspired take on The Tempest, three different versions of Richard III, and lots more. The show has two more performances later this month at the Spiderhouse, with more Dysfunctions to come as time and inspiration permit....
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