Zach Theatre
Zach Theater is a professional theatre company located in Austin, Texas, as well as its associated complex of theatre facilities. The company is the oldest continuously active theatre company in Texas, and one of the ten oldest in the country.
Offerings and facilities
The theatre operates year-round, serving more than 100,000 patrons annually, with more than 500 performances including plays, musicals, original works, and theatre for youth. ZACH also provides education programs that are utilized by thousands of children throughout central Texas.The theatre complex, located on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, includes three stages, several event spaces, and numerous classrooms and offices. Some of the theatre's facilities are made available for private rental, including the three stages. Costumes and props are also available for rental.
History
The theatre originally opened in 1932 as the Austin Little Theater. Sometime later, it became known as the "Austin Civic Theater". The company's name was changed to the Zachary Scott Theatre Center in 1968 to honor Austin native and film star Zachary Scott. Since then, it has been rebranded to be titled ZACH Theatre.In 1972, the 230-seat Kleberg Theatre was built, and in 1990 a 135-seat theatre-in-the-round called the Whisenhunt Theatre was added. In 2006, the city of Austin passed a bond issue which included $10 million to fund a new theatre for ZACH, resulting in the construction of the 420-seat Topfer Theatre in 2011.
Production history
A complete list of ZACH Theatre productions beginning in 1995 is shown below.2023–2024 Season
- Beautiful: The Carol King Musical
- The Lehman Trilogy
- Prom
- Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
- The Thin Place
- George Gershwin Alone
- A Christmas Carol
- Head Over Heels
- Noises Off
- Roe
- Cinderella
- Into the Woods
- A Rockin Christmas Carol
- Cat in the Hat
- The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
- Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
- Rocky Horror Picture Show
- The Sound of Music
- The Inheritance Part 1
- Songs Under the Stars: A Socially-distanced Outdoor Concert Series
- * Disney Through the Decades
- * Rockabilly Kings
- * 70s Female Rockstars
- * Tameca Jones in Concert
- * Beatles Redux
- * Gospel Down by the Riverside
- * 80's Dance Party
- A Night with Janis Joplin
- Every Brilliant Thing
- Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
- Songs Under the Stars: A Socially-distanced Outdoor Concert Series
- * On Broadway
- * 70s Female Rockstars
- * Motown Grooves
- * Superstar CHANEL
- * A Rockin' Holiday Concert
- Once
- A Rockin Christmas Carol
- The Santaland Diaries
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
- Notes from the Field
- Matilda The Musical
- The Ballad of Klook and Vinette*
- Fire and Air
- Tortoise & the Hare
- Holiday Heroes
- Wake Up, Brother Bear
- Singin' in the Rain
- A Tuna Christmas
- A Rockin Christmas Carol
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Sunday in the Park with George
- Heisenberg
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- Holiday Heroes
- Las Aventuras de Enoughie
- Goodnight Moon
- Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
- A Rockin Christmas Carol
- The Santaland Diaries
- The Great Society
- Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
- In the Heights
- Million Dollar Quartet
- Elephant and Piggie: We are in a Play!
- Charlotte's Web
- jj's arcade
- James in the Giant Peach
- Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Tomas and the Library Lady
2013–2014 SeasonLes Miserables by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer Topfer TheatreA Christmas Story by Joseph Robinette, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Topfer TheatreThis Wonderful Life by Steve Murray Whisenhunt StageIn the Next Room or the vibrator play by Sarah Ruhl Topfer TheatreThe Gospel at Colonus by Lee Breuer, Bob Telson Topfer TheatreVanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang Topfer TheatreMaid Marian in a Stolen Car by Jaston Williams Whisenhunt StageThe Who's Tommy by Pete Townshend, Des McAnuff Topfer Theatre
2012—2013 SeasonHarvey by Mary Chase 05/23/13—06/16/13 Karen Kuykendall StageMad Beat Hip & Gone by Steven Dietz 04/11/13—04/28/13 Karen Kuykendall Stage33 Variations by Moisés Kaufman 01/31/13—02/17/13 Karen Kuykendall StageTru by Jay Presson Allen 01/17/13—03/10/13 Whisenhunt StageWhite Christmas by Paul Blake, David Ives & Irving Berlin 12/13/12—12/30/12 Karen Kuykendall StageThe Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello 11/24/12—12/23/12 Whisenhunt Stage Ragtime by Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, adapted from the novel by E. L. Doctorow 10/25/12—11/18/12 Karen Kuykendall StageXanadu by Douglas Carter Beane, John Farrar & Jeff Lynne, adapted from the Universal Pictures film 09/01/12—11/11/12 Kleberg StageFully Committed by Becky Mode 09/01/12—09/30/12 Whisenhunt Stage
Awards
In 2012, ZACH got a $70,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to produce the Terrence McNally musical Ragtime.Each year The Austin Chronicle presents its 'Best of Austin' awards. Awards given to ZACH beginning in 1993 are shown below.