Zach Theatre

ZACH Theatre

Formation	1932
Type	Theatre company
Location	202 South Lamar Blvd Austin, Texas 78704
Region served	Greater Austin, central Texas
Producing Artistic Director	Dave Steakley[1]
Managing Director	Elisbeth Challener[1]
Website	zachtheatre.org

ZACH Theatre (the Zachary Scott Theatre Center) 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.^[2]

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.^[3] Costumes and props are also available for rental.

History

The Topfer Theatre building

The theatre originally opened in 1932 as the Austin Civic Theatre. 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.^[4]

Production history

A complete list of ZACH Theatre productions beginning in 1995 is shown below.^[5]

2012—2013 Season

• Harvey by Mary Chase   05/23/13—06/16/13   Karen Kuykendall Stage
• Mad Beat Hip & Gone by Steven Dietz   04/11/13—04/28/13   Karen Kuykendall Stage
• 33 Variations by Moisés Kaufman   01/31/13—02/17/13   Karen Kuykendall Stage
• Tru by Jay Presson Allen   01/17/13—03/10/13   Whisenhunt Stage
• White Christmas by Paul Blake, David Ives & Irving Berlin   12/13/12—12/30/12   Karen Kuykendall Stage
• The 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 Stage
• Xanadu by Douglas Carter Beane, John Farrar & Jeff Lynne, adapted from the Universal Pictures film   09/01/12—11/11/12   Kleberg Stage
• Fully Committed by Becky Mode   09/01/12—09/30/12   Whisenhunt Stage

Production history 1995—2012 

2011-2012 Season

• Xanadu by Douglas Carter Beane   07/21/12—09/02/12   Kleberg Stage
• Fully Committed by Becky Mode   06/16/12—09/30/12   Whisenhunt Stage
• Dividing the Estate by Horton Foote   06/02/12—07/01/12 )   Kleberg Stage
• The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman, Stephen Belber, Leigh Fondakowski, Andy Paris & Greg Pierotti   03/24/12—05/13/12   Kleberg Stage
• The Laramie Project - Ten Years Later by Stephen Belber, Leigh Fondakowski, Moises Kaufman, Andy Paris & Greg Pierotti   03/24/12—05/13/12   Kleberg Stage
• Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey & Tom Kitt   01/28/12—03/04/12   Kleberg Stage
• God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, translation by Christopher Hampton   12/03/11—01/08/12   Kleberg Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/26/11—01/08/12   Whisenhunt Stage
• Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind, Steven Slater & Duncan Sheik   09/25/11—11/13/11   Kleberg Stage

2010-2011 Season

• Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins by Allison Engel & Margaret Engel   08/06/11—11/13/11   Whisenhunt Stage
• Hairspray by Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan, Scott Whittman & Marc Shaiman, adapted from the 1988 John Waters film   06/25/11—08/28/11   Kleberg Stage
• The Book of Grace by Suzan-Lori Parks   06/04/11—07/24/11   Whisenhunt Stage
• August: Osage County by Tracy Letts   04/02/11—05/22/11   Kleberg Stage
• Fiction by Steven Dietz   02/12/11—04/10/11   Whisenhunt Stage
• Red Hot Patriot: The Kick Ass Wit of Molly Ivins by Margaret and Allison Engel   01/29/11—03/13/11   Whisenhunt Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/11/10—12/26/10   Kleberg Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/27/10—01/02/11   Whisenhunt Stage
• Rent by Jonathan Larson   09/11/10—11/28/10   Kleberg Stage

2009-2010 Season

• Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman   08/07/10—09/12/10   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Drowsy Chaperone by Bob Martin, Don McKellar, Greg Morrison & Lisa Lambert   06/26/10—08/01/10   Kleberg Stage
• Becky's New Car by Steven Dietz   06/05/10—07/11/10   Whisenhunt Stage
• Our Town by Thornton Wilder   04/17/10—05/23/10   Kleberg Stage
• The Flaming Idiots by Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor & Rob Williams   01/30/10—03/07/10   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   11/29/09—12/27/09   Kleberg Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/29/09—01/10/10   Whisenhunt Stage
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Rachael Sheinkin & William Finn   09/19/09—10/25/09   Kleberg Stage

2008-2009 Season

• Love, Janis by Randal Myler, adapted from Love, Janis by Laura Joplin   05/28/09—08/30/09   Kleberg Stage
• The Grapes of Wrath by Frank Galati, adapted from the novel by John Steinbeck   03/12/09—05/10/09   Kleberg Stage
• Shooting Star by Steven Dietz   02/12/09—04/05/09   Whisenhunt Stage
• Let Me Down Easy by Anna Deavere Smith   01/22/09—02/15/09   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   11/28/08—01/04/09   Kleberg Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/28/08—01/11/09   Whisenhunt Stage
• Caroline, or Change by Jeanine Tesori, adapted from Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner   09/18/08—11/09/08   Kleberg Stage

2007-2008 Season

• The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl   07/10/08—08/31/08   Whisenhunt Stage
• Seussical The Musical by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, adapted from the works of Dr. Seuss,   06/27/08—08/10/08 co-production with ZACH's Performing Arts School
• Altar Boyz by Kevin Del Aguila, Gary Adler & Michael Patrick Walker   06/05/08—08/30/08   Kleberg Stage
• Doubt by John Patrick Shanley   04/03/08—05/25/08   Whisenhunt Stage
• Speeding Motorcycle by Jason Nodler, adapted by Daniel Johnston & Jason Nodler   02/14/08—04/13/08   Kleberg Stage
• Porgy and Bess by Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin & Dubose Heyward   01/25/08—02/03/08 Austin Music Hall
• Plaid Tidings by Stuart Ross   11/29/07—12/30/07 Groten Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/22/07—01/06/07   Whisenhunt Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   11/22/07—12/30/07   Kleberg Stage

2006-2007 Season

• Disney's High School Musical by Peter Barsocchini   07/20/07—08/12/07 co-production with ZACH's Performing Arts School
• An Almost Holy Picture by Heather McDonald   07/19/07—08/26/07 Groten Stage
• Jesus Christ Superstar, Jesucristo Superestrella by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber   05/24/07—08/12/07   Whisenhunt Stage
• Take Me Out by Richard Greenberg   03/29/07—05/06/07   Whisenhunt Stage
• Present Laughter by Noël Coward   01/18/07—03/11/07   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/24/06—01/07/07 Groten Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   11/24/06—01/07/07   Whisenhunt Stage
• Plaid Tidings by Stuart Ross   11/02/06—12/31/06   Kleberg Stage
• The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brian   10/05/06—11/12/06   Whisenhunt Stage

2005-2006 Season

• Bad Dates by Theresa Rebeck   07/13/06—08/27/06   Whisenhunt Stage
• I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright   05/25/06—07/20/06   Kleberg Stage
• The Exonerated by Jessica Blank & Erik Jensen   03/30/06—05/07/06   Kleberg Stage
• Urinetown by Greg Kotis & Mark Hollmann   01/19/06—03/12/06   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/01/05—01/01/06   Kleberg Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/25/05—01/08/06 Groten Stage
• Keepin' it Weird by Dave Steakley   10/01/05—11/13/05   Kleberg Stage
• Shear Madness by Paul Portner, adapted by Marilyn Abrams & Bruce Jordan   08/20/05—09/25/05   Whisenhunt Stage

2004-2005 Season

• Keepin' It Weird by Dave Steakley   07/07/05—08/28/05   Kleberg Stage
• Hank Williams: Lost Highway by Mark Harelik & Randal Myler   04/21/05—06/19/05   Kleberg Stage
• Z Cabarets   03/26/05—06/05/05   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler   03/24/05—05/08/05   Whisenhunt Stage
• Aida by Elton John & Tim Rice   01/27/05—04/03/05   Kleberg Stage
• Blown Sideways Through Life by Claudia Shear   01/13/05—03/06/05   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/26/04—01/02/05
• Crowns by Regina Taylor, adapted from Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry   09/30/04—11/14/04   Kleberg Stage
• Omnium Gatherum by Alexandra Gerston-Vassilaros & Theresa Rebeck   09/16/04—10/24/04   Whisenhunt Stage

2003-2004 Season

• House Arrest by Anna Deavere Smith   08/05/04—09/12/04   Kleberg Stage
• Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, Fred Ebb & John Kander   05/29/04—07/18/04   Kleberg Stage
• Antigone: Looking into the Sun by Ann Ciccolella   04/18/04—05/05/04   Kleberg Stage
• It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues by Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor & Dan Wheetman, music by Allen Robertson   01/22/04—02/29/04   Kleberg Stage
• Always...Patsy Cline by Ted Swindly , music by Allen Robertson   01/15/04—07/25/04   Whisenhunt Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/10/03—12/21/03   The Paramount Theatre
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/28/03—01/04/03 '   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Flaming Idiots by Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor & Rob Williams   11/15/03—01/04/04   Kleberg Stage
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee   09/25/03—11/09/03   Whisenhunt Stage

2002-2003 Season

• Beehive by Larry Gallagher   07/10/03—10/26/03   Kleberg Stage
• Fully Committed by Becky Mode   06/05/03—07/27/03   Whisenhunt Stage
• Side Man by Warren Leight   05/17/03—06/22/03   Kleberg Stage
• Love! Valour! Compassion! by Terrence McNally   03/20/03—04/27/03   Kleberg Stage
• Limonade Tours de Jours by Charles L. Mee, music by Allen Robertson   01/23/03—03/02/03   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/11/02—12/22/02   The Paramount Theatre
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/29/02—01/05/03   Whisenhunt Stage
• Smokey Joe's Café Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller   10/17/02—01/05/03   Kleberg Stage
• Dirty Blonde by Claudia Shear, based on a concept by Claudia Shear and James Lapine   09/19/02—11/10/02   Whisenhunt Stage

2001-2002 Season

• Bee-Luther-Hatchee by Thomas Gibbons   07/25/02—09/01/02   Whisenhunt Stage
• Hair by Galt MacDermot, James Rado & Gerome Ragni , music by Allen Robertson   07/11/02—09/29/02   Kleberg Stage
• The Flaming Idiots by Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor & Rob Williams, music by Allen Robertson   05/02/02—06/23/02   Kleberg Stage
• The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman, music by Allen Robertson   02/21/02—04/07/02   Kleberg Stage
• Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell   01/24/02—03/17/02   Whisenhunt Stage
• Slut for Art by Ping Chong & Muna Tseng   01/17/02—01/27/02   Kleberg Stage -
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley & Michael Raiford   12/19/01—12/29/01   The Paramount Theatre
• Lypsinka! The Boxed Set by John Epperson   11/30/01—12/31/01   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/29/01—01/05/01   Whisenhunt Stage
• Misery by Simon Moore & Stephen King, adapted from the novel by Stephen King   10/18/01—11/25/01   Whisenhunt Stage
• Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman, adapted by Charles Griffith   09/20/01—11/04/02   Kleberg Stage

2000-2001 Season

• And the World Goes 'Round by Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman, David Thompson, Fred Ebb & John Kander   07/26/01—08/19/01   Whisenhunt Stage
• Jelly's Last Jam by George C. Wolfe & Jelly Roll Morton , adapted by Luther Henderson   06/28/01—08/19/01   Kleberg Stage
• .Com by Acia Gray   05/31/01—06/10/01   Kleberg Stage
• Master Class by Terrence McNally   05/24/01—07/08/01   Whisenhunt Stage
• Circumference of a Squirrel by John Walch   04/12/01—05/06/01
• Jouét by Allen Robertson   04/05/01—05/13/01   Kleberg Stage
• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams   02/01/01—03/11/01   Kleberg Stage
• 'Art' by Yasmina Reza   01/18/01—02/18/01   Whisenhunt Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/13/00—12/24/00   The Paramount Theatre
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/24/00—01/07/01   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Flaming Idiots, Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor   11/24/00—01/13/01   Kleberg Stage
• Evita by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber   09/14/00—11/12/00   Kleberg Stage
• Tru by Jay Presson Allen   09/07/00—10/29/00   Whisenhunt Stage
• 1999-2000 Season
• Closer by Patrick Marber   07/20/00—08/13/00   Whisenhunt Stage
• Tapestry: The Music of Carole King, adapted by Rowan Joseph, John Kroner & Jeffrey Martin   06/22/00—08/13/00   Kleberg Stage
• Abundance by Beth Henley   06/09/00—07/02/00   Whisenhunt Stage
• Pride's Crossing by Tina Howe   04/27/00—06/04/00   Kleberg Stage
• Bucky: The Life and Work of Buckminster Fuller by Alice Wilson   03/31/00—04/22/00   Whisenhunt Stage
• The America Play by Suzan-Lori Parks   02/10/00—03/19/00   Whisenhunt Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley, music by Allen Robertson   12/16/99—12/30/99   The Paramount Theatre
• The Flaming Idiots, Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor & Rob Williams, music by Allen Robertson   12/08/99—01/16/00   Kleberg Stage
• The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello   11/19/99—01/09/00   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien, music by Allen Robertson   09/30/99—11/07/99   Kleberg Stage
• Shakespeare's R&J by Joe Calarco, adapted from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare   09/16/99—10/10/99   Whisenhunt Stage

1998-1999 Season

• The Mystery of Irma Vep by Charles Ludlam , music by Allen Robertson   07/22/99—09/01/99   Kleberg Stage
• My Children, My Africa by Athol Fugard   06/03/99—06/27/99   Whisenhunt Stage
• Beehive by Larry Gallagher, music by Allen Robertson   04/29/99—06/07/99   Kleberg Stage
• Full Gallop by Mark Hampton & Mary Louise Wilson   03/03/99—04/11/99   Whisenhunt Stage
• Ain't Misbehavin', based on the music of Fats Waller   02/04/99—03/28/99   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley, music by Allen Robertson   12/10/98—12/20/98   The Paramount Theatre
• The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry   11/01/98—12/15/98   Kleberg Stage
• Angels in America part 1: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner , music by Allen Robertson   10/22/98—11/22/98   Kleberg Stage
• Angels in America part 2: Perestroika by Tony Kushner, music by Allen Robertson   09/17/98—11/22/98   Kleberg Stage
• School House Rock by George Newall & Tom Yohe, adapted by Theatre Bam   09/05/98—10/22/98   Whisenhunt Stage

1997-1998 Season

• The Who's Tommy by Des McAnuff & Pete Townshend, additional music by Allen Robertson   06/20/98—07/28/98   Kleberg Stage
• Angels in America part 1: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner , music by Allen Robertson   04/11/98—05/11/98   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/10/97—12/24/97   The Paramount Theatre
• The Taffetas by Rick Lewis   11/08/97—12/31/97   Whisenhunt Stage
• The Piano Lesson by August Wilson   09/20/97—10/26/97   Kleberg Stage

1996-1997 Season

• Dreamgirls by Tom Eyen & Henry Krieger   08/01/97—08/17/97   The Paramount Theatre
• Love, Janis by Randal Myler, adapted from Love, Janis by Laura Joplin   06/13/97—07/22/97   Kleberg Stage
• Jack and Jill by Jane Martin   04/26/97—06/06/97   Kleberg Stage
• Ruthless! The Musical by Joel Paley & Marvin Laird   01/18/97—02/23/97   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/13/96—12/29/96   The Paramount Theatre
• A Christmas Carol by Adrian Hall & Richard Cumming, adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens   11/29/96—12/22/96   Kleberg Stage
• The Gospel at Colonus by Lee Breur & Bob Telson   10/05/96—11/10/96   Kleberg Stage
• Sylvia by A. R. Gurney   09/14/96—11/30/96   Whisenhunt Stage

1995-1996 Season

• All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Ernest Zulia & David Caldwell   06/01/96—07/08/96   Kleberg Stage
• Das Barbecu by Jim Luigs & Scott Warrender   05/18/96—06/23/96   Kleberg Stage
• Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin   04/06/96—05/12/96   Kleberg Stage
• Soul Sisters by Dave Steakley, music by Allen Robertson   02/03/96—04/14/96   Kleberg Stage
• Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley   12/11/95—12/22/95   The Paramount Theatre
• Shear Madness by Marilyn Abrams & Bruce Jordan   10/06/95—01/28/96   Whisenhunt Stage
• Avenue X by John Jiler, Christina J. Moore & Ray Leslee   09/23/95—10/29/95   Kleberg Stage

Awards

In 2012, ZACH got a $70,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to produce the Terrence McNally musical Ragtime.^[6]

Each year The Austin Chronicle presents its 'Best of Austin' awards. Awards given to ZACH beginning in 1993 are shown below.^[7]

Best of Austin awards 

• 2011: Readers Best Theatre Director
• 2010: Readers Best Actor/Actress
• 2007: Readers Best Theatre Performance Space
• 2006: Readers Theatre Performance Space
• 2006: Readers Theatre Director
• 2005: Critics Most Entertaining Nonprofit
• 2004: Readers Best Live Theatre
• 2000: Critics Place For Class Clowns
• 1999: Readers Theatre Company
• 1998: Readers Theatre Company
• 1997: Readers Theatre Company
• 1996: Readers Theatre Space
• 1996: Critics Razzle Dazzle
• 1996: Critics Kids Acting Program
• 1995: Readers Theatre Space
• 1994: Readers Theatre Space
• 1993: Readers Theatre Space

References

1. "About ZACH Theatre". ZACH Theatre. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
2. "Zachary Scott Theatre Center". VolunteerMatch. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
3. "ZACH Facility Rentals". ZACH Theatre. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
4. Faires, Robert (2 February 2007). "Zachary Scott Theatre Center: Ciccolella's curtain call". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
5. Theatre Communications Group, Theatre Profiles: ZACH Theatre
6. van Ryzin, Jeanne Claire (27 October 2012). "Seeing Things: With new Topfer Theatre". Austin360. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
7. Austin Chronicle: Zach Theatre

Coordinates: 30°15′50.4″N 97°45′32.4″W / 30.264000°N 97.759000°W