We’ve Opened

(Community Matters) STILL FOUNTAINS opened last night and we celebrated with lots of friends.

Michael Mitchell (playwright) & Katie Pearl (director)

Bryan Schneider (sound designer)

cast: Gina Houston, Jude Hickey, Douglas Taylor & Garry Peters

The cast really does include four of the best actors in Austin. As the show’s producer, I didn’t engage on the artistic side other than conversations about actor hires. Our director, Katie Pearl, had a keen sense of the professionalism and chemistry she was looking for and she certainly achieved it with these four. They deliver an outstanding performance in both Highway Home and Them. Michael’s character development is strong, Katie’s direction and the actors’ talents enrich his work.

Gina Houston & Jude Hickey, preshow

Jude & Gina

Good immediate reviews. The audience especially loved Them – the story, the dialogue, the surprise of how intimacy forms and unfolds.

The intricacy and circularness of Highway Home like a French movie, in that it isn’t American meat and potatoes, doesn’t follow the traditional template, might not be accessible to traditionalists expecting a definable story. It’s poetic memories that define families. High on wit and intricate psycho character development.

Steven & Stella Lucio (owner of Julio’s)

2Dine4 did an outstanding job at catering. Hank Cathey taught the bartenders how to make Fuse Box martinis – good gosh. Think I might be feeling them this am.

Daniel Montoya, Susan Ghertner & Jill McRae

Robert Torian & Michael Mitchell, Sr.

Martin Zimmerman & Kelly Howe

Melissa Henderson & Drew Valcourt

Gosh, I really am a bad party photograher. Way too many beautiful people I didn’t photograph including Tana & Joe Christie, Michael Barnes, Ron Berry, Jenny Connell, Steve Davis & Kent Portman, Stephen Dietz & Allison Gregory, Hector Eichelmann, Lynn & Chris Helms, Margaret Keys, Chris Long & Tim McCabe, Stephen Yelenosky, Sarah Meyer, Charles & Barbara Minshew, Annie & Jason Minshew, Betty Mitchell, Milinda Mitchell, Steve Moore, Donna Penn, Kirk Rice & Jodie Scheske, Priscilla Sample, Steve Serino, La Tasha Stevens, Kevin Thibodeau & James Wilcox, Kevin Tuerff & Kevin Jung, Stephen Walls & Denny Biggs, Barbara Wohlgemuth and Susan Zeder & Jim Hancock.

STILL FOUNTAINS runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 14 at the Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Road tickets here Box office proceeds benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Fuse Box Festival.