Each month I’ll be investigating events around town that might pique the interest of the book nerds, the literature obsessed, and those who enjoy stimulating entertainment and/or socializing. Not surprisingly, Austin has a number of things going on every month the Book People community would enjoy.
The Dionysium Winter 2017 Show
SCIENCE
Wednesday, February 1st @ Alamo Drafthouse Village 7pm
A typical Dionysium show will feature a lecture, a declamation, a drinking song, a film or live musical performance, an appeal to Dionysus, a fiction-writing contest, and plenty of strong drink. But the heart of every Dionysium is the debate.
Checkout their Facebook page or their website!
Purchase tickets on the Alamo Village website!
Stories to Tell: Selections from the Harry Ransom Center
Opens February 6th, 2017 at The Harry Ransom Center
This exhibition of more than 250 items includes, among many others, manuscripts of David Foster Wallace, Julia Alvarez, and Gabriel García Márquez, Henri Matisse’s Jazz, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s spirit photographs, and the hat that accompanied the green curtain dress worn by Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind.
This exhibition helps us better understand how the humanities affect our lives, connecting the past to the present in personal and meaningful ways.
All items in the exhibition are from the Ransom Center’s collection unless otherwise noted.
Admission to the exhibition is free. No tickets or reservations are required. Your donation supports the Ransom Center’s exhibitions and public programs.
Lightwire Theater presents The Ugly Duckling
Sunday, February 12, 2017 3:00PM
The Paramount Theatre
In an age when technology seems to provide many distractions, Lightwire Theater takes a classic story from Aesop’s Fables and brings it to the modern stage for an unforgettable theatrical experience. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling celebrates transformation and finding beauty in being different. This amazing ‘glow in the dark’ adventure is family friendly and an afternoon you wouldn’t want to miss!
Tickets are $17 and can be purchased HERE!
St. Edward’s Department of Performing Arts Presents:
Pride and Prejudice
Adapted by Jon Jory
February 16th-26th, Thursday – Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm.
Jane Austen’s 1813 novel with all of its wit and romance comes to life in this fast-moving and high-spirited update. Join the singularly focused Mrs. Bennet as she struggles to marry off her five daughters, sometimes in direct conflict with her daughters’ wishes. Enjoy the fireworks between the quick-witted, fiercely independent Lizzie Bennet and the handsome, enigmatic Mr. Darcy. Should feelings triumph over good sense, and can you trust your assumptions? This classic romance features guest artists Mary Agen Cox, Babs George and David Long. As Orlando Theater exclaims, “fiction doesn’t get any better than this.”
“Refreshingly fast-paced and engaging.” – Broadway World
$25 ($18, students, seniors)
Contact: Mary Moody Northen Theatre Box Office @ (512) 448-8484
Bloomsday (closing week)
Performances through February 5th
Thursday – Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 5pm
Austin Playhouse
Austin Playhouse is proud to present the Texas Premiere of Bloomsday by one of Austin’s most acclaimed playwrights, Steven Dietz. In this literature-laden love story, an American man searches for the Irish woman who first captured his heart 30 years earlier while leading a “Bloomsday” walking tour in Dublin. As they stroll backwards through time, the couple rediscover their younger selves, relive their unlikely yet inevitable first encounter, and reminisce on what might have been. Told with humor and compassion, this bittersweet play is a moving appeal to make the most of the present before it’s past.
Tickets are $32 (with discounts for students and seniors).
ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE SCREENINGS
The Princess Bride – Movie Party! Multiple showtimes at the Ritz, Village, Slaughter and Lakeline locations. Admission with merch is $15. Movie parties are Quote-Alongs and interactive participatory screenings that bring the onscreen action into the theater.
Ghost in the Shell (1995 subtitled animated film) – Tuesday, February 7th Lakeline and Village screenings (dubbed option showing on another day, if you’re into that kind of thing).
A Clockwork Orange – Multiple showtimes on Tuesday, February 21st at The Ritz, Lakeline and Slaughter locations.
Girlie Night – Pride & Prejudice – Tuesday, February 21st @ 7:15pm Lakeline and Tuesday, February 28th @ 7pm The Ritz.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind – Sunday, February 19th and Tuesday, February 21st at the Alamo Village. This film is included in Douglas Brode’s 100 best sci-fi films of all time. Check out bookseller review of it here!
RECURRING MONTHLY EVENTS:
One Page Salon (every 1st Tuesday) – Tuesday, February 7th – 7:30pm @ The North Door (FREE)
Nerd Nite (every 2nd Wednesday) – Monday, February 8th – 8pm @ The North Door (FREE)
Story Department by Austin Bat Cave – Tuesday, February 21st – 8pm @ Home Slice Pizza (FREE)
Astronomy on Tap (every 3rd Thursday) – Thursday, February 16th – 7pm @ The North Door (FREE)
Greetings From Queer Mountain (every last Wednesday) – Wednesday, February 22nd – 9pm @ Cheer Up Charlie’s (FREE)
Testify ATX (every fourth Thursday) – Thursday, February 23rd – 7pm @ The Spiderhouse Ballroom ($5 cash, $6 CC at door)
Austin Events for the Literati is researched, curated, and written by bookseller Sarah Holdgrafer. It’s purpose is to make it easier to discover events that would interest people in the literary scene, or just people that read the BookPeople blog, here in ATX. It is by no means comprehensive!
So, if you are hosting, or just know about, a literary themed event here in Austin in the upcoming months, email sarah.holdgrafer (at) gmail dot com and let her know about it (hopefully with at least a few weeks advance warning)! The Austin Events for the Literati blog post goes up by the 1st of every month.
NOTE: These events are not produced by or affiliated with BookPeople. We just think they are great, that you’ll like them too, and hope to see you there! For official BookPeople events, please see the BookPeople Events Calendar!
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