Beyond August will stage its next production, EXIT STRATEGY by Ike Holter at The Rosette from June 21st -July 14th, 2024.
The teachers of Tumbldn High School don't live in an inspirational teacher movie. They bring mousetraps from home, they make the toilet paper last, and they show up for the kids nobody else shows up for. So when the school is slated for closure at the end of the year, and the weight of the inevitable bears down on the community. Students and teachers alike discover their breaking points.
This crisp, current comedy follows the multi-faceted journeys of the teachers, vice-principal, and a savvy yet savage student in the days leading up to their high-school’s (inevitable?) closure. Exit Strategy is described by The Chicago Tribune as “at once poetic, political, sad, funny, timely, complex and compassionate.”
Experiencing Exit Strategy feels closer to watching a cable comedy than a stage play -- its dynamic, fast paced, and thought-provoking. It’s cerebral yet silly, a conversation can turn on a dime. The show’s charisma and heart flows seamlessly through its characters, their essences, and how they interact with both each other, and their own perspectives.
Spiked with humor and brimming with fury, Exit Strategy is an exhilarating call to arms about what we owe each other.
Read our press release here. Director Rodolfo Robles Cruz.
From July 21st to August 13th 2023, audiences joined us for an exciting evening of thought provoking laughter at the beautiful Rosette Theater in The Baker Center.
Show synopsis
Because in the end, we're all animals.
A playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. At first, diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses, and the rum flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.
This dark comedy premiered in London's West End in 2008 with the first Broadway production opening in 2009 starring James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels. The play won the Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 2009. Roman Polanski directed the 2011 film adaptation called 'Carnage' with John C. Reilly, Jodi Foster, Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet.
This production is directed by Robyn Conner.
With Jill Klopp Turner as Veronica Novak, Peter Young as Michael Novak, Chuck Winkler as Alan Raleigh and Shannon Embry as Annette Raleigh.
Stage Manager is Jennifer Gonzalez. Lighting Design by Casey Prowell. Sound Design by Samantha Garcia Nunez.
"Dark comedy at its best."
Additional Past Shows
Beyond August at Frontera Fest 2023!
Presenting Sean Sweeney's new play
HEAVEN (By Way of Suicide)
Short Fringe
A family comes together as the father, who is terminally ill, prepares to take his own life in lieu of suffering. Each member of the family is forced to reconcile their past discrepancies, while confronting their own religious beliefs. A (very) dark comedy.
Featuring Beyond August's Jill Klopp Turner as well as fellow The Outsider cast member, Darren Scharf.
THE OUTSIDER
BY PAUL SLADE SMITH
Played October 1st-16th, 2022 at The Rosette Theater, Austin
Directed by Jeff Hinkle
"Political comedy is a tough game these days — not only have those two terms become pretty much redundant, but ultimately (and paradoxically) it can be hard to muster a laugh at the more tragic real-life consequences of policy-making.
But with “The Outsider,” Paul Slade Smith has managed to write a play about politics that’s not only genuinely and consistently funny, but has something eloquent to say about the meaning of leadership."
San Diego Union-Tribune
Amongst a political scandal, Lieutenant Governor Ned Newley, a bumbling wallflower with a paralyzing fear of public speaking, suddenly finds himself thrust into the Governor's chair. Though Ned seems destined to fail in his new role, his political consultants believe that his obvious shortcomings may prove to be his ticket to widespread popularity.
The Cast of THE OUTSIDER: Michael Stuart as Governor Ned Newley, Tim Blackwood as Arthur Vance, Patrick Wheeler as Dave Riley, Shannon Embry as Paige Caldwell, Robyn Conner as Louise Peakes, Jill Klopp Turner as Rachel Parsons, Darren Scharf as A.C. Petersen.
Stage Manager: Mindy Griffin
WONDER OF THE WORLD
BY DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE
October 2021, Trinity Street Playhouse
WONDER OF THE WORLD marked Beyond August Productions' debut. This dark comedy was produced in partnership with City Theatre at Trinity Street Playhouse.
CAST
Jill Klopp
Robyn Conner
Patrick Wheeler
Shannon Embry
Kevin Anderson
Kirk Kelso
Jennifer Gonzalez
Directed by Andy Berkovsky
Stage Manager: Cris Skinner
