Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End

Austin Playhouse is running Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End from October 1 through 11, 2026. It's a one-woman show written by Margaret Engel and Allison Engel and directed by Lara Toner Haddock, and it centers on the life of Erma Bombeck, the homemaker who became a widely syndicated columnist.

If you're not familiar with her, Bombeck made a career out of writing about the domestic grind—the laundry, the kids, the chaos of running a household—and turning it into something millions of people recognized in their own lives. The play follows her journey from that home life to the public eye, and it's a comedy that doesn't shy away from the more honest side of things. Bombeck takes the audience on a frank and heartfelt trip to define herself beyond the roles of wife and mother, while still embracing how those ordinary things can bring extraordinary joy. It's a look at a woman figuring out who she is when the world only sees her in relation to everyone else in the house.

Because it's a one-woman show, the whole thing rests on a single performer on stage, and the production runs an hour and a half. It's a relatively short evening, so it's an easy one to fit into a week without needing a whole day around it.

Performances run Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM, so you've got a few different slots to choose from depending on whether a weekday night or a Sunday matinee works better for you. Tickets are $25, and you can find the show at Austin Playhouse, 3601 S Congress Ave, Austin, 78704.