The Wild Party

Austin Underground Collective is making its debut with The Wild Party, Andrew Lippa's musical based on the poem by Joseph Moncure March. It runs from October 31 through November 12 at Pershing Hall, 2415 E. 5th Street, for twelve performances. The show follows Queenie and Burrs, a volatile couple locked in a cycle of obsession, jealousy, and one-upmanship, who throw an anything-goes party that draws in artists, lovers, and outsiders. It's recommended for ages 18+.

The production is staged as an immersive 1920s cocktail party: no proscenium, no audience in the traditional sense, just lounge and cocktail tables scattered through Pershing Hall's decorated room, with the drama unfolding around the guests. 1920s Prohibition-era dress is encouraged, and the night is wrapped in sultry jazz, pre-show entertainment, and a post-show cabaret in the venue's neighboring speakeasy.

Leslie Hollingsworth plays Queenie and Andrew Cannata plays Burrs, with Haley Patterson as Kate and Jeffrey Guilfoyle as Black. The ensemble includes Paul Sanchez, Tyler Jones, Libby Detling, and Sarah Reynolds, and Julianna Wright directs. The show was partially developed with readings at the O'Neill Theater Center during the 1997 National Music Theatre Conference and was nominated for a 2000 Tony Award for Best Musical. It's presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

This is the first production from Austin Underground Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Leslie Vander Gheynst to create original theatre in unconventional spaces. Most shows are at 8 PM, with Sundays adding a 5 PM matinee. Wallflower Seats are $25, House Guests are $50 for reserved cocktail table seating, and the VIP Experience is $75.