Zach Theatre Last updated August 17, 2025 Theatre company in Austin, Texas, US
Zach Theater Topfer Theatre Building
Full name Zachary Scott Theatre Center Former names Austin Civic Theatre Location 202 South Lamar Blvd Austin, Texas 78704 Public transit CapMetro Rapid 803 at Barton Springs station Built 2011 Opened January 1, 1932 (1932-01-01 ) zachtheatre .org
Zach Theater (the Zachary Scott Theatre Center ) is a professional theatre company located in Austin, Texas , as well as its associated complex of theatre facilities. The company is the oldest continuously active theatre company in Texas , and one of the ten oldest in the country.[ citation needed ]
Offerings and facilities The theatre operates year-round, serving more than 100,000 patrons annually, with more than 500 performances including plays, musicals, original works, and theatre for youth. ZACH also provides education programs that are utilized by thousands of children throughout central Texas . [ 1]
The theatre complex, located on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake , includes three stages, several event spaces, and numerous classrooms and offices. Some of the theatre's facilities are made available for private rental, including the three stages. [ 2] Costumes and props are also available for rental.
History The theatre originally opened in 1932 as the Austin Little Theater . Sometime later, it became known as the "Austin Civic Theater". The company's name was changed to the Zachary Scott Theatre Center in 1968 to honor Austin native and film star Zachary Scott . Since then, it has been rebranded to be titled ZACH Theatre.
In 1972, the 230-seat Kleberg Theatre was built, and in 1990 a 135-seat theatre-in-the-round called the Whisenhunt Theatre was added. In 2006, the city of Austin passed a bond issue which included $10 million to fund a new theatre for ZACH, resulting in the construction of the 420-seat Topfer Theatre in 2011. [ 3]
Production history A complete list of ZACH Theatre productions beginning in 1995 is shown below. [ 4]
2023–2024 Season
Beautiful: The Carol King Musical The Lehman Trilogy Prom Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 The Thin Place George Gershwin Alone 2022–2023 Season
A Christmas Carol Head Over Heels Noises Off Roe Cinderella 2021–2022 Season
2020–2021 Season
Songs Under the Stars: A Socially-distanced Outdoor Concert Series Disney Through the Decades Rockabilly Kings 70s Female Rockstars Tameca Jones in Concert Beatles Redux Gospel Down by the Riverside 80's Dance Party 2019–2020 Season
A Night with Janis Joplin Every Brilliant Thing Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (Theatre for Families) Songs Under the Stars: A Socially-distanced Outdoor Concert Series On Broadway 70s Female Rockstars Motown Grooves Superstar CHANEL A Rockin' Holiday Concert 2018–2019 Season
Once A Rockin Christmas Carol The Santaland Diaries Hedwig and the Angry Inch Notes from the Field Matilda The Musical The Ballad of Klook and Vinette* Fire and Air Tortoise & the Hare (Theatre for Families) Holiday Heroes (TFF) Wake Up, Brother Bear (TFF) 2017–2018 Season
Singin' in the Rain A Tuna Christmas A Rockin Christmas Carol The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Sunday in the Park with George Heisenberg Disney's Beauty and the Beast The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Theatre for Families) Holiday Heroes (TFF) Las Aventuras de Enoughie (TFF) Goodnight Moon (TFF) 2016–2017 Season
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert A Rockin Christmas Carol The Santaland Diaries The Great Society Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill In the Heights Million Dollar Quartet Elephant and Piggie: We are in a Play! (Theatre For Families) Charlotte's Web (TFF) jj's arcade (TFF) 2015– 2016 Season
Evita A Rockin Christmas Carol The Santaland Diaries Tribes ANN One Man, Two Guvnors Buyer & Cellar Mary Poppins James in the Giant Peach (Theatre For Families) Winnie the Pooh (TFF) Alice in Wonderland (TFF) Tomas and the Library Lady (TFF) 2014–2015 Season
The King and I A Rockin Christmas Carol This Wonderful Life Peter and the Starcatcher All the Way Mothers and Sons Sophisticated Ladies Maid Marian in a Stolen Car* 2013–2014 Season
Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Herbert Kretzmer Topfer TheatreA Christmas Story by Joseph Robinette, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Topfer TheatreThis Wonderful Life by Steve Murray Whisenhunt StageIn the Next Room or the vibrator play by Sarah Ruhl Topfer TheatreThe Gospel at Colonus by Lee Breuer, Bob Telson Topfer TheatreVanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang Topfer TheatreMaid Marian in a Stolen Car by Jaston Williams Whisenhunt StageThe Who's Tommy by Pete Townshend, Des McAnuff Topfer Theatre2012—2013 Season
Production history 1995—2012
2011–2012 Season
2010–2011 Season
Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins by Allison Engel & Margaret Engel 08/06/11—11/13/11 Whisenhunt Stage Hairspray by Mark O'Donnell , Thomas Meehan , Scott Whittman & Marc Shaiman , adapted from the 1988 John Waters film 06/25/11—08/28/11 Kleberg StageThe Book of Grace by Suzan-Lori Parks 06/04/11—07/24/11 Whisenhunt Stage August: Osage County by Tracy Letts 04/02/11—05/22/11 Kleberg StageFiction by Steven Dietz 02/12/11—04/10/11 Whisenhunt StageRed Hot Patriot: The Kick Ass Wit of Molly Ivins by Margaret and Allison Engel 01/29/11—03/13/11 Whisenhunt StageRockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley 12/11/10—12/26/10 Kleberg StageThe Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello 11/27/10—01/02/11 Whisenhunt Stage Rent by Jonathan Larson 09/11/10—11/28/10 Kleberg Stage2009–2010 Season
2008–2009 Season
2007–2008 Season
2006–2007 Season
2005–2006 Season
2004–2005 Season
Keepin' It Weird by Dave Steakley 07/07/05—08/28/05 Kleberg StageHank Williams: Lost Highway by Mark Harelik & Randal Myler 04/21/05—06/19/05 Kleberg StageZ Cabarets 03/26/05—06/05/05 Whisenhunt Stage The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler 03/24/05—05/08/05 Whisenhunt Stage Aida by Elton John & Tim Rice 01/27/05—04/03/05 Kleberg StageBlown Sideways Through Life by Claudia Shear 01/13/05—03/06/05 Whisenhunt StageThe Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello 11/26/04—01/02/05Crowns by Regina Taylor , adapted from Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry 09/30/04—11/14/04 Kleberg Stage Omnium Gatherum by Alexandra Gerston-Vassilaros & Theresa Rebeck 09/16/04—10/24/04 Whisenhunt Stage2003–2004 Season
2002–2003 Season
Beehive by Larry Gallagher 07/10/03—10/26/03 Kleberg StageFully Committed by Becky Mode 06/05/03—07/27/03 Whisenhunt Stage Side Man by Warren Leight 05/17/03—06/22/03 Kleberg Stage Love! Valour! Compassion! by Terrence McNally 03/20/03—04/27/03 Kleberg StageLimonade Tours de Jours by Charles L. Mee , music by Allen Robertson 01/23/03—03/02/03 Kleberg StageRockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley 12/11/02—12/22/02 The Paramount TheatreThe Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello 11/29/02—01/05/03 Whisenhunt Stage Smokey Joe's Café Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 10/17/02—01/05/03 Kleberg Stage Dirty Blonde by Claudia Shear, based on a concept by Claudia Shear and James Lapine 09/19/02—11/10/02 Whisenhunt Stage2001–2002 Season
Bee-Luther-Hatchee by Thomas Gibbons 07/25/02—09/01/02 Whisenhunt Stage Hair by Galt MacDermot , James Rado & Gerome Ragni , music by Allen Robertson 07/11/02—09/29/02 Kleberg StageThe Flaming Idiots by Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor & Rob Williams, music by Allen Robertson 05/02/02—06/23/02 Kleberg StageThe Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman, music by Allen Robertson 02/21/02—04/07/02 Kleberg Stage Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell 01/24/02—03/17/02 Whisenhunt StageSlut for Art by Ping Chong & Muna Tseng 01/17/02—01/27/02 Kleberg Stage –Rockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley & Michael Raiford 12/19/01—12/29/01 The Paramount TheatreLypsinka! The Boxed Set by John Epperson 11/30/01—12/31/01 Whisenhunt StageThe Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello 11/29/01—01/05/01 Whisenhunt Stage Misery by Simon Moore & Stephen King , adapted from the novel by Stephen King 10/18/01—11/25/01 Whisenhunt Stage Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman , adapted by Charles Griffith 09/20/01—11/04/02 Kleberg Stage2000–2001 Season
And the World Goes 'Round by Scott Ellis , Susan Stroman , David Thompson , Fred Ebb & John Kander 07/26/01—08/19/01 Whisenhunt Stage Jelly's Last Jam by George C. Wolfe & Jelly Roll Morton , adapted by Luther Henderson 06/28/01—08/19/01 Kleberg Stage.Com by Acia Gray 05/31/01—06/10/01 Kleberg Stage Master Class by Terrence McNally 05/24/01—07/08/01 Whisenhunt StageCircumference of a Squirrel by John Walch 04/12/01—05/06/01Jouét by Allen Robertson 04/05/01—05/13/01 Kleberg Stage A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams 02/01/01—03/11/01 Kleberg Stage 'Art' by Yasmina Reza 01/18/01—02/18/01 Whisenhunt StageRockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley 12/13/00—12/24/00 The Paramount TheatreThe Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello 11/24/00—01/07/01 Whisenhunt StageThe Flaming Idiots , Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor 11/24/00—01/13/01 Kleberg Stage Evita by Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber 09/14/00—11/12/00 Kleberg StageTru by Jay Presson Allen 09/07/00—10/29/00 Whisenhunt Stage1999–2000 Season Closer by Patrick Marber 07/20/00—08/13/00 Whisenhunt Stage Tapestry: The Music of Carole King , adapted by Rowan Joseph, John Kroner & Jeffrey Martin 06/22/00—08/13/00 Kleberg StageAbundance by Beth Henley 06/09/00—07/02/00 Whisenhunt Stage Pride's Crossing by Tina Howe 04/27/00—06/04/00 Kleberg StageBucky: The Life and Work of Buckminster Fuller by Alice Wilson 03/31/00—04/22/00 Whisenhunt Stage The America Play by Suzan-Lori Parks 02/10/00—03/19/00 Whisenhunt StageRockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley, music by Allen Robertson 12/16/99—12/30/99 The Paramount TheatreThe Flaming Idiots , Kevin Hunt, Jon O'Connor & Rob Williams, music by Allen Robertson 12/08/99—01/16/00 Kleberg StageThe Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello 11/19/99—01/09/00 Whisenhunt StageThe Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien, music by Allen Robertson 09/30/99—11/07/99 Kleberg StageShakespeare's R&J by Joe Calarco, adapted from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 09/16/99—10/10/99 Whisenhunt Stage1998–1999 Season
1997–1998 Season
The Who's Tommy by Des McAnuff & Pete Townshend , additional music by Allen Robertson 06/20/98—07/28/98 Kleberg StageAngels in America part 1: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner, music by Allen Robertson 04/11/98—05/11/98 Kleberg StageRockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley 12/10/97—12/24/97 The Paramount TheatreThe Taffetas by Rick Lewis 11/08/97—12/31/97 Whisenhunt Stage The Piano Lesson by August Wilson 09/20/97—10/26/97 Kleberg Stage1996–1997 Season
1995–1996 Season
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Ernest Zulia & David Caldwell 06/01/96—07/08/96 Kleberg StageDas Barbecu by Jim Luigs & Scott Warrender 05/18/96—06/23/96 Kleberg Stage Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin 04/06/96—05/12/96 Kleberg StageSoul Sisters by Dave Steakley, music by Allen Robertson 02/03/96—04/14/96 Kleberg StageRockin' Christmas Party by Dave Steakley 12/11/95—12/22/95 The Paramount TheatreShear Madness by Marilyn Abrams & Bruce Jordan 10/06/95—01/28/96 Whisenhunt StageAvenue X by John Jiler, Christina J. Moore & Ray Leslee 09/23/95—10/29/95 Kleberg StageAwards In 2012, ZACH got a $70,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to produce the Terrence McNally musical Ragtime . [ 5]
Each year The Austin Chronicle presents its 'Best of Austin' awards. Awards given to ZACH beginning in 1993 are shown below. [ 6]
Best of Austin awards
2011: Readers Best Theatre Director 2010: Readers Best Actor/Actress 2007: Readers Best Theatre Performance Space 2006: Readers Theatre Performance Space 2006: Readers Theatre Director 2005: Critics Most Entertaining Nonprofit 2004: Readers Best Live Theatre 2000: Critics Place For Class Clowns 1999: Readers Theatre Company 1998: Readers Theatre Company 1997: Readers Theatre Company 1996: Readers Theatre Space 1996: Critics Razzle Dazzle 1996: Critics Kids Acting Program 1995: Readers Theatre Space 1994: Readers Theatre Space 1993: Readers Theatre Space This page is based on this
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