is a virtual rabbit’s warren of classrooms,
rehearsal halls, studios, and theatres. Bass
Concert Hall seats 3,000 and has presented
touring Broadway shows such as Les
Misérables and Cats, and Austin’s beloved
holiday treat, The Nutcracker. McCullough
Theatre, once known as the Opera Lab
Theatre, seats 400, and is used for traveling,
individual, and student productions. Away
from the main complex, Bates Recital Hall
in the Music Building offers its audience
excellent acoustics in its 700-seat theatre. B.
Iden Payne Theatre is a traditional proscenium theatre seating 500, and is part of the
Drama Department’s Winship Building,
as is the Theatre Room, a multi-use space
capable of creating unique 360-degree theatrical experiences.
ZACH Theatre
202 South Lamar, Austin
512-476-0541; www.zachtheatre.org
ZACH Theatre is one of Austin’s most
vibrant and innovative performing arts
organizations, creating intimate theatre
that ignites the imagination, lifts the spirit
and engages our community. It is the oldest
continuously operating theatre in Texas
and one of 10 original resident theatre
companies in America. ZACH Theatre
creates a year-round season of more than
500 performances, as well as education and
outreach programs for children, that include
professional, mainstage plays and musicals,
Theatre for Youth, and new plays and musicals by playwrights and composers from
Central Texas and internationally-acclaimed
artists. Located in the heart of Austin on the
banks of Lady Bird Lake, ZACH is widely
considered “Austin’s Theatre”.
Zilker Hillside Theatre
Zilker Park (Near Barton Springs Pool)
512-477-5335; 512-397-1463; www.zilker.org
Austinites have been coming here for years
to enjoy performances under the stars. With
room for more than 2,500, the annual Zilker
Summer Musical is an Austin tradition that
has been performed here for more than 40
years. The Hillside Theatre is also home to
the annual Austin Shakespeare Festival in the
fall. The theatre provides a venue for other
performances throughout the year. Pack a
picnic basket, grab a blanket, and head out to
the park for this unique experience.
MUSIC
Austin Cabaret Theatre
1005 Stobaugh Street, Austin
512-786-6121; www.austincabaret.org
In 2012, ACT moved to its new home, the
stunning Shoal Crossing by Sterling Affairs.
This beautiful, redesigned facility offers the
only dinner showrooms in town, and the
only year-round professional dinner cabaret
in Texas.
Austin Chamber Ensemble
8908 Wildridge Drive, Austin
512-345-3399; austinchamberensemble.com
The Austin Chamber Ensemble initially
had a wind quintet as its core ensemble,
but since those beginning days in 1981, it
has gradually branched out to include all
instrumental and vocal combinations in its
concerts. In addition to the Austin series, the
ensemble has given concerts, master classes
and school concerts in many Texas cities as
part of the Texas Commission on the Arts
touring program.
Austin Chamber Music Center
3814 Medical Parkway, Austin
512-454-7562; www.austinchambermusic.org
The Austin Chamber Music Center is dedicated to improving the quality of the Austin
community by nurturing and expanding the
knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of chamber music through education
and performance. ACMC provides learning
opportunities to community youth through
outreach programs, and by presenting over
120 public performances yearly of the
highest quality.
Austin Civic Orchestra
11213 Tracton Lane, Austin
512-301-7370; www.austincivicorchestra.org
Since 1977, the Austin Civic Orchestra
has been enriching the Austin cultural
scene with its classical music perfor-
mances. A volunteer group that performs
6-7 concerts each season at affordable
prices, the group strives to make quality
classical music accessible to everyone,
especially children.
Austin Girls Choir
3710 Cedar Street, #290, Austin
512-453-0884; www.austin.girlschoir.com
The AGC is a tri-level treble choir of girls
8-18 from the Austin area. Founded in 1990
by artistic director Sara Burden-McClure
the organization offers a fantastic opportunity for musically talented girls to learn
and perform a wide range of music locally,
statewide, and even internationally. The
choir has been featured in numerous live
and broadcast performances throughout
the United States, England, and Germany,
earning their organization a well-deserved
reputation for excellence.
Austin Lyric Opera
3009 Industrial Terrace, #100, Austin
512-472-5992; www.austinlyricopera.org
The only professional opera company in
Central Texas, the Austin Lyric Opera has
earned a fine reputation as they perform
both classical and contemporary operas
to sold out crowds. The company’s season
features a new opera performance 3 times
a year from November through April. The
musical excellence and artistry continues
in the company’s performance home, The
Joe R. and Teresa Long Center for the
Performing Arts and its acoustically noteworthy Dell Hall.
Austin Symphonic Band
7900 Centre Park Drive, Suite A, Austin
512-345-7420; www.asband.org
The official band of the City of Austin,
this Texas-based group has become one
of the nation’s premier volunteer concert
bands, and has been the recipient of the
John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler
Silver Scroll in 1993. The band continues
its tradition of bringing quality music to
the community with their three concert
