THE MAKING OF A GREAT MOMENT

October 29 - 30, 2026

A two-night celebration of the release of Suzanne La Follette's new book of poetry, Body, Burn Slowly. 

La Follette served Austin as a firefighter for two decades, performed as a finalist on the National Poetry Slam stage, and earned her MFA in poetry and non-fiction at Antioch University. Her new book -- presented by Write Bloody Publishing -- confronts the physical and emotional residue of emergency work, the inequities faced by women in traditionally male institutions, and the strange recalibration of a life suddenly measured against time.

This event brings La Follette and her talented friends together for two nights of poetry and comedy. Comedic touring poet and founder of Write Bloody Publishing Derrick Brown will read poems at both shows. Nikki Da Vaughn, an Austin-born host tested on everything from podcasts to burlesque, will emcee both nights.

Each performance will also feature special guest poets. On Thursday night, Austin Poetry Slam founder and Hyde Park Theatre company member Mike Henry will perform his own poems along with Bree Bailey, Texan Latine badass mom and Write Bloody author of Wailing on Whisper Street. Friday night's lineup welcomes our favorite Assistant Principal and former Austin Slammaster, Tova Charles, along with critically-acclaimed author and international touring interdisciplinary artivist Ebony Stewart, and a Chief in the Austin Fire Department and author of two poetry books (including the recent Easy Listening), Tim Krcmarik. 

Copies of Body, Burn Slowly will be on sale at both shows and available for signing by the author. Box office opens at 7 pm each night for an 8 pm curtain time.   

January 12– February 13, 2027

Hyde Park Theatre season show: That’s right: it will soon be time to heat up your winter nights again with the 32nd season of FronteraFest at Hyde Park Theatre. The Short Fringe, BYOV, and Mi Casa--as always and ever, FronteraFest is five weeks of alternative, offbeat, new, and just plain off-the-wall fringe theatre. Too bad there's no actual way to expect the unexpected, because that is your only hope.

PARTICIPANTS! We’re taking applications, first come first served — and there’s a discount if you apply by October 1. Do it! This is the year! (And check out the online “FronteraFest 101” workshop Tuesday, September 22—sliding scale fees.)

FronteraFest is produced in collaboration with ScriptWorks, a group dedicated to supporting emerging playwrights and developing new dramatic works.

by Annie Baker

February 25 - March 27, 2027

Hyde Park Theatre season show. Annie Baker is the Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Genius Award-winning playwright of many past HPT favorites, including John, The Antipodes, The Flick, The Aliens, Circle Mirror Transformation, and Body Awareness,

In 2027, HPT is bringing you Baker’s latest: a very funny and occasionally harrowing play set at a California pain clinic. The New York Times called Infinite Life “very weird and great.” Vulture called it “nimble, funny, and devastating . . . Whatever the relative wellness or illness of our bodies, Infinite Life gathers us all in its wide embrace, turning its curious, accepting gaze on our brokenness.”

Directed by Ken Webster. More details soon.