We recently learned that Texas Performing Arts’ Broadway in Austin 2024-2025 season includes four Austin premieres and the return of audience favorites. The 2024-2025 Season includes the unparalleled artistry of one of the greatest entertainers of all time, MJ; the Tony Award®–winning hysterical corn-bred and corn-fed musical SHUCKED; the high-flying new adaptation of the musical sensation that has delighted audiences for over 70 years, PETER PAN; the ultimate whodunit CLUE; the sensational Broadway revival of the bittersweet comedy featuring one of the greatest musical scores of all time, FUNNY GIRL; and the Tony Award®–winning Best Musical MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL, where the revolutionary film comes to life on stage.
Broadway in Austin 6- or 7-show subscription packages are now on sale. “We can’t wait to bring this new season to Austin and share it with Broadway fans and theatre lovers of all ages,” said Texas Performing Arts’ Executive and Artistic Director Bob Bursey. “The season starts this fall with Tony Award-winning MJ and ends with the new blockbuster MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL. Together with the eagerly awaited return of HAMILTON, this year’s lineup offers something for everyone, with the hottest new shows direct from New York, classics, and audience favorites.”
Texas Performing Arts’ Broadway in Austin 2024-2025 Season features nine productions from October 2024 to May 2025 at Bass Concert Hall, including:
MJ | October 8-13, 2024. He was one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to Houston as MJ, the multi–Tony Award®-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own.
SHUCKED | November 12-17, 2024. Here’s the Tony Award®–winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “flat out hilarious!” And nobody knows funny like economists in this corn-fed, corn-bred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater.
PETER PAN | December 10–15, 2024. This high-flying musical has been thrilling audiences of all ages for close to 70 years and is now being brought back to life. It embraces the child in us all so go on a journey from the second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning–your entire family will be Hooked!
CLUE | January 14–19, 2025
A mansion. A murder. A mystery. What could go wrong? Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, it is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
FUNNY GIRL | March 4-9, 2025. Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time the sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL | May 13-25, 2025. Pop the champagne and enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Welcome to MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. It is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.
HAMILTON | March 25-April 6, 2025. A revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation. It is the epic saga that follows the rise of the Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.
COME FROM AWAY | January 4-5, 2025. On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all. This stirring and inspiring musical takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of the small town in Newfoundland that opened their homes to 7,000 stranded travelers on 9/11. During that fateful week, cultures clashed, and nerves ran high—but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. Celebrate the best of humankind and the best in all of us.
LES MISÉRABLES | February 4–9, 2025. This brilliant staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed as “a reborn dream of a production” (Daily Telegraph). Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, LES MISÉRABLES tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and many more.
We all want someone in our lives with whom we connect and “gets us” the way we want to be seen and heard. That’s a soulmate, and our Austin-based Resonance Repatternist, Mary Schneider, reveals what it means and how to find one as you begin or deepen your phase of coupledom.
WEDDED BLISS
Weddings and romance engender lots of tropes––and romantic ideas. And drama, of course. Everyone has their ‘crazy’ wedding stories. Issues abound–perfectionism reigns. Every detail is poured over and scrutinized. If one pays close attention, the energetic vibrations of a fairy tale are revealed. This is heady and transmissible. That’s why we love them.
I once shared an office with one of the premier wedding consultants of the 80s and 90s. The mothers of the brides would arrive. Pleasantries would be exchanged, and inevitably, she would inquire, “What had so and so’s wedding cost?” My friend would divulge the price, and the mother would reply, “Please make my budget $5K more.” The business end of a multi-billion-dollar industry, I thought at the time, was just a trifle cynical.
Later, after becoming an ordained minister and officiating several delightful, lovely wedding ceremonies, it became clear I was most interested in how this would work––over time. In the past, I have written a lot about parenting. Specifically, exploring the idea that our parents teach us how to be a mom or dad, and how to overcome the pitfalls they may have encountered.
Just as it is with parenting, coupledom depends to a large degree on how a couple’s parents manage their own marriages. As in parenting, if couples get help, marriage can be awesome and fulfilling. Unfortunately, people are not given much training in parenting or marriage skills. We are required to know more to get a driver’s license than we need to be a parent. If we do not receive any education about raising children, we will eventually fall back on and follow what our parents did––for good or bad. It is the very same with marriage.
What did the parents model in their coupledom? How did they solve problems; what roles were assumed; were the parents happy with those roles? Was divorce involved? Infidelity? Money issues? Substance abuse? How does one raise healthy, happy children? As a therapist working with potential marriage partners and veteran couples for the past 25 years, I have always known the questions hovering in the background of the Big Day would journey to the foreground soon enough. We ask ourselves, “How do we go about being in a successful marriage?” Sometimes, these weighty matters are discussed before the ceremony, but often they are not. As we all know, part of the fairy tale suggests it will work out after all–happily ever after.
Historically, tradition has suggested the fallacy that one must make their partner ‘happy.’ In truth, what works is when each partner brings their own happiness to the relationship, potentially creating a bond where happiness can be shared. This is the ideal but rarely accomplished easily. The writer I refer to below puts it this way, “The nitty gritty personal history always overtakes ideals.” What would make this kind of shared happiness attainable? Where can we start?
WIRED FOR LOVE
In his book, Wired for Love, author and psychologist Stan Tatkin proposes married couples create a “Couple Bubble.” Mutuality is the answer. He writes, “’Couple Bubble’ is a term I like to use to describe the mutually constructed membrane, cocoon, or womb that holds a couple together and protects each partner from outside elements.” He defines the “Couple Bubble” as “an intimate environment partners create and sustain together.” This environment is its own ecosystem, assuring a few inalienable rights.
He enumerates the rights: “I will never leave you. I will never frighten you purposely. When you are in distress, I will relieve you, even if I am the one who is causing the distress. Our relationship is more important than my need to be right, your performance, appearance, what other people think or want, or any other competing values. You will be the first to hear about anything and not the second, third, or fourth person I tell.”
When I think about it, this is the ideal treatment for a parent/child relationship, too. Tatkin goes on to explain how mutuality can be established in many different conditions. What do we do at a party to maintain the “Couple Bubble”? Safety and security are the hallmarks of this methodology. If this agreement between two people is kept intact, when the relationship is challenged, it can prove to be the only thing holding it together. We can move on from there in a positive direction.
The first time I encountered this concept, I was intrigued because I could immediately envision the ‘bubble’ in my mind. Decades ago, a therapist recommended I “bubble up” in stressful situations. I would imagine myself walking in a big, beautiful, impenetrable sphere, and it seemed to work. However, I never transferred that imagery to include people with whom I was in a romantic relationship. It would have been helpful.
Considering the incredible number of variables in the human psyche and condition, it is a wonder we effectively engage in intimate relationships at all. We are courageous and keep getting back ‘in the arena.’ This concept is one way to think about your marriage at any point in time, but it is highly recommended at the beginning––right along with the wedding plans.
THE LBJ Presidential Library Hosts MONTHLY Program Series
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Jay Godwin
THE SETTING: The LBJ Presidential Library in Austin hosts an annual season of special Evening With programs featuring dynamic conversations with some of the most notable leaders in the political, cultural, and media fields on topics related to American history and current affairs. The special events, open to Friends of the LBJ Library members, draw some of the Lone Star State’s most notable sociables, history lovers, and philanthropists. Following the programs, members at the Legacy and Cabinet levels are invited to a cocktail reception and dinner with the featured speakers in the 10th floor atrium.
THE STYLE: On one to two nights a month between September and May, audiences of up to 1,000 attendees dressed in Austin-chic attire fill the Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium for interview-style discussions, moderated by Mark Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation and presidential historian for ABC News.
This past year, speakers included William McRaven, who shared highlights from his career as an Admiral in the Navy and lessons on leadership from his book, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog. Jake Tapper talked about covering current affairs as an anchor at CNN and his recently published book, All the Demons Are Here. Heather Cox Richardson, historian and editor of the popular daily newsletter, “Letters from an American,” spoke about the state of our democracy and lessons for the current moment drawn from our national history to a capacity crowd of 1,000. The season closed out with former Defense Secretary Dr. Robert Gates, who shared insights about current world and geopolitical events, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
THE PURPOSE: Membership gifts to the Friends of the LBJ Library benefit the Evening With series, special museum exhibitions, and educational programs for K-12 schools. Annual memberships start at $65 and include access to the museum, special events and exhibit openings, and invitations to the Evening With programs. Members at the premium levels ($1,000 and above) receive preferred seating for Evening With programs, as well as access to exclusive dinner receptions and VIP events each season. To join or for more information, visit www.LBJFriends.org or email Friends@LBJFoundation.org.
Some of the most important style books seen in years will grace your shelves and coffee tables this spring and summer. Make them the most thought-provoking possible, according to our ardent bibliophile Lance Avery Morgan, who recommends his favorites.
COLLECTING FASHION
By Alexandra Carl
Here’s an indispensable survey of the most important archival collections assembled by fashion’s key players. For the fashion-obsessed, one’s archive is surely a testament to the act of preservation and, of course, a sophisticated symbol of taste. Archives take time to build, with wardrobes or storage units packed to the brim, and the results end up being remarkable representations of fashion history.
JUERGEN TELLER: FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY 1999-2016
By Juergen Teller
German photographer Juergen Teller has long collaborated with Dennis Freedman, creative director for W magazine, and the former luxury department store, Barneys New York. Between 1999 and 2016, the pair created a sweep of iconic series, all captured in Teller’s trademark realistic style. It’s a fittingly lo-fi tribute to the photographer’s pared-down vision for fashion imagery, as championed by Freedman.
CITY OF DREAMS: LOS ANGELES INTERIORS
By Annie Kelly and Tim Street-Porter
This stunning collection of inspiring homes begins with a look back, which includes examples of iconic houses inspired by Hollywood film fantasies. The heart of the book features today’s forward-looking homes, divided into two sections: Living with Art and Design and Los Angeles Modern.
COLLABORATION: A HISTORY OF POTENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
By Ariella Aisha Azoulay, Wendy Ewald, Susan Meiselas, Leigh Raiford and Laura Wexler
A radical new history of photography from a team of esteemed writers and thinkers that focuses on the complex collaborations between photographer and subject. Working with an accumulation of more than 600 photographs, each entry breaks apart photography and brings tangible traces of collaboration to light.
Few styles are more iconic than the finery donned by the crowds at Churchill Downs. Enjoy this close-up look at America’s most inimitable sports fashion event. It’s chock full of twenty horses, 120 seconds, 150 years…and timeless fashion. From the hats in the grandstands, to the silks on the track, fashion is as much a part of the Kentucky Derby as the thoroughbreds, the jockeys, and of course, the mint juleps.
Modern beachside style is more than shells and surfboards as seen in this new tome. Whether the inspiration comes from nautical themes, natural elements, winter blues, or the charm of the Mediterranean, the priority is always comfort and tranquility. It doesn’t matter if you don’t live near the beach—the spirit can be captured anywhere…like here.
Considered to be one of the world’s best antique and vintage furniture stores, Galerie Half offers a stylish blend of twentieth-century design, European antiques, and eclectic rarities. A favorite purveyor to the Los Angeles design community, the pieces they offer are imbued with a sense of timeless imperfection, as seen in this book.
GEORGE HOYNINGEN-HUENE
By George Hoyningen-Huene Estate Archives
This in-depth and richly illustrated book combines elegant design and production values. It’s the first publication in almost forty years on the work of the photographer. His images defined an era as a captivating photographic odyssey spanning fashion, Hollywood, and travel.
We all know that trends come and go, yet French interiors, old or new, never go out of style. As seen in this book, the new French look is spirited and fresh, layered but never fussy, effortless yet always chic. Referencing history, it offers a respectful nod to the past without ever looking stale and stuffy.
This offers a look inside the design dynamo’s studio to discover the techniques, concepts, and inspirations that lie behind his glass creations. Having collaborated with prestigious French and international companies, including Baccarat, Hennessy, and Christofle, this volume pays tribute to the unique techniques that he has contributed.
The most inspiring adventures often begin in the most unexpected ways. On a warm weekday afternoon recently, I was out on a writing assignment when I found myself hesitantly approaching the unmarked door of a mysterious building whose structure had seen better days, doubting whether the address I had pasted into my GPS from a text thread was actually where I had been delivered.
I held up my right hand and made a fist. “Here goes nothing,” I thought. Knock-knock-knock (staccato). The door opened to reveal Tracy Williams with her beaming smile, appearing part glowing and ethereal, part gritty and grounded in her relaxed painting clothes. The visual tension of her appearance struck me as unique and effortlessly intentional, which I’d soon come to find out is a theme at the core of her work. Welcoming me with open arms into her studio, I stepped through the door energetically aware that I had just entered a portal into her mystical world—her sacred space of isolated creation.
Arrested by an endless exhibition of visual stimulation, I struggled to focus my attention on what to admire first. Feelings of respect and reverence swelled as I felt the honor of observing Tracy’s process and gift in her environment. Vignettes of curated color palettes and layered comfort objects adorn the studio interior. One wall is lined with mood boards, and another lined with paints. Stacks of free-standing paintings, works both finished and in progress, are precariously propped against perimeter walls and pieces of furniture. Featured at her painting station is her cherished collection of her great-aunt’s oil paintbrushes.
Tracy Williams at work in her studio
Tracy’s path to becoming a professional artist wasn’t traditional. The distinct visual style of her work wasn’t molded by professors in art school. It was the childhood influence of her great-aunt, a prolific oil painter, that inspired her love of art, coupled with a menagerie of inspirations from fashion and interior design. Starting her career in design and fashion, Tracy found herself first putting paint to canvas while living in California. It was then when she had her epiphany that visual art was what she would pursue for the rest of her life.
“As a self-taught painter, I just work from my heart, and I am guided by my faith,” says Tracy Williams. “My process is very emotional, and I have had to prove myself with passion. When viewers interact with my work, my hope is that they walk away feeling good and inspired to live their best life without sweating the small stuff, and to appreciate beauty in the simple things.”
Tracy’s body of paintings demonstrates continuity and meditation in movement through the energy and gestural exploration of her brush stroke, line, and color mixtures. Her work has been exhibited locally in San Antonio and has been collected by admirers across the U.S.She is currently preparing to create this season’s commissioned works.
The interior design scene in Austin? While the city has always been known for its style, it has often been overlooked when it comes to its design. Plenty of internationally known architects are based here, yet too few high-level design resources were utilized before the 2000s. Enter a new showroom that is uniquely Austin and Central Texas in scope. It’s an inspiring venue where designers can feel at home, seek inspiration, and find everything they need in one place. Meet Objets.
Objets Showroom, Austin
Objets Showroom, Austin
Sandy Sieracki
Objets, Austin
Objets, established in 2001, has moved into a new 7,000 square feet space in a former 1950s warehouse at 6513 Burnet Lane, and its owner, Sandy Sieracki, welcomes professional designers, architects, and building project specifiers. As we all know, Burnet Road has become a design and furniture hub destination in the past few years, so Objets being located in the thick of it is no surprise.
When asked about the changes in the Austin design scene Sandy Sireacki founded Objets in 2001, she’s quick to note, “This is a tough question because it’s a big time frame. I’ve definitely seen a lot of growth and sophistication. We’ve got a look here in Austin that’s organic, casual and relaxed as well as “edgy”… when I first started, we had to go to Dallas for all of our design needs and now I am thrilled that we don’t have to leave town.”
A re-imagined showroom opened recently, and Objets offers anything a designer or homeowner could ever want. It offers a wide variety of furniture, lighting, and accessories for residential and commercial designers, from the traditional to the contemporary. Some of the current, exclusive lines at Objets include Vanguard Furniture, Hancock & Moore Leather Upholstery, Arte Wall Coverings, JF Fabrics, CR Laine Furniture, and Palecek.
We also love that Objets is a true family business since Sandy Sieracki’s mother, Judith Harris, was a designer before her, and now her daughter, Kinsey is also part of the team. Sieracki wants the same warmth, hospitality, and expert customer service from her own years as a designer to be bestowed on everyone who walks through the doors at Objets. When asked how running a family business supports each of the family members’ vision for Objets success, Sireacki shares three reasons:
Alignment of Values: We tend to reflect the values and principles of one another.
Flexibility: We’re able to adapt more easily to the unique strengths.
Trust and Collaboration: Trust among each other helps collaboration because we’re more likely to communicate openly and work together to achieve shared and individual goals.
Regarding current design trends, Sieracki is quick to share her view. “Gray transitional is finally gone. Traditional mixed with contemporary and lots of color are being implemented since designers are more daring.” Think of Objets as a modern-day salonnière that Sieracki presides over with everyone who visitsthe showroom as adoyenne of design.
“Walking into a building that has so much natural light, high ceilings, and listening to great music is good for my soul,” says Sandy Sieracki. “Designers have been coming in and staying for hours because they’re feeling the same vibe. That makes me happy.”
For more of the incredible lines at Objets, visit ObjetsLTD.com and experience Objets in person at 6513 Burnet Lane, Austin, 78757. And follow on Instagram.
