
On this week’s agenda: the stage version of The Who’s
Tommy, the
Austin Chronicle’s Hot Sauce Festival, Man Man at the Mohawk, the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, and '80s teen movies under the stars. Enjoy yourself and, as always, check Groupon for even more great
things to do in Austin.
The Who's Tommy
Zilker | Through August 24
The
ZACH Theatre's production of
The Who's Tommy closes this weekend, giving audiences one more chance to enter the psychedelic mind of its pinball-savant hero. This production pairs its classic songs with imagery out of
Alice in Wonderland, a choice the
Austin Chronicle called "a nice touch."
(1510 Toomey Rd.; from $45; buy tickets here)
Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
East Downtown | Sunday, August 24
Big-name bottlers, restaurateurs, and home cooks descend on the Fiesta Gardens for the 24th annual
Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival, the area’s largest hot-sauce competition. In addition to sampling mouth-scorching sauces, catch live music and chow down on food from vendors including
Curra's Grill and
Austin's Pizza.
(2100 Jesse E. Segovia St.; free with donation of three nonperishable food items)
Man Man
Downtown | Tuesday, August 26
Philadelphia multi-instrumentalists Man Man return to Austin for a stomp-along outdoor set at
The Mohawk in support of 2013's
On Oni Pond. Although they've slimmed down to a duo, permanent members Honus Honus and Pow Pow have recruited enough part-time players to blend shanty-style sing-alongs with elements of '50s doo-wop, house, and their own experimental musicality.
(912 Red River St.; $14; buy tickets here)
Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
Various | Tuesday, August 26–Monday, September 1
Returning for its 13th season, the weeklong Out of Bounds Comedy Festival showcases improv, sketch, and standup talent from homegrown artists and national touring acts.
MADtv vet Mo Collins,
SNL alum Paul Brittain, and the writers of Comedy Central’s
Key & Peele are among the 500 performers spread out across the fest's 120 shows.
(various locations; festival pass $109, individual shows from $10; buy tickets here)
'80s Teen Flick Fest
Old Airport | Through September 3
The
Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In celebrates the beginning of its fifth fall season with a host of '80s teen double features screened under the evening sky. The totally tubular schedule includes
Revenge of the Nerds,
Risky Business,
Valley Girl, and
Say Anything.
(1901 E. 51st St.; from $12; buy tickets here)
Image credits: The Who’s Tommy
courtesy of ZACH Theatre; Hot Sauce Festival courtesy of the Austin Chronicle