About Us

History

Paradox Players originated in 1999, the minister of First UU Church of Austin assembled church members who had expressed an interest in drama.  The original group functioned as a drama resource for the minister,creating what we call Sunday Shorts, presented in the sanctuary during Sunday services.  In May 2000, we produced our initial Main Stage public production. Over the years since Paradox Players has grown significantly in audience size and reputation.  We currently produce three plays a year, each production running three weekends.  View our History page for more information.

Sunday Shorts are short scenes or one-act plays that highlight a particular theme or subject relevant to the minister’s sermon, and are presented during the Sunday worship service. Some are published scripts, others are written in-house. They are often cast and directed by church members, other times by members of the community at large.

Offering Benefit Performances to community non-profits is a tradition carried forward from the early years.  We try to offer one performance per production to a local non-profit, in support of mutual interests.

Readers’ Theater remains popular from the earliest meetings in 1999.  We continue meeting monthly to read aloud from published scripts, without rehearsing or memorizing.  Readers’ Theater  has functioned as a training ground for would-be actors and directors, although several established actors and directors continue to attend, and some members never aspire to the stage.

Children’s Theater company was launched in the Fall of 2012, a troupe of adult actors performing for children.  The initial production traveled to four public schools, bringing live theater to 140 children.

Leadership

Steering Committee

Susan Thomson, Chair
Open, Artistic Director
Leslie Ashton, Treasurer/Webmaster
Open, Secretary
Jean & John Boehme, Executive Producers
Amy Bennett, Front of House Supervisor

Additional Volunteer Staff

Tom Martin, Technical Director
Bob Porter, Stage Design and Construction
Jim Coombes, Database Manager
Barbara Romano, Front-of-House Recruitment