About This Event
The Star Bandit Foundation proudly announces the 2026 Stargaze Theater Festival, returning to captivate audiences with five never-before-seen short plays by emerging Austin playwrights.
All five short plays will be presented each evening over two weekends at the Dougherty Arts Center (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), exploring the dark corners of corporate ambition, mythological pursuit, dinners that become interrogations, demonic afflictions, and the chaotic fight to save a housing co-op from ruin. Ticket proceeds directly support Star Bandit Foundation's mission to nurture local artistic talent and enrich Austin's cultural landscape.
This year's lineup includes:
"Hereafter, The Company" by Alexa Ziegler: Diane, the ruthless new employee at a strange corporation, pushes the established team into a higher level of danger to achieve her dream.
"Lagomorphia" by Sarah Waddle: Lagomorphia follows the myth of Daphne and Apollo, exploring the world through the lens of a young woman made acutely aware of how it feels to live in a world where she has been marked for consumption by the ruling class, pursued by men.
"Metronome" by Marcus Delzell: A nervous poet and a level-headed therapist meet for dinner, but as their conversation deepens, the boundaries between date and interrogation begin to blur.
"The Ash Demons" by Valerie Conrad: After years of trying to cure her demon-born daughter, a woman visits an alternative medical practice based on alchemy. She soon discovers that the truth behind her daughter’s condition is far more painful and unsettling than she’s prepared for.
"THE VINELAND Episode 1: 'Pilot'" by Alessio Franko: In this sitcom about life at Chicago's oldest housing co-op, a group of rebels, misfits, and slackers must overcome their differences to foil a real estate developer's plot to buy their beloved house from under them.
Stargaze Theater Festival returns as Austin’s premier destination for innovative theater. Audiences are invited to experience the forefront of contemporary storytelling.
All five short plays will be presented each evening over two weekends at the Dougherty Arts Center (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), exploring the dark corners of corporate ambition, mythological pursuit, dinners that become interrogations, demonic afflictions, and the chaotic fight to save a housing co-op from ruin. Ticket proceeds directly support Star Bandit Foundation's mission to nurture local artistic talent and enrich Austin's cultural landscape.
This year's lineup includes:
"Hereafter, The Company" by Alexa Ziegler: Diane, the ruthless new employee at a strange corporation, pushes the established team into a higher level of danger to achieve her dream.
"Lagomorphia" by Sarah Waddle: Lagomorphia follows the myth of Daphne and Apollo, exploring the world through the lens of a young woman made acutely aware of how it feels to live in a world where she has been marked for consumption by the ruling class, pursued by men.
"Metronome" by Marcus Delzell: A nervous poet and a level-headed therapist meet for dinner, but as their conversation deepens, the boundaries between date and interrogation begin to blur.
"The Ash Demons" by Valerie Conrad: After years of trying to cure her demon-born daughter, a woman visits an alternative medical practice based on alchemy. She soon discovers that the truth behind her daughter’s condition is far more painful and unsettling than she’s prepared for.
"THE VINELAND Episode 1: 'Pilot'" by Alessio Franko: In this sitcom about life at Chicago's oldest housing co-op, a group of rebels, misfits, and slackers must overcome their differences to foil a real estate developer's plot to buy their beloved house from under them.
Stargaze Theater Festival returns as Austin’s premier destination for innovative theater. Audiences are invited to experience the forefront of contemporary storytelling.
Where It's Happening
Dougherty Arts Center
1110 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
Meet the Organizer
Star Bandit Foundation
The Star Bandit Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting Texas-based artists by providing grants and fostering a vibrant arts community. Our annual fundraising event, Stargaze Theater Festival, serves as a platform for emerging artists to share their work and connect with audiences, enriching our community with fresh perspectives.
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Stargaze Theater Festival: Five Original Short Plays
Aug 13, 2026 – Aug 22, 2026
$27.78 (inc. fees)
$27.78 (inc. fees)