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Esther's Follies

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 In the beginning, there was nobody here but us turkeys.
In the spring of 1977, 6th Street was a neighborhood with an African-American/Hispanic/Lebanese heritage whose nighttime residents were primarily artists and winos. The JJJ Tavern had been dispensing drinks and philosophy at Esther's present site since 1950.
Then, in the middle of 6th Street's 500th block, Michael Shelton and Shannon Sedwick, who already operated Austin's famed Liberty Lunch, leased an old, narrow bar at 515 (now Flamingo Cantina), throwing the first party on April Fool's Day.
The next Friday night, it turned into an improvisational free-for-all of fun with singers, poets, dancers, mimes, musicians, and comics coming in off the street to create the unique comic environment where anything and everything could happen if it brought a smile. When Michael Shelton built a stage whose back opened onto 6th Street a few weeks later, the show started swimming as artist Doug Jaques began painting a 60-by-20-foot undersea mural along the entire east wall.
Led by Doug Dyer's creative musical productions, Terry Galloway's skits, William Dente's virtuoso creation of Dame Della Diva, and an inspired energy, the first shows exploded every Friday night, with a rock & roll band that opened, followed by 2 to 3 hours of The Follies. We passed the hat with a religious-revival-like number, then folded up the chairs and danced to the band for another couple of hours. It was pure magic… and hasn't lost a bit of it charm 24 years later.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Contact Info

    Esther's Follies

    525 East Sixth Street
    Austin, Texas 78701

    Phone: 512 320 0198   |   Official Website

  • Map

    Full map and directions

  • Accessibility Services

    There is no accessibility service information available at this time.

  • • Current Events

      05/07/13- 05/31/13

      Esther's Follies Esther's Follies Esther's Follies Presented by Esther's Follies at Esther's Follies May 7-May 31, 2013 Get a Texas-size view of the world through song and dance routines, material pulled from the nation’s headlines and large-scale illusions by the extraordinary magician Ray Anderson. In “Sequestered Follies," Esther’s lampoons the budget-cutting crisis with the military, teachers and seniors weighing in for their piece of the pie. It’s time to tighten our belts with a nod to Macklemore’s “Thriftshop!” We're Goin' Postal! Esther's...

  • • Upcoming Events

      There are no upcoming events at this time.

  • 
    

    NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate. However, it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.

• Current &
  Upcoming Events

  • Current Events

    05/07/13- 05/31/13

    Esther's Follies Esther's Follies Esther's Follies Presented by Esther's Follies at Esther's Follies May 7-May 31, 2013 Get a Texas-size view of the world through song and dance routines, material pulled from the nation’s headlines and large-scale illusions by the extraordinary magician Ray Anderson. In “Sequestered Follies," Esther’s lampoons the budget-cutting crisis with the military, teachers and seniors weighing in for their piece of the pie. It’s time to tighten our belts with a nod to Macklemore’s “Thriftshop!” We're Goin' Postal! Esther's...

  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events at this time.

• Past
  Events

  • Past Events

    04/09/13- 04/30/13	Esther's Follies "April Ship of Fools" Esther's Follies
    03/11/13	Free Hour of Improv: The Upright Citizen's Brigade and Mister Face Esther's Follies
    03/06/13- 03/31/13	Esther's Follies Hunka Hunka Burning Gridlock! Esther's Follies
    02/05/13- 02/28/13	February Liplocks and Gridlocks Show Esther's Follies
    01/15/13- 01/31/13	Esther's Follies Lucky 13 Show! Esther's Follies
    12/07/12- 12/31/12	Esther's Follies Esther's Follies
    11/12/12- 11/30/12	Esther's Follies Post-Election, Pre-Apolcaypse November Show! Esther's Follies
    10/12/12- 10/31/12	Esther's Follies Esther's Follies
    07/12/12- 08/31/12	Ray Anderson at Esther's Follies Esther's Follies