AUSTIN – The Live Oak Theatre, in Austin, Texas, has raised more than $180,000 for charity over the past nine years, according to the troupe's publicist, Amy Stinson. Three upcoming performances of its ongoing production of Douglas Carter Beane's As Bees in Honey Drown continue that tradition. Proceeds from the May 26 performance go to the University Area Rotary Club and Exchange Club of Austin. May 27 is designated for the Foundation for the Homeless. Benefactors of the YMCA can offer their support by attending June 2. The Live Oak Theatre mounting is the first regional production of Beane's Off-Broadway smash, which is currently being produced by the Drama Dept. at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York. Don Toner, Live Oak producing artistic director, directs the Austin staging. Veteran Live Oak principal actor Babs George stars as Alexa Vere de Vere, an Auntie Mame-like producer, and area actor John Vincent Hoff plays the naive up-and-coming author whom Alexa commands to write a screenplay based on her "fabulous" life.

As Bees in Honey Drown, having opened May 8 at the Live Oak Theatre in Austin, continues through June 7. For tickets, $15 - $17, call (512) 472-5143

By Peter Szatmary
Texas Correspondent