Esther’s Follies

You cannot visit Austin without coming to this show. First off, it’s great entertainment that is pleasantly surprising in the sense that they work fast — going from bit to bit, mixing satire, politics, current events, singing, magic. One of the coolest things is how the show is going on outside too. I’m not going to spoil more than that except to say that it’s full of surprises and a great time for adults of all ages. Plus really cheap. General admission is $ 25 which means you can sit anywhere that’s unmarked — which could be as close as 2^nd row.

They earned 50 points in my opinion last night. First… I ordered tickets online, and bought tickets for the wrong night, for 5 of us. I was nearly in tears when the cashier explained what had happened. Well, between the cashiers and the hostess, they honored our tickets!!! That alone would have made even a bad show into a wonderful one… but the show was fantastic!!! We couldn’t stop laughing! and the Magician and assistants were incredible. The little doggie was a heart stealer… The whole evening was absolutely stellar.

Such a fun and entertaining experience. Up to date political jokes and awesome magic tricks.

1 word — «GO!» Ok. I’ll be brief. Small intimate theater. Recommend reserved seating. Show changes frequently and the incredibly talented actors/​actresses keep you spellbound and laughing thru their entire heartfelt performances. Never a dull moment!
Ps — in my personal opinion — this show, talent, costumes and overall everything is far better than Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco!!!

We always like to find a comedy show or an Improv show when we visit new cities.
Everybody had great things to say about this show so we went. We were not disappointed! What a great show.
We bought our tickets online. Tier 1 and Tier 2 were sold out so we purchased the General Admission tickets. General Admission seats are on the flat floor and are not stadium seating so it can be tricky to see everything that is going on. You must get there early to get good seats and to make certain your party is seated all together. We got there at 7 for a 8:00 show and we were second in line to get in.
There is a full bar and popcorn available. There is an extremely brief intermission, the majority of people were not back in their seats when the show re-​started.
Super fun, super funny!

We bought our tickets online to the Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 8:00pm show. Purchase was easy and no physical tickets were needed. They had our name on the list and our seats roped off and reserved for us. Bought the Tier 1 tickets for $ 35 each. The seats were in a very good spot on the right side of the room. Could see the stage very well. Be aware if you sit upfront, on the aisle or front row, there is a very good chance you will get harassed as part of the show. All in good fun!
It was great. Very funny. Very fast paced. The magician steals the show. Wonderful illusions. Lots of laughs. I would recommend it.

We came here having heard great things about it, without really knowing what to expect besides the fact that it was a show. Now having been through it, I can definitively say that this is one of the best shows I’ve been to in Texas, making me laugh nonstop and yet still full of political and current events commentary. The staff was very nice as well, allowing us to sit much closer to the stage in the seats of people that had cancelled their reserved seats. There was even a magician who you would think would be out of place in a comedic act, but fit in perfectly fine and was quite funny in his mannerisms himself. Great time overall, and would love to come back.

I go here just about every time I’m in Austin and it’s always a blast. Singing, dancing, sketch comedy, and magic! What more could you want? Oh yes don’t forget the audience involvement! I’d have to say that especially the magic has really improved in the last several years. However, I do wish they would get rid of certain acts that have been in the show for a long time, I get a little bit sick of seeing the same exact thing I’ve seen a couple times before, but I’d say about 65−75% of the show was entirely new material since I was there last (maybe 6 years ago?)
One thing to note — there was a really rowdy group in the crowd that kept talking loudly amongst themselves and heckling while the show was going on (it was very distracting to everyone else watching the show), and one of the performers called them out on it — that was AWESOME.

Every time that I bring up Esther’s Follies, I have only heard positive reviews! My best advice is to purchase the online tickets by Sunday night before the weekend showings. I was able to reserve green level tickets for my wife and her parents on Saturday at 10pm by purchasing the tickets Tuesday night.
Anyway, as you scroll the reviews, you see that everybody has extremely supportive reviews. Here are a few noticeable qualities about the show:
–Like snl but a real time performance of hilarious skits
–up to date jokes on current political trends and celebrity news
–Great magic tricks
–Amazing musical performances
–Decent priced drinks
–Involved the audience in performances
–My only negative was the «church hall» chairs; not uncomfortable but they could do better
I will return in the future and definitely will bring other guests, friends, and visitors to enjoy 1.5 hours of fun!

I’ve lived in Austin my whole life and I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to see this amazing show! What was I thinking?
If you’re in Austin, YOU MUST GO! The show was incredible. So witty, funny and fast. They waste no time. It’s laugh after laugh after laugh. Everyone is so energetic, and you can tell they take pride in their work. I loved it a lot.

My first visit to Esther’s was fantastic. We booked seats ahead of time, showed up right as the show was starting, and were immediately taken to our reserved row. The place is small and the chairs are close together (no leg room!), but it makes for an intimate experience. It seems like most venues these days are huge and half the seats are miles away from the stage, but there is no such thing as a «bad seat» in the house at the Follies. (Unless you don’t want to be called up on stage, in which case the front rows are probably not a great place to sit.)
The show itself is absolutely hilarious… an interesting mix of magic (my favorite part!), singing, comedy skits, and occasionally «dancing». I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt afterward. The humor is a bit off-​color, but it’s all in good fun. That being said, leave the kiddos and the easily-​offended at home.
I recently brought a group here as part of a bachelorette party, and it was definitely a hit! The convenient location on 6^th street makes the show a perfect after-​dinner addition to a night out on the town. Perhaps the best part was that although it had only been a few months since I had first seen the show, many of the acts had changed so I was just as entertained as the first time. (And I was still unable to figure out the magic tricks…)
Call ahead to book your seats so you do not have to wait in line or pay convenience fees, and be sure to show up (on time!) ready to laugh.

I would have given it 5 stars but for two star removing events
First removal. My wife’s birthday. I spend the extra bucks for the GOOD seats. Show up early to drink an over priced beer served by a guy who only smiled when I put a few bucks in his tip jar and the woman at the ticket desk tells me after finding my name that someone will come and get my wife and I for the GOOD seats. Nope. Last ones to be seated. Felt like a DB because the show had already started.
Second removal
Remember the fact we were the last ones seated
Well the lady that came over to me to tell me the show was starting take your seats! Was who I can only call Esther. Older gal. She dropped us off to the desk gal that forgot us. It was a drag. And at the end of the show she wouldn’t even shake my hand or look me in the eye. Sad
But the show is great. We laughed the whole time. Hopefully your have your beef first and the old lady will shake your hand. So much for the GOOD seats!

I thought «just my luck», I bought tickets online and showed up to watch this show I’ve read so much about only to arrive and find out the regular show is off for the night «hiding from the biker rally» that was going on! But my luck wasn’t bad at all! I haven’t laughed this much and this hard in years! Such talent up there! Specifically Matt Sadler! They were all extremely talented but there was absolutely no pause in laughter when this guy was up there! I am convinced that he should definitely have his own television show by now! Many years ago… Approximately 1997, I saw Jeff Dunham live at the River Center Comedy club in San Antonio. He had already been on TV a few times but didn’t have his own television show yet and wasn’t nearly as popular as he is now (which just means he was funnier because it wasn’t the 3^rd or 4^th time I had heard that joke with that character, it was the first time so it was hilarious) but this guy had me laughing harder and non-​stop!!! Granted… He can’t throw his voice and control a puppet (or maybe he can but doesn’t use that in his act… I don’t know) but we really were impressed with his performance and timing! I have never seen my boyfriend laugh so hard!!! And the hand gestures he learned from this act will now be repeated forever by my boyfriend and we will always remember our fun filled evening of comedy. Plus we now have an excuse to go back to this place to see their regular show that has such excellent ratings.
Gotta give a shout out to the bartender as well… Hillie was extremely nice and although the drinks are a little pricey, they are yummy and I’m sure she doesn’t set the prices. I say, why not spend a little more on drinks when you can have friendly service and an unforgettable evening!
My only complaints would be the abrupt removal of any and all customers as soon as the show ended. Even people trying to get a smoke in their courtyard were surprisingly very rudely ushered off the premesis before drinks could be finished and cigarettes could be smoked.
The temperature before and during the entire show was extremely hot! I’m sure the AC was on but I don’t think it was turned on early enough to provide comfort to the paying customers or it was not set at an appropriate temperature. We were both sweating profusely through the entire show and could see the discomfort on others as well. Other than that… Great night! I would sweat it out again to have another night like that but I’m hoping my next visit will be a little more comfortable and I won’t have to throw away my expensive margarita the second the show ends because employees are kicking everyone out and drinks cannot go out the door with them.

It was the annual time for Esther’s Follies to take off for the weekend, due to the biker rally and parade going on in Austin this weekend — but this means it’s stand up comedy night with Matt Sadler, JR Brow, Maggie Maye, Bryan Gutman, Mac Blake, and hosted by Kerry Awn.
All said and done, it was one of the best comedy shows I’ve ever been to. (Although, they really need to do something about the Mosquitos and turn the damn A/​C on earlier!)
The best of the show, in my opinion, was Matt Sadler. OMG — I truly thought I was gonna die! This man is so funny, he’ll make you hurt all over!
Great show, great time. Now, I gotta come back for a real night of Esther’s Follies!

Customer service here is right on the money. When we called for a reservation, they were super helpful and made the ticket purchasing experience easy. They were even able to help get a last minute add on to our party! And the bartenders gave quick service, they run a very efficient bar. Prices were reasonable too. All pluses in my book.
The magic show was the highlight for me! I literally felt like a little kid again, mesmerized by the (spoiler alert) floating lady, disappearing dog tricks, and vanishing lady. How do they do it!!! Whoa. I loved the little white dog, Leroy? can he date my little daisy please? Now that dog is pure talent. The show also made fun of politics and Texans… that made up the non magic part of the show. And it was my least favorite part. Wish they’d lighten up the load on that a bit. Maybe make fun of celebrities more?
Seats are very tightly placed together, and doing the reserved option is the way to go. Sit in the front if you’d like to participate in the show! And call ahead if you want them to make a birthday announcement. Also, would not recommend for younger audiences, as most the material would fly over their heads. Overall, a great way to spend your evening in Austin and be entertained in a multitude of ways.

This is a really interesting and unique show-​definitely unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Well, okay, I have seen most of the magic tricks, and I’ve heard dirty and political jokes, but I’ve never seen so many different genres combined into one show. They combine political humor with jokes about current events, social media and even mix in a little local flavor. There are a few magic tricks performed as well. I was impressed by how up to date the show was with current events and how they remembered and perfected their acts/​songs so quickly. It’s been a month since I went, so I can’t remember exactly what was included, but some things had been on the news within the past couple weeks.
My favorite aspect is that they involve people walking by on the streets. The back of the stage is a window, and they leave it open for the majority of the show. They also call a «volunteer» on stage, so don’t sit in the first few rows if that’s not something you want. By volunteer, I mean you basically are socially forced. Lol. Even if you’re not brought on stage, Ray, the magician is not afraid to embarrass you or get in your face. Shannon is a hoot. She has a lot of spunk, and I really enjoyed her. At one point in the show, she teaches you how to make crafts out of feminine hygiene products. It was hilarious. I definitely recommend the show. Go early to have a couple drinks. The bar and waiting area is decorated very eclectically, and it’s fun to look around. There is a fish tank in an old TV!

I AM COMPLETELY AMAZED BY THIS PLACE!
My friends and I were here on vacation and it was hilarious! I absolutely loved it! They acts were so clever and witty! They left it all out on the stage! Even if you aren’t up to date with the current events, the skits are well thought out and are so easy to follow! Very very talented staff! Worth every penny! When I come back to Austin, I will be back to Esther’s Follies FOR SURE!

Came to Austin to see the show with my wife. We left early to avoid the traffic into town. Must not have left early enough. The downside was that we had way too much time on our hands, so we hung out at a local bar that turned out to be a poor move. What we should have done was hung out at the Follies’ bar. Take this advice.
Everything I read was that you needed to come 40 minutes early if you were in General Seating. My advice — don’t even come if all you can score is general seating. We arrived 45 minutes before the show and had arguably the worse seats in the house. Front row, right stage. Many have posted that the seats suck because you see the performers coming onto the stage and it ruins the magic. I wasn’t bothered seeing the upcoming action, stage switches, and the magic was never ruined. My seats sucked because of the viewing angle of the stage and the fact that whenever the performers went into the crowd it was behind me and I couldn’t see anything.
The show was super funny. It was a general mix of re-​crafted tunes to current events, Texas, or politics; spiced up with some magic; throw in a cute little dog; and it was a general variety show. I won’t spoil anything by saying what went on. It is probably a Rated-​R (maybe PG-​13 these days?) because of very light profanity and suggestive jokes. No one who is on 6^th Street would turn their heads at anything, however.
Definitely take in a show. Definitely avoid general seating — or come an hour+ and hang out at their bar.

Listen, everyone should experience this place at least once. It’s magical (literally and figuratively.)
We got here early and staked out our seats. I was a little worried that the cheap, plastic seats were a bad omen, but really, everything else was top notch. We paid for general admission, and though were were back and to the left, we still had a great view of the stage.
The staff that greeted us and showed us to our seats were pleasant.
And from the moment the show started — I was mesmerized.
The cast is amazing, and I’m surprised to learn that one of the leading ladies was one of the original founders! From skit to song to magical act, I was enthralled. I couldn’t point out one weak point in the show.
The magician, Ray Anderson, was hilarious. And as someone who likes to figure out magic tricks as they’re happening AND usually notices when I’m being mis-​directed — I couldn’t figure it out. Top notch act, sir!

Esther’s follies. What an amazing experience. I’ve been here twice, about a year apart, and was blown away both times. I feel like I am watching Saturday Night Live in the audience. The cast is just amazing; the skits, the singing and dancing, the magic, the creativity. It is such a well executed show, as well. They actually use 6^th street as part of their stage. (and the homeless man twirling flowers on his chest, seriously)
We pre ordered our tickets, and showed up 30 min early, to find a spot off to the side. The center section is reserved, and I learned you can pay an extra $ 5/​ticket for this preferred seating. I was all the way against the wall and still could see everything. They offer a full bar, as well as popcorn in the lobby. The show starts promptly on time, and you’re instantly hooked, surprised at every turn. The show is heavy political humor, magic/​illusionist (hilarious and crowd involving), musical skits and acting. All praising the great state of Texas. It kept me laughing and on the edge of my seat.
The cast hangs around the bar after the show, which I think is so great to be able to greet them. The restrooms are located near the bar, and are very filled (obviously) during intermission and after the show. Go out on 6^th street after and you will have had one hell of a night! Great spot to take out of towners and parents. I’ll definitely be back to the Follies.