Austinites, young and old, are always seemingly nostalgic and longing for the "Old Austin." Bill Leissner audaciously captures the still essence of the characters that made up exactly that era in his new and upcoming book, Austin Icons of the Eighties: Music, Theatre, Politics.

This special event to raise printing funds includes live local musical performances, theatre monologues from the original cast members of the legendary stage production of In the West, a book reading by Isabella Russell-Ides from her new novel, White Monkey Chronicles, and a silent auction featuring a selection of Leissner's photographs, dining coupons, as well as other iconic memorabilia from other talented artists.

Leissner shot over 100,000 photos in the 1980s, including many Austin music, theatre, and political icons such as Ann Richards, Jake Pickle, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson, Randy “Biscuit” Turner, numerous Big State Productions projects, and more. He is also believed by many to be the inventor of the “selfie.”