A new collective of Austin performance troupes have joined forces to put on the biggest show to ever hit the East Side.

The New Movement Theater, Sky Candy Aerial Arts, The Austin Poetry Slam, Black Widow Burlesque, and The Encyclopedia Show, some of the city's biggest draws, will perform together under one roof for the first time this Wednesday night.

The East Side Performance Network (ESPN), as the collective unit is called, is the brainchild of New Movement Artistic Director Alex Berry and yours truly, the producer and host of the monthly Encyclopedia Show. As we often host shows on the same evenings, we never get to see each other's shows. We joked that the only way we'd ever be able to see each other's shows was if we hosted a show together. Zing.

Two shows are better than one, but five is even better than two. Why not throw in some of Austin's other favorites like Sky Candy, Black Widow and APS? We all love entertaining, comedy and performance, so it only makes sense. The goal is to start folding in all of the shows in town that feature comedy, music, debate and writing in some way. (And there's quite a few of them.)

The plan for Wednesday night's Love Vs. Sex show at the ND@501 Studios is simple. It's ultimately a staged debate with one simple question in mind: "Which is better: True Love or Hot Sex?" This way, just about everyone will have an opinion. And audience members are of course encouraged to root for their favorite team.

Comedians from the New Movement will provide the opening arguments for Team Love and Team Sex, who are vying for the win. In staged rounds of head-to-head "battle," members from each of the remaining four groups will represent for their side, using their brains, beauty and creativity to win the audience's votes. In the end, the New Movement will offer their final remarks and the audience will be called upon to determine the night's winning team.

East Austin's favorite sequined party girls, Drunk Dial, will be moderating the evening's events, offering their hysterical, (occassionally slurred) commentary on the night's proceedings. Much like the original Olympic games held in Greece, this will be a night of revelry and perhaps a little (nearly-)naked wrestling. With those Burlesque gals, you never know what's going to happen...

I realize I'm biased, but I can objectively states this is the perfect opportunity to see five amazing performance groups for the price of one ticket. We'll all be enjoying one another's company and seeing what each other has been up to. Plus: boobs.

Won't you join us?